Mehrzeller is currently just a concept but with BMW behind it, in all likelihood these strange geometric puzzle-shaped caravans will soon be seen driving along motorways and parked next to the old Airstreams and Bowlers around camping grounds in the near future.

Using the online configurator, every user sets up a design that is unique, their own layout that they can identify with. The configuration is generated by a computer using the customer’s inputs, and then the final design is done by parameters from the architects to yield an attractive and practicable result. The caravans are produced using the principles of “mass customization”: this allows both the individual wishes of the customer to be accommodated while producing the caravan with series methods. (source)

In today’s ‘it’s all about me’ world, personalisation is intrinsic to consumers satisfaction. The concept of ‘mass customisation’ is something manufacturers are counting on to bridge the gap between individuality and the imperative to keep costs low. The strategy “creates value by some form of company-customer interaction at the fabrication and assembly stage of the operations level to create customized products with production cost and monetary price similar to those of mass-produced products.” (source)

The Mehrzeller was designed by architecture students Theresa Kalteis and Christian Freissling from Graz University in Austria. It almost makes me want to rethink my deep rooted hatred of camping. Almost.

Image from Squob.com.

Thom Vernon, co-founder of The Big Chill line of retro-inspired kitchen appliances was inspired by what modern, stainless steel appliances don’t do (you can’t use magnets on them), as much as his desire for a cool kitchen:

The story goes that Thom and his wife were dreaming up a design-conscious retro kitchen that had modern functionality and vintage personality. “With our kid’s artwork and school photos always proudly displayed, we didn’t want the refrigerator to look out of place. The ubiquitous stainless steel appliances weren’t the right fit and we wanted to steer clear of the dreaded ‘white box’.” While they liked the look of the mid-century models, most were too small, inefficient, and required painstaking hours of chiseling to defrost. (source)

The results, though pricey (the cheapest fridge starts at over $2,600 USD), are beautiful with a candy shop of beautiful powder coated painted colour exteriors. Although they look like they are straight out of a 1950s kitchen, they have all the convenience of the modern appliance: built-in ice makers, they are Energy Star rated and, if you aren’t satisfied with their colour range, they will do a custom paint job.

The Big Chill appliances also have a metal exterior so, yes, they are also very magnet friendly.

Image from The Big Chill Kitchen Gallery.