Latest news with #FrankLloydWrightFoundation
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airstream and Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Launch Limited Edition Travel Trailer
Legendary American design icons blend signature engineering and architectural styles JACKSON CENTER, Ohio, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Airstream®, the iconic manufacturer of world-class recreational vehicles, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation have partnered to debut the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer. A tribute to American design and organic architecture, the limited-edition travel trailer personifies Frank Lloyd Wright's unmatched architectural vision and Airstream Founder Wally Byam's innovative approach to mobile living and the pursuit of travel freedom. This limited-edition Airstream travel trailer will be produced in a numbered production run of 200 units. The new towable travel trailer was designed in collaboration between Airstream's Jackson Center, Ohio-based engineering and design teams and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation's experts at Wright's Taliesin West home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. To create the new model, the collaborative design teams blended Byam's emphasis on aerodynamic curves with the guiding principles of Wright's organic architecture philosophy to deliver a new mobile example of mid-century form and function. "This is a dream collaboration that brings together two icons of American design, and by focusing on Wright's design principles we were pushed to think differently about materials, textures, and small space efficiency in our floor plan," said Bob Wheeler, president and chief executive officer at Airstream. "Collaborations like this bring new ideas to the table and push our design and engineering teams beyond their comfort zone. The result distills the essence of these two iconoclasts in a travel trailer that is both beautiful and functional." Henry Hendrix, vice president and chief marketing officer at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation adds, "We believe Frank Lloyd Wright's design philosophy was always about helping people live with more purpose, beauty and joy. This collaboration with Airstream has been better than we could have imagined — a perfect meeting of vision and craft that brings Wright's timeless ideas to life on the road. Together, we've created something that lets Airstream enthusiasts 'Live Riveted' in the fullest sense — deeply connected to nature, adventure, and the meaning of home, wherever they go." The design-forward 28-foot travel trailer found inspiration from unprecedented access to archival materials at Taliesin West. Key references were drawn from Wright's Usonian home design principles. Adopted by Wright in his later career, the Usonian style centers on maximizing small spaces and open floor plan efficiency, while blending interior and exterior spaces. The model's rear space stands as one embodiment of the Usonian concept. The unit is standard equipped with Airstream's popular rear hatch feature, providing a sweeping panoramic view to the natural world from the convertible lounge and sleeping space. Where many Airstream travel trailers feature a convertible dinette inside the hatch, this model uniquely positions the primary sleeping area at its rear. Two twin beds, which double as bench seating, conveniently convert with the push of a button into a king-sized bed– the largest option in Airstream's fleet— reminiscent of the gaucho beds found in 1950-1960s era Airstreams. Another unique convertible feature is found in the front living space, where a dining table and separate desk space both collapse into a wall cabinet, creating room for a pull-out sofa that doubles as a secondary sleeping area. Two collapsible Wright-inspired chairs and a collapsible stool tuck away neatly inside the wall cabinet behind the lowered desk and table. A specific emphasis was also placed on filling the space with light. Overhead storage capacity was relocated to allow for more windows and natural light to flow into the unit. Two circular porthole windows also give a nod to Wright's love of circular elements and Airstream's dedication to rounded aerodynamic design. Other historic elements pulled from Wright's storied career include a never-produced mobile kitchen concept unearthed from a 1939 archival design, deep-set lounge seating inspired by his signature furniture work, and open shelving that replaces overhead locker cabinetry. The color palette– drawn from a 1955 Wright-curated Martin-Senour paint collection– showcases desert- inspired hues like ochre, deep red, and cool turquoise throughout the interior finishes and upholstery. The entryway to the unit stands out as another stunning highlight with a main entry door featuring a custom graphic design element drawn from the archival Gordon Leaf mural pattern. Wright commissioned his trusted apprentice and secretary, Eugene Masselink, to create the mural design in 1956 for House Beautiful editor Elizabeth Gordon, and the pattern's organic geometry is featured on the Airstream's main entry portal and matching die-cut screen door, as well as in the lighting sconces, galley wall laminate, dinette, and cabinetry pulls. Hendrix adds, "The Gordon Leaf is a wonderful natural pattern that becomes a gateway to the natural world. The pattern isn't solely decorative. It helps create the sense of fluidity and continuity from interior to exterior that you see across all of Wright's work." The Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer 200 unit production run will feature custom badging in Wright's beloved Taliesin Red hue. The model will be available for purchase at Airstream dealers nationwide, with pricing at $184,900. In coordination with the model launch, Airstream and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation have also developed a custom line of inspired home goods, apparel, and gifts available at Airstream Supply Company. For comprehensive features and pricing, visit ABOUT AIRSTREAMAirstream, manufacturer of the iconic riveted aluminum Airstream® travel trailer, is one of the longest-tenured recreational vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company's mission, as set forth by founder Wally Byam, is to create well-designed, high-quality products that allow people to follow their dreams and explore the world in home-like comfort. A steadfast commitment to Byam's creed, "Let's not make changes, let's only make improvements," has made the aluminum Airstream travel trailer a timeless classic. An unwavering focus on innovation keeps the company at the forefront of technology and customer experience in both the towable and motorized sectors. Airstream is based in Jackson Center, Ohio, where a team of skilled craftspeople hand builds each travel trailer and upfits every Mercedes-Benz® and RAM® touring coach, adding daily to the brand's reputation for quality and innovation. Learn more about Airstream, our dealers, and current travel trailer and touring coach models at For the latest news on Airstream, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Airstream, Inc. is an operating company of Elkhart, IN-based THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO). THOR is the sole owner of operating companies which, combined, represent the world's largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles. For more information on THOR Industries and its products, please visit ABOUT FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FOUNDATIONEstablished by Wright in 1940, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is dedicated to preserving Taliesin and Taliesin West, both World Heritage sites, for future generations. It inspires people to discover and embrace an architecture for better living through meaningful connections to nature, the arts, and each other. The foundation aims to continue Wright's legacy by broadening access to his ideas, works, and designs — considered more relevant today than in his own time — and creating new pathways for audiences to create beauty and connectedness in their own lives. Media Contact:TURNERairstream@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Airstream, Inc.
