Vertical Urban Camping: Crazy or Convenient?

Have you seen the latest ideas when it comes to camping? We're going to urban areas and straight up in the air! It would offer great views, allow you to camp in densely populated and exposed areas, plus add additional, inexpensive lodging options to your travel plans. Although we're excited we still have some doubts about things like safety, security and weather. Share your thoughts on this new take on camping, after the jump!

The folks over at Import.Export Architecture are the masterminds behind these towering structures. We like the idea behind making the units portable so they could be erected and relocated for events that might attract large crowds. For large outdoor music festivals where thousands of people end up sleeping on the ground, this would make for a unique city like feel (or somewhat like the Ewok village, we can't decide).

But how safe would it really be, or would you be into drunken neighbors stumbling to the top tier through your campsite in the wee hours of the morning. I'm sure all these things will be addressed, but it could be a fantastic way to travel the world and sleep under the stars instead of a hostel if you're so inclined for the adventure.

Check out Dornob for a few more prototype photos and ideas of how they could work well in a cramped urban setting!

What are your thoughts on the idea? Leave us a note in the comments below!

(via: Dornob)
(Images: Import.Export)

Comments (25)

Who wants to climb down and then back up 2 or 3 stories of ladder just to take a leak?

posted by LBhirise on July 9th 2009 at 12:34pm
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I'm sorry, but it's just not camping if there isn't a place to roast marshmallows.

posted by lurker2209 on July 9th 2009 at 12:35pm
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Totally awesome until some guy decides to take a leak off the top one in the middle of the night rather than navigate four sets of ladders.

posted by home body on July 9th 2009 at 12:39pm
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Completely impractical and unnecessary. The structure takes up just as much area as four tents side by side would.

posted by taritac on July 9th 2009 at 12:43pm
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No, I don't like heights and that structure looks like it would sway too much with strong gust.

posted by slowdown on July 9th 2009 at 12:45pm
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with A strong gust. Sorry.

posted by slowdown on July 9th 2009 at 12:45pm
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Isn't the point of camping to spend time in nature, away from the masses and noise and pollution?

posted by melk on July 9th 2009 at 12:49pm
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this is sort of counter to the whole idea of camping...

posted by kevnjw917 on July 9th 2009 at 12:54pm
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um, no thanks.

i think this idea completely misses the entire concept of camping. generally there's more to it than just sleeping in a tent: outdoors...wildlife...scenery...the ability to step away from *it all*...quiet...darkness...nice smells...

AT, you get *excited* about everything you copy and paste from some other source. i miss the old AT that was more of an innovative resource and less of a collection of other peoples' published information and ideas. what happened to the house tours from ingenious people living in tiny spaces? actual reader contributions? cool things created out of necessity? if i want to buy something off etsy, i can go find it myself.

i feel more sad each time i visit.

posted by beevee on July 9th 2009 at 12:58pm
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I'm actually amused.

posted by whytephoenix on July 9th 2009 at 1:02pm
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okay, this isn't camping, BUT it would be great for backpacking through cities, cheap and convenient esp. for a one-nighter... i'd only feel safe on the top ones though (if it's structurally sound). I think if some lockers were included in the "camp site" that'd improve it even more.

posted by jessbink on July 9th 2009 at 1:07pm
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I think this is a great idea for the reasons stated such as festivals and large multi-day events with limited camping space. Yes, this is missing many of the elements required for "real camping" but there are lots of reasons other than recreational camping that people end up sleeping in tents.

posted by Niamh on July 9th 2009 at 1:14pm
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I think this would be fun, but probably only for one night. It's interesting enough for me to try it out. I wonder how much it would be though. I like camp sites that aren't more than 30 bucks.

posted by HannahPanda on July 9th 2009 at 1:35pm
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Folks, it shouldn't be called camping if astroturf is involved.

posted by Marie-Eve on July 9th 2009 at 1:51pm
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It may not be traditional camping and stuff like this will never take the place of going out into the woods and taking in nature. But I don't think people should berate AT for posting something like this. It's obviously interesting!

Plus, I'd do this for a night! Why not? Stick that weird thing in the middle of Millennium Park! It would be kind of cool!

posted by maybeamezzo on July 9th 2009 at 1:54pm
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If this were in the middle of Central Park--and it was guarded--I'd consider it. Otherwise, it's a damn silly idea given that there are millions of acres available for camping in the US.

posted by modtramp on July 9th 2009 at 2:46pm
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Isn't this what homeless people do? Except with cardboard boxes, rather than nylon tents.

This concept sorta screams, look-at-me-I'm-a-cool-urban-hipster. Not vibin' on it.

posted by david @ justveggingout.com on July 9th 2009 at 2:54pm
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Urban Camping = Oxymoron

posted by bepsf on July 9th 2009 at 3:25pm
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No no no. Camping in a cage. Totally misses the point of camping.

posted by monroe on July 9th 2009 at 4:53pm
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AT, you get *excited* about everything you copy and paste from some other source. i miss the old AT that was more of an innovative resource and less of a collection of other peoples' published information and ideas. what happened to the house tours from ingenious people living in tiny spaces? actual reader contributions? cool things created out of necessity? if i want to buy something off etsy, i can go find it myself.

I'm with you, Beevee.

Call it an "Art Exhibit", but don't call it camping.

posted by mjs7640 on July 9th 2009 at 5:03pm
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Wow, extreme. If camping came down to this, well I'd find camping something I stopped doing.

posted by ChrisGal on July 9th 2009 at 7:20pm
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I'm with Beevee and mjs7640

posted by Daily Nuance on July 9th 2009 at 9:22pm
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So what is this setting...."urban camping". Doesn't really have that cozy campsite feeling of getting away from it all...the world is getting too crazy...this is not camping...it's more like a camping stunt.

posted by muirwoods08 on July 10th 2009 at 1:59am
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Destination music festivals like Coachella would be ideal for this type of set up.

posted by Polyrevenge on July 10th 2009 at 11:17am
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Structures like these in Milan during the Salone would be life saving.

posted by SillyBug on July 20th 2009 at 9:05am
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