Project Name
Drake
Posted in
Design, Transportation design
Detailed Information
Project NameDrakePosted inDesign, Transportation design

Combining a crisp, contemporary profile with mid-century modernist elegance, Drake is a brand new recreational vehicle house by Land Ark RV that radically redefines the staid image of the typical camper trailer. Designed by American husband-wife duo Brian and Joni Buzarde based on their own experience of building and living in a mobile home, Drake provides all the modern amenities one could ask for, fleshed out in a sleek environment of understated luxury and minimalist sensibility. It is in other words like any other thoughtfully designed high-end house, albeit one you can drive around anywhere you wish to go.

Land Ark RV was founded by Brian and Joni, a Texan couple whose dream was to build their own home on wheels so they wouldn’t be anchored in the same place. Their first endeavour in 2012, a DIY prototype named Woody arising while brainstorming ideas on Southwest Airlines napkins, was painstakingly hand-built in a Houston warehouse after working hours and on weekends with the occasional helping hand of a friend. Once completed, it was put to the test when the couple decided to move to Colorado while living in Woody which proved to be a seminal period because it allowed them to observe firsthand what worked best in terms of privacy and functionality, from storage ideas and plumbing to sleeping arrangements and natural lighting.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Brian and Joni’s passion for homes on wheels has finally now culminated in Drake, Land Ark RV’s 2018 triple-axle trailer. Featuring black corrugated siding, a streamlined profile and an idiosyncratic arrangement of rectangular windows, from the outside Drake looks like something out of a cubist painting. Despite what seems to be a sleek yet haphazard composition, the design is an example of form following function where every detail serves a particular purpose. The placement and sizing of the windows, for example, meticulously corresponds to the interior layout whereas the inverted trapezoid shape provides extra space to the two lofts accommodating the camper’s two bedrooms.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

The dark exterior gives way to white-washed pinewood interiors, which along with the ample daylight and carefully curated views outside, foster a much needed sense of spaciousness. As Brian says, "psychology and emotional response play big roles when you're living in such a relatively small space, so subtle moves can have a large impact”. Apart from the two double bedrooms that are accommodated on the loft spaces on either side of the trailer, there is also a flex room that can be transformed into an office or bedroom—courtesy of a pull-out sofa that raises Drake’s sleeping capacity to six—a kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances and a large breakfast bar, a fully equipped bathroom, and a sitting room. Meanwhile, built-in drawers under the couch, discreet wardrobes and storage soffits provide ample storage without cramping the living spaces.

Designed to withstand cold mountain climates, including heavy snow loads, as well as the scorching desert heat, and fulfilling all road safety requirements, Drake is both an ideal weekend getaway for every terrain and the perfect mobile home for adventurous types who also have an eye for design.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

Photo by Jeremy Gudac.

The Crisp Modernism of Land Ark RV’s Home on Wheels

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