The Drive
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Frank Lloyd Wright's Forgotten Food Truck Design Inspired a New Airstream Trailer
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright is known for many spectacular building designs, from unique homes to the Guggenheim Museum. But did you know he also sketched a 'mobile kitchen' food truck concept in 1939? It never went into physical production, but it did help inform this new collaboration between Airstream camp trailers and the Frank Lloyd Wright foundation. Behold the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer. This 28-foot beauty retains Airstream's iconic chrome catarpillar silhouette but adds some of FLW's signature design elements and colorways inside. Airstream will build 200 over the next two years with a list price of $184,900. That's a lot of coin, but hardly outside Airstream's normal pricing. A 28-foot Classic model starts at $179,900. Airstream 'Usonian' was a term Wright used instead of 'American' to refer more specifically to the United States as opposed to North and/or South America. It's also applied even more specifically to the small dwelling designs he did, so invoking it for the trailer's name makes sense. Obviously, Mr. Wright himself did not work on this collab—he passed away in 1959. But the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which works out of Wright's Taliesin West home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, is still very much active and applying his design philosophy to new projects such as this customized camper. Wright's longtime home and design studio, Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, is now the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation's base. Airstream If you look at FLW's projects casually, you might think his style is all about intense lines and big, sweeping shapes. But the core of Wright's design philosophy was complementing nature. In his words: 'I'd like to have architecture that belonged where you see it standing.' That was translated to Airstream's trailer here by adding windows and rearranging the interior layout a bit to maximize natural light. The primary sleeping area is moved to just in front of the large rear hatch 'to create a focal point for blending interior and exterior,' Airstream explains in a blog post. A slatted ceiling fixture runs along the spine of the interior, 'framing skylights, concealing venting, and creating dynamic light and shadow throughout the interior.' All the interior elements are made of similarly strong and clean-looking dark wood pieces with a very mid-century modern vibe. The sleeping area near the big hatch can convert into couches. Airstream Interior details also play a big part in giving the camper a distinctive Wrightian look, though much of the trailer's smaller elements and accessories were inspired more specifically by Eugene Masselink. He was at one time Wright's personal secretary, and 'one of Wright's most trusted apprentice designers.' Masselink is credited with the Gordon Leaf pattern that appears throughout the trailer. Finally, the color palette is pulled from the 'Wright-curated 1955 Martin-Senour Paint collection,' featuring heavy desert influence and earthtones. The exterior looks pretty standard, except for the little stripe and 'Frank Lloyd Wright' emblem near the back. Airstream Since Wright's food truck was never built, this new Airstream is kind of the only piece of architecture attached to him that's on wheels. Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright might not have lived to see his food truck idea come online. But even though this Airstream looks pretty standard from the outside, I think some of his signatures are pretty well nodded to in the interior. It's a great looking trailer, regardless. Finally—a Wright house on wheels! If you'd like to get a little deeper on the specifics after scrolling through the photos above, check out this contextual video featuring Bob Wheeler and Mollie Hansen from Airstream, and Henry Hendrix from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, expounding Wright and Airstream's well-known looks coming together in the project. Got a tip? Send us a note at tips@
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
A New Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired Airstream Hits The Market
Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer Airstream, the legendary manufacturer of silver bullet recreational vehicles, has partnered with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to create the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer. This new vehicle is a tribute to the visionary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and to Airstream's founder, Wally Byam, who created a streamlined mobile trailer that revolutionized how Americans travel. It's a marriage of engineering and architecture. 'This is a dream collaboration that brings together two icons of American design' The new 28-foot unit was inspired by unique access to archival materials at Taliesin West, Wright's home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. Among the unique design features, the new Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer was built using Wright's famed Usonian home design principles. Simply put, they emphasize maximizing small spaces and keeping an open floor plan for the sake of efficiency. Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer Visually, it's all about aerodynamic curves that Aistream is famed for, paired with the overriding principles of Wright's organic architecture philosophy. 