Trail Shelter

ex4: shelter | lee, massachusetts

kevin hofmann | fall 2020

Finerty Pond offers a unique experience on the Appalachian Trail. It is a calm, quiet space where a hiker can rest and recover after a long day. However, in the summer, when the trees and foliage are thick, one could easily miss this place of respite. A shelter at Finerty Pond should be an orienting device around which hikers transition from the rigor of the Appalachian Trail to the stillness of the pond. It should encourage a hiker to interact with and visit the pond, as there is currently no explicit connection between the two. A hiker can take the short path which spurs off of the trail towards the shelter. From there, they can enter the shelter and be greeted by a view of the pond, or continue down the terrace towards the sleeping quarters and the pond. When a hiker enters the shelter, they can circulate through it to reach the patio. They could also take the ladder up the uppermost level, where hikers can rest under the moonlight. When they continue towards the pond, the can break left at the lowest landing and enter a large sleeping room. In here, there are cots on hiking mattresses an be laid. The shelter offers large amounts of sunlight in the morning so that hikers can get moving early. In the afternoon, less light is let in so they can rest in the darkness.