One thing I really would like to do in life is to be on the move. When you think of your life, don’t you also feel sometimes how good it would be to be on the move always, with no worries to bog you down mentally and emotionally, and with no concerns about where your next meal would come from? Honestly, Matthew Hofmann from Hofmann Architecture, has done just that. He recently completed a full renovation of a vintage 1970’s Airstream trailer and that too the eco friendly way.
An excerpt from an interview shed some light on the extremely innovative work done by him. Purchasing his trailer from Craiglist, he decided to be on the move, keeping with him things which were of utmost importance to him and this also helped him pike up the value of things that were close to him in life. Thanks to the fact that the trailer is completely mobile, Matthew has been able to travel far and wide, sometimes even to several oceanfront RV resorts.
At first, when he saw the condition of the trailer he found it hard to believe he had just spent a packet of money on a piece of junk. Matthew realized it was going to be a big challenge to transform it into a living paradise. But, life is all about accepting challenges which is exactly what the designer did. By stripping the caravan of all the unnecessary items, the designer was able to weigh the value of all those things he required to be kept and the stuff which needed to be removed. Once that task was accomplished, he was in a better position to redecorate his mobile home.
According to Hofmann, the green side of the conversion is as follows:
The Airstream uses an integrated propane heating system on colder nights. For cooling, the Airstream uses two large awnings on each side to shade windows from direct sunlight. Large open-able, screened windows promote ample cross-ventilation to take full advantage of Southern California’s ocean breeze. The Airstream utilizes a low voltage battery system with integrated charger. This system supplies 12 volt lighting and fans, or converted 110v power. Batteries are recharged from the automobile while in tow, and a solar panel battery charging system is currently being installed. Low voltage lighting, such as fluorescent and halogen, are utilized throughout the trailer. Water flow control devices are installed on every water fixture. Small hot water tank encourages short showers. Extremely low flow water closet is adaptable to the type of waste. (less water for liquid waste, more for solid waste) Two separate storage tanks: graywater and blackwater. Gray water is diverted from sewer and used for landscape irrigation. The Airstream is not hooked up to city sewer, so blackwater waste is biologically-treated on-site through a leach field/septic tank.
The whole procedure of redecorating the trailer cost Matthew around $20k, but then it was solely worth the effort. After a lot of consideration and hard work, Hofmann was able to transform a piece of junk into a suitable liveable quarter for himself. Now, the trailer looks more like a paradise rather than junk.
Via: FreshHome