Excellence in enhancing sense of place and authenticity; support for indigenous traditions
The Winner: Cavallo Point Lodge, United States
Embracing authenticity can sometimes make for unexpected pairings. Take Fort Baker, a military base overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge that helped defend San Francisco for more than a century before being deeded to the National Park Service in 2002. When Mike Freed, a Marin County resident who had admired the woodwork characterizing the fort’s colonial revivalist structures, learned that the Park Service was considering the development of a conference center on the site, he, along with some friends, offered to restore the decaying army barracks and adjoining ten-acre parade ground by turning it into a lodge—and in the process preserving a noteworthy California landmark.
Today, Cavallo Point invites travelers to stay in meticulously renovated LEED-certified buildings that have garnered top architectural honors from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. But the real winners in this successful collaboration between the lodge owners, the city of Sausalito, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area are the residents and visitors who flock to Cavallo, where they can enjoy homey comforts paired with a “healing arts spa,” tea bar, and locally sourced farm-to-fork dining. A perk: next-door views of the Golden Gate Bridge and easy access to miles of nearby biking and hiking trails.
The Runners-Up:Fogo Island Inn, Canada: Celebrates island culture through partnerships with local and international artists and designers.Gwaii Hannas National Park Reserve: A collaboration between Parks Canada and British Columbia’s Haida people to manage a national park reserve.Find out how to apply to the 2016 World Legacy Awards.
