What do you get when you take Airstream’s iconic RV design and add a healthy dose of inspiration from one of the most famous and influential architects that has ever lived? Why, a stunning and thoughtful new RV of course! The Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer combines some of the best ideas from both of those influences, creating an elegant and timeless towable that is every bit as beautiful and functional as you would expect.
Airstream is no stranger to collaborating with other brands, having produced several special edition models in the past with Pottery Barn, REI, Tommy Bahama, and others. You can now add the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to that list, as the organization that oversees the architect’s substantial legacy played an important role in this new RV.
Photo Credit: Airstream/Andrew Pielage
Airstream x Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
The collaboration began way back in the fall of 2022, when Airstream first reached out to the Foundation to pitch the idea of working together. The RV manufacturer found an eager partner who saw great similarities in their brands and brought plenty of ideas to the table. Still, it took nearly three years to complete the project, with both sides going to great lengths to respect Wright’s design philosophies, while integrating them into a 28-foot travel trailer.
Wright’s approach to architecture and design continually evolved and changed throughout his career, but there were a number of distinct themes that remained across most of his work. For instance, he thought that a building could be both beautiful and functional, while greatly improving the owner’s life in the process. He also wanted his projects to blend in naturally with the environment, giving them an aesthetic that felt like it always belonged there. The architect even used materials like canvas, wood, and glass to help bring nature inside, creating spaces that were calm and peaceful. Wright dubbed this unified design philosophy as “Usonian” which branded it as uniquely American.
The Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer channels those sensibilities in some unique and exciting ways. For instance, the trailer’s storage cabinets were relocated in order to add more windows. In fact, this rig has the most windows ever found in an Airstream model. This not only allows more natural light to reach the interior, but provides excellent views at the campsite, while adhering nicely to Wright’s ideas for bringing nature inside.
Photo Credit: Airstream/Andrew Pielage
Form and Function
Functionality is always an important piece of RV design as manufacturers look to make the most of the available space. But Airstream thought outside of the box with this towable, adding features like twin beds that double as couches during the day, but automatically convert to a king-size mattress at the touch of a button. The trailer also comes with a rear hatch that serves as a second entrance/exit, and makes loading gear a breeze. When opened, that same hatch offers an expansive view and allows fresh air to reach the interior. This is a feature we’ve seen on other Airstream models in the past, but seems especially appropriate here.
Wright’s influence is felt throughout the rest of the towable in some very interesting ways. For example, the trailer’s wooden dining table and built-in desk fold out of the way when not in use, creating more room for hosting guests or just spreading out. The trailer also comes with a set of wooden chairs that take obvious design cues from those found at Taliesin West, the architect’s creative and spiritual retreat in Flagstaff, AZ. The trailer’s awning is even made from the same fabrics that Wright used in ceiling panels found at that same location.
At the suggestion of Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation staff, Airstream integrated another simple design element throughout the trailer, giving it a splash of color and whimsy in the process. The Gordon Leaf is a stylized design of something found in nature that was created by one of Wright’s most trusted apprentices. He named it in honor of Elizabeth Gordon, who was the editor of House Beautiful magazine and a long-time friend of the architect. The pattern is found on the door of the new travel trailer, on lighting sconces in the cabin, on the galley walls, and in other places.
Photo Credit: Airstream/Andrew Pielage
RV Specs and Features
For RV fans looking for specs, there is plenty to share, too. The trailer measures 28’ 2” end-to-end, and has a GVWR of 7,600 lbs. and a hitch weight of 800 lbs. The rig comes with 300W of roof-mounted solar panels and a 2.5kWh house battery, making it well equipped for remote camping. The kitchen includes a three-burner stove and oven, a convection microwave, and an energy-efficient 12V fridge. And as you would expect from an Airstream, the bathroom features a porcelain Mercator toilet, a mirrored medicine cabinet, and a shower with an acrylic entry door.
The Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer will be available to purchase through the RV manufacturer’s dealer network nationwide. Just 200 units will be produced, each coming with custom numbered badging in Wright’s favorite Taliesin Red hue. To find out more about this amazing new Airstream vehicle, and check out an entire line of new Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home goods, apparel, and gifts, visit airstream.com.
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