DATE PUBLISHED: AUG 9, 2021 

Opened in April 2020, Camp Sarika at Amangiri is the ultimate glamping experience in the heart of the Utah canyon lands. Named after the Sanskrit word for “open space” and “sky”, the camp is set amidst 600 acres of striking desert landscape with stunning canyon rockscape and buttes.  Anchored by the communal amenity building and surrounded by desert wilderness and breathtaking natural beauty, highlights include 10‐tented luxury pavilions.

RIM Architects served as Architect of Record for the amenities building in conjunction with Selldorf Architects taking the lead as the Design Architect. Canyon Equity led the development of the Tent and Commons Site.

The Commons features its own restaurant, one main swimming pool, and a whirlpool‐‐accessible for each tent dweller. Other amenities include two spa suites with therapies inspired by traditional Navajo wellness practices. Guests can choose to escape from technology and modern stress, be physically active, and/or dine on specially prepared delicacies from the camp’s unique restaurant or at the main resort restaurant. Yoga, guided meditation, evening campfires, cultural storytelling, and desert and mountain hiking are among the activities to be offered.

Challenges and Features

Due to its remote location, access to the building site was a significant challenge throughout all phases of the project. The massing of the Commons Building is as formidable as the steep canyon walls it sits beneath. Concrete, colored to emulate the desert palette, is the dominate building material that anchors the entire camp into the secluded location. The adjacent water features and wood accents soften the building mass and intertwine with the Navajo‐themed accents found at the tent structures nearby.