by Alice Scarsi
Have you ever dreamed of going caravanning, but feel you’re not ready to renounce the spacious comforts of your home? One Amsterdam designer may have the solution you’re looking for
As you’ve probably established by now, we here at CaravanTimes love innovation. From the Mogo Freedom to the ForFreedom and everything else in-between, whenever we stumble across something like the Markies, we have to stop what we’re doing and write about it. We just can’t believe it’s been around since 1985!
The Markies, which is the Dutch word for ‘awning’ was the brainchild of Dutch designer Eduard Böhtlingk. Combining an innovative double-sided awning and incorporating it to into the side walls of the caravan itself, Böhtlingk looks like he has answered all of our prayers when it comes to ensuring we really do have more than enough room for all our caravanning needs.
When closed, the Markies looks exactly like a regular caravan and can be towed as such, but don’t be fooled – after all, looks can be deceiving. Despite the Markies measuring just 2 x 4.5 metres, the magic really starts to happen when the side walls are opened. The surprisingly foldable walls and floors allow to triplicate the space available, making for enough room to store four beds and provide practical storage solutions on one side and two reclining benches on the other.
Thanks to the structure that, when opened, makes the Markies looks like a giant accordion, all the rest of the space within the original structure of the caravan is designated to a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious living room, providing more than enough room for the whole family, or a group of friends, wishing to pitch up the great outdoors.
Surprisingly, however, the Markies is a one-off and never managed to make it to the production line, despite being awarded the Public Prize at the Rotterdam Design Awards in 1996. But don’t despair: if you feel like staying somewhere different – or in something different – plan a trip to The Urban Campsite which will be settling in a mystery location near Amsterdam later this year and will feature the Markies in all its glory, along with a whole host of other artistic and blatantly crazy caravan concoctions.
Check out pictures of the Markies in our forum after the jump.
What do you think of the Markies? Is this something you’d stay inside?
