Founded two decades ago, Clockwork Architecture + Design emerged as a pioneering force dedicated to actively listening and being relentlessly resourceful in brand building. Over the past 20 years, the firm has established itself as an integrated powerhouse, successfully combining architecture, interior design, product design, brand identity, and strategic brand development. With a consistent commitment to social responsibility, Clockwork’s innovative projects have positively impacted communities nationwide and internationally through their initiative to build water wells in sub-Saharan Africa for every completed project. Their holistic approach ensures meaningful, cohesive results tailored precisely to each client’s vision.
Driven by a passion for meaningful experiences, Clockwork Architecture + Design excels in creating financially sustainable and emotionally engaging outdoor hospitality projects. Inspired by personal encounters with nature’s restorative power and influential works like Richard Louv’s “Last Child in the Woods,” Clockwork recognized the potential to apply rigorous, large-scale hospitality expertise to outdoor experiential designs. This strategic pivot positioned Clockwork as a national leader in outdoor hospitality, completing over 50 impactful projects across the United States. Each project reflects the firm’s entrepreneurial agility, creative innovation, and unwavering dedication to delivering extraordinary, financially viable experiences.
Q&A with Christian Arnold, Founding Principle at Clockwork Architecture & Design
Background
Tell us a bit about your company’s history:
Clockwork Architecture + Design was founded 20 years ago with the mission to to LISTEN ACTIVELY and be RELENTLESSLY RESOURCEFUL as we build brands. The firm delivers meaningful results through an integrated approach that includes architecture, interior design, product design, brand identity, and brand development. Clockwork is committed to social responsibility, exemplified by their initiative to build water wells in sub-Saharan Africa for every project designed.
What inspired you to work in outdoor hospitality?
Our team has personally experienced the healing powers of being outside. Inspired by Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods we knew we could leverage our expertise in large scale hospitality to bring a rigor and financial viability to outdoor experiential projects. We witnessed so many ambitious projects that had good intentions but no financial viability and knew there was a more responsible approach. Over the last 7 years, Clockwork has emerged as the leading national consulting firm in outdoor hospitality with the design and construction of over 50 projects spanning across the United States.
Services and Expertise
What services do you offer, and what sets your approach apart?
Brand Development, Strategic Consulting, Master-planning, Architectural and Interior Design. We love building brands.
How do you address current trends in the industry?
Our extensive portfolio of over 50 projects allows us to observe and guide our clients in real time. Our entrepreneurial DNA allows us to be nimble and agile. We study history and learn from it, one thing remains constant, for thousands and thousands of years, our ancestors gathered around a fire to tell stories. We don’t see that changing.
Projects and Achievements
What’s a standout project your team has worked on?
We can not pick our favorite child.
What outcomes do your clients achieve with your help?
Unique experiences that are financially feasible. We often say that good design is easy, but knowing which levers to pull is what position’s a project for success. So many architects and designers are able to design something looks nice but then it costs a fortune and wastes everyone’s time. So many engineers don’t understand how to optimize a guest experience and then the solution is lacking. Our job is to guide, with humility, to achieve something that is really special. If one was going to raft the Colorado River for the first time, would be it better to jump in and start paddling and hope for the best or ask a guide to show them the way?
Sage x Clockwork Partnership
How has your partnership with Sage Outdoor Advisory impacted your work?
The team at Sage is the best in the industry. They are able to review a proposed site plan and then optimize for revenue management. The process is fluid and yields measured results to our projects. They are visionary, but also realistic which is a rare combination in the industry. Our most successful projects have been one’s that Sage is involved from the beginning.
What do you enjoy most about collaborating with us?
We love collaborating on a project to optimize for operational excellence and quickly study layout options and unit types that are proven to excel in each climate and market. Their speed and accuracy makes our ideas a reality and allow us to position a project for financial success.
Looking Ahead
What exciting projects are on the horizon?
As stated before it’s so hard to pick your favorite child but we’re especially excited about the potential with these two: stayidyllwood.com and www.basecamp-parks.com
How do you see your role in shaping the future of outdoor hospitality?
Frankly put, it’s quite the opposite, we see outdoor hospitality shaping us. After 20 years and consulting on over $5B in real estate all over the US, there’s something really special of hiking a 14er with a client one week and then mountain biking with another client the next.