Frank Lloyd Wright’s Overlooked Food Truck Concept Inspired a New Airstream Trailer.

      Airstream

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      Renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright is celebrated for his remarkable building designs, ranging from distinctive residences to the Guggenheim Museum. However, you may be surprised to learn that he also envisioned a “mobile kitchen” food truck concept in 1939. Although it never reached production, it served as inspiration for the recent collaboration between Airstream camp trailers and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

      Introducing the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer. This stunning 28-foot model maintains Airstream’s iconic chrome caterpillar silhouette, while incorporating some of Wright's recognizable design characteristics and color schemes inside.

      Airstream plans to manufacture 200 units over the next two years, with a retail price of $184,900. Although this is a significant amount, it falls within Airstream’s typical pricing range; for comparison, a 28-foot Classic model starts at $179,900.

      The term “Usonian” was utilized by Wright to denote the United States specifically, distinguishing it from the broader terms North and South America. It also specifically refers to the small home designs he created, making it fitting as part of the trailer's name.

      Clearly, Mr. Wright did not contribute to this collaboration, as he passed away in 1959. Nevertheless, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, based at Wright’s Taliesin West home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, continues to actively apply his design principles to new projects like this customized camper.

      If you examine Wright’s works casually, you might assume his style emphasizes bold lines and grand shapes. However, the essence of his design philosophy was about harmonizing with nature. In his own words: “I’d like to have architecture that belonged where you see it standing.”

      This philosophy was reflected in Airstream’s trailer by incorporating more windows and slightly rearranging the interior layout to enhance natural light. The main sleeping area has been positioned right in front of the large rear hatch “to create a focal point for blending interior and exterior,” as explained by Airstream in a blog post.

      A slatted ceiling feature runs along the length of the interior, “framing skylights, concealing ventilation, and creating dynamic light and shadow throughout the space.” All interior elements consist of strong, clean-looking dark wood pieces, exuding a mid-century modern aesthetic.

      The sleeping area near the large hatch can be converted into couches.

      Interior design details also significantly contribute to giving the camper a unique Wrightian appearance, although many of the trailer's smaller elements and accessories were influenced by Eugene Masselink, who was once Wright’s personal secretary and a trusted apprentice designer. Masselink is credited with the Gordon Leaf pattern featured throughout the trailer.

      Lastly, the color palette draws inspiration from the “Wright-curated 1955 Martin-Senour Paint collection,” showcasing strong desert influences and earth tones.

      On the exterior, the design appears fairly standard, except for a small stripe and a “Frank Lloyd Wright” emblem near the back.

      Since Wright’s food truck was never constructed, this new Airstream stands as the only architectural piece associated with him that is mobile.

      Frank Lloyd Wright may not have seen his food truck vision come to fruition. However, while this Airstream appears fairly conventional from the outside, there are certainly nods to his signature style in the interior. It’s an attractive trailer overall—finally, a Wright-inspired home on wheels!

      If you're interested in learning more details after viewing the photos above, check out this contextual video featuring Bob Wheeler and Mollie Hansen from Airstream, alongside Henry Hendrix from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, discussing how Wright and Airstream's distinct designs have come together in this project.

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