More cool workspaces...

My humble little vintage trailer office just showed up in a list of WAY more creative and inspiring work places. Check out this amazing article on seeeeeeriously cool workplaces. (Note: if that link is not loading, try this mirror version).

And I guess one man's (trailer) trash is another man's SoHo loft... in the current issue of Fast Company, designer Steve McCallion names the 2007 Airstream 75th Anniversary 19' trailer as one of his favorite things.
"It's like a SoHo loft, but mobile. Park this on the beach, catch a fish a day, and you're set."
(I recommend you pick up the print version of this issue if you can)

Since people have been asking for more info about the trailer/office idea, here are some suggestions and thoughts:

1) If you can afford it, consider a new (or slightly used) Airstream CCD (these are the Christopher Deam-designed interiors--the small one is in the picture at the top of this post). They are priiiiicey -- $40,000 US for a new one (or more), but they last forever (fabulous engineering), and the financing is more like a house (15 or 20 year loans) than a vehicle, so the payments can be very reasonable. The CCDs haven't been out too long, but you can occasionally find one that's a couple of years old for a lower price.

2) Regardless of whether you want a new, used, or vintage... go to an Airstream dealer and spend time in one to get a feel for sizes. Note that the newer ones have a more squared design than the more tube-shaped design of the older ones, so the new ones will feel a little wider inside.

3) Vintage Airstreams (including Silver Streaks, like mine) can be purchased quite cheaply--I've seen them as low as $3000, but that's for one that has not been restored.

4) Decide whether you want one that is road/travel-worthy. I want to be able to live in mine, at least for a while, if I decide to work from, say, the Alaskan highway : )

If you don't need the trailer for anything besides an office, than you don't have to restore things like plumbing, etc. (obviously the electrical system will matter).

5) If you buy a vintage trailer (and they're fairly easy to find in the US--and there are some WONDERFUL ones in New Zealand (not Airstream, but very very cool)), you have several options:

* Buy an old one, for cheap, and restore it yourself.
This could take months or even years, depending on the amount of time you spend.

* Buy an old one and have a restoration company restore it for you.
(Coincidentally, one of the best is here in Colorado where I am Timeless Travel Trailers.)
This usually takes about 3 months, and then you get exactly what you want. I would have done this if I hadn't been in a hurry to have my "office". The price of buying an old one and having it restored is usually considerably less than buying a new one, even though the restored trailer can end up virtually as good as a brand new one. (often, the restoration companies will have several old ones for sale, so you don't always have to find the trailer yourself).

* Buy a vintage trailer that has already been restored.
These are VERY hard to find, because the people who have restored them (or paid to have one restored) want them to keep. And very few restoration companies do this on spec, since they figure it's better if you get to pick out exactly what you want.

Be careful about ones advertised as "fully restored", because way too many people just "upgraded" them with hideous 70's or 80's furniture. NOT COOL. The vintage trailer restorers refer to that as "molesting the trailer." A true vintage restoration either keeps the original interior, or replaces things with pieces that reflect the retro period.

One advantage to restoring it yourself or having one restored to your specification is that you can have it customized to work more as an office. I wanted mine to still be a real travel trailer which could still work as an office, but some are made JUST as offices (although they are still mobile). I've seen film companies that make mobile editing suites, a micro-brewery that has turned an Airstream into a full bar that they take to festivals, etc., and several artists studio/galleries.

6) Length matters a LOT if it's going to be mobile... there are definite points where you have to move up to a bigger/stronger tow vehicle. Mine (23 feet) could be pulled with an average SUV or medium pick-up truck or van, but once you get into the longer lengths, you need a more substantial towing capacity. Also, the really long ones have fewer options for places you can take them. Many camping sites have length restrictions.

7) If you're in a snowy, cold area -- they can be fully winterized. A lot of people spend the winter at a ski resort living in a trailer.

8) One of the best places to find out information about Airstreams (vintage and new) is the Airstream forums site. These are some SERIOUSLY helpful people... a great community. Also, one of the things I did was attend a couple of vintage trailer "rallys" where people gather with their trailers in some camping location. These folks will do just about anything to help you get into it... as passionate users, they're powerful evangelists : )