12/22/13

Classy Camper

Classy Camper

Pictured abov e is the latest innov ation in classy folding campers for chic nomads. Do the ov erlapping curv es and peaks of the design remind y ou of any thing?

If y ou picked the Sy dney Opera House as the design inspiration behind this camper, y ou're absolutely right. Belgian designer Ax el Enthov en modeled the camper, fittingly called Opera, after the unique aesthetic of Australia's most recognizable building. Below is photo of the Opera as a prototy pe.

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Classy Camper

Though it folds out to become a mini-masterpiece of canv as and stainless steel, Opera starts out as a compact, 4-wheel trailer that hooks up to y our car.

Don't be deceiv ed by the common trailer shape it's when y ou pull up to y our campground that the real fun begins. Opera is not like an ordinary camper. Comparing it to one would be like say ing attending the actual opera is the same as catching a mov ie matinee. Once y ou set up the camper (it's electric and takes only 5 minutes to unfold at the press of a button, no messing with tent poles here), Opera offers y ou absolute lux ury in a classic tent setting. Adv ertising copy bills Opera as "Y our Suite in Nature," and the description is accurate.

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Classy Camper

Though it only measures an economical 7 meters once ex panded (around 23 feet for us non-Europeans), Opera is packed with modern amenities not usually found in pop up campers.

The floors are teak, the interior walls are high-grade cotton, and the finishings are done up in oak, corian, and stainless steel for a contemporary , rich feel. The lighting is entirely LED.
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Classy Camper

Opera contains two electrically adjustable beds that can easily be turned into a double bed, as well as a mobile stov e, barbecue (folds up to fit into the kitchen), hot and cold running water, and ceramic toilet. The camper has its own gas supply , negating the need to lug around an ex tra container.

Other amenities include a wine cabinet, heating (a must for chilly winter nights under the stars), an espresso bar, and an enclosed v eranda with the aforementioned teak flooring. The camper has a small baggage area that's great for storing folding chairs, groceries, and other smaller items. Another interesting touch is a built-in compass, so campers can correctly position the Opera to catch morning sunshine if they arriv e at their campground too late to determine which way is east.

Opera made its debut at the 2009 Design at Work trade fair in Kortrijk, Belgium and has since gone on a world tour, with a stop at the 201 0 International Design Biennale St. Etienne and, more recently , the Sy dney Opera House itself. As of June of 201 1 , there hav e been sev eral improv ements made on the original design. The most interesting is the KinderOpera, a kind of "add-on" tent that ex pands the dimensions of the Opera and allows it to accommodate up to 6 adults.

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Classy Camper

Of course, such lux ury doesn't come cheap. According to their website, the current price for a bespoke Opera is 27 ,680. The 340 deliv ery fee isn't included. They 're working on creating a more affordably priced v ersion of Opera, hopefully to be on the market in the fall of 201 1 . If y ou do decide to purchase one, the company has published a guide to classy campgrounds ex clusiv ely for Opera owners. For ev ery one else, there's a short Y ouTube v ideo about the Opera that's good for a day dream. Watch it below. MT

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