De Markies – The Incredible Folding Camper Trailer
A couple of weeks ago we posted a link on our facebook page that featured the quite incredible de Markies Folding Camper Trailer.
De Markies is the brain child of dutch designer Edward Bohling. Here’s what his web site has to say about it.
“De Markies” (The Awning) was an entry in the “Temporary Living” competition 1985 and was conceived as a mobile home. On the road, it measures 2.00 m by 4.50 m, and once it has arrived at its destination its floorspace can be increased threefold in a matter of seconds. “De Markies” was awarded the Public Prize at the Rotterdam Design Prize 1996. – Edward Bohtling
It’s quite incredible that this was created more than 30 years ago but it still looks great today.
If you passed one of these things on the road you wouldn’t give it a second glance. In fact it doesn’t look that much like a standard camper trailer or caravan as it is very boxy and doesn’t have windows in the side. It probably looks more like one of the toilet trailers you get at outdoor festivals.
As a design concept it is brilliant.
Part of the interest in this baby is that as a design concept it is brilliant. Many of the ideas are used in top end motorhomes and RVs today.
Both sides fold down to triple the floor space. That’s why there are no windows – the sides become the floors for the extra space.
As we look at the unfolded photograph the main bedroom area is on the left – under the orange awning. The conservatory style day room is on the right under the clear plastic awning. The middle section contains the kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Bedroom
As you can see there are 2 quite reasonably sized bedrooms separated by a fan-like divider. There are also built in wardrobes and dressers. For those of us who are used to living out of a duffle bag while camping this is the height of luxury.
You can have the awnings up during the day for a little ventilation. At night the awnings come down and provide incredible privacy.
Center Section – Kitchen and Bathroom
When we take a look at the center section we see the clever folding furniture that provides dining space. Cooking and sink facilities are in the sides.
This thing has more cupboards and storage space than my first apartment.
Just in case you are wondering – that is not a flat screen television at the end, they had not been invented in 1985. It really is the window.
When you take a look at the cooking area you see addition sitting and dining space. This cooker was probably state of the art in 1985.
What strikes us is the amount of space that is available to actually stand and cook. Most campers you need to have one foot in the sink to be able to get close to the cooker.
Living Area
When we take a look at the living area we see yet more fold away furniture. This all folds up into the walls when it is time to pack up and move on.
One concern we had was about that clear plastic awning. Tents that have attempted to incorporate clear plastic in the structure rapidly heat up to unbearable levels in even moderate sunshine. It is good to see the De Markie designers have considered this problem and have incorporated an inner blind to limit the amount of sun you get.
The blind can be pulled all the way down to provide privacy at nighttime and to provide a little additional insulation
Conclusion
In truth we are almost sorry we did a bit more research on the De Markie Camper. It’s an absolutely brilliant concept but…
Trouble is, you are pretty unlikely to see one of these at all. We have searched the internet and can find no record of this having been developed beyond a design concept model. Looking at it I think I can guess why. That towing arm and chassis looks to have come from a simple garden trailer. It’s just welded steel tube.
There’s no suspension and I don’t even see any electric hook-up or brake linkage. The whole thing would have rattled to pieces in a few miles of taking to the road. Top speed would have been about 10 mph without proper braking.
It looks like it should be on sale now but, as mentioned earlier, this has never gone into production.
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