'This is a dream collaboration that brings together two icons of American design, and by focusing on Wright's design principles, we were pushed to think differently about materials, textures, and small space efficiency in our floor plan,' Bob Wheeler, president and chief executive officer at Airstream, said in a press release. The new Airstream features a panoramic rear hatch. Perhaps most startling is the abundant light provided by 29 windows, more than in any Airstream model to date. Overhead storage capacity was relocated to accommodate more windows and allow natural light to flow into the unit. There are two circular porthole windows that were inspired by Wright's love of circular design elements, as well as Airstream's traditional focus on aerodynamic design. Convertible beds in the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer The trailer features a first-of-its-kind convertible king-sized bed, the largest option in the Airstream fleet, a design inspired by mid-century travel trailers. Two twin beds, which double as bench seating, conveniently convert with the push of a button into a king-sized bed. 'We believe Frank Lloyd Wright's design philosophy was always about helping people live with more purpose, beauty, and joy,' There's a convertible dinette and separate desk space, both of which stow compactly into a wall cabinet. The chairs are Wright-inspired but also collapsible. Wright's Taliesin designs inspire the lounge seating. There are additional design historic elements taken from Wright's visionary career, such as a never-produced mobile kitchen concept that was based on a 1939 archival design. Other rediscovered designs include deep-set lounge seating inspired by Wright's distinctive furniture and open shelving that replaces the most typical overhead locker cabinetry. Kitchen area in the new Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer The color palette was adapted from a 1955 Wright-curated Martin-Senour paint collection and features desert-inspired hues, such as turquoise, ochre, and red, throughout the interior finishes and upholstery. The main entry door features a custom graphic design element drawn from the archival Gordon Leaf mural pattern, which Wright commissioned his apprentice and secretary, Eugene Masselink, to create in 1956 for House Beautiful editor Elizabeth Gordon. 'We believe Frank Lloyd Wright's design philosophy was always about helping people live with more purpose, beauty, and joy,' Henry Hendrix, vice president and chief marketing officer at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, said in a press release. 'This collaboration with Airstream has been better than we could have imagined — a perfect meeting of vision and craft that brings Wright's timeless ideas to life on the road.' This limited-edition Airstream travel trailer will be produced in a numbered production run of 200 units and priced at $184,900.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airstream Just Unveiled a Frank Lloyd Wright Trailer That is So ICONIC
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy is hitting the road—literally. Today, Airstream and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation launched the Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer, a collection of 200, limited-edition Airstreams designed to pay homage to the legendary architect. At first thought, Airstream and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation might seem like an unlikely duo: The former company is on always on the move, while the latter's portfolio is firmly planted on the ground (and inspired by the surrounding nature). But for Bob Wheeler, Airstream's president and CEO, this collaboration was decades in the making. 'I've been dropping this idea of a Frank Lloyd Wright trailer into the thought mill for about 20 years,' Wheeler explained during a press conference at Wright landmark Taliesin West in May. 'I was lucky enough to live in a prairie-style house by an architect who was an acolyte and devotee of Wright. That really set the hook for me to be able to live in a space that was so intentional, so well thought out in every detail.' Wheeler says that Wright and Airstream founder Wallace 'Wally' Byam were contemporaries—they both grew up in a time that favored streamlined design—making this collaboration a natural partnership. Henry Hendrix, vice president and chief marketing officer of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, agrees and makes one thing very clear: This limited-edition release 'isn't a logo slap on the side of the trailer.' Hendrix says the Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer highlights two teams coming together and intentionally meshing their distinct design ethos together—and it shows.'Wright's legacy is the idea that architecture [and] intentional design can really lead to improved lives,' he explains. 'That is what we need to deliver on, and Airstream has been so open to that approach.' Wright's legacy is felt the moment you open the trailer, thanks to the famous Gordon Leaf displayed on the door frame. Wright commissioned artist and designer Eugene Masselink to make the Gordon Leaf mural pattern for former House Beautiful editor Elizabeth Gordon in 1956, and its use throughout the trailer pays homage to their bond. The foundation credits Gordon for encouraging Wright to license his distinct style for products and collaborations just like this trailer—creating a beautiful full-circle moment. 'She really understood his desire to get in the home of the average American, not just the wealthy, rich, and famous,' Hendrix tells House Beautiful. 'All of those iconic furniture pieces from that time are in people's homes because she knew that it would be well received. She understood his need to spread the word about good design.' Wheeler says Wright fans will 'immediately recognize' the architect's influence once they cross the threshold. Form and function come together in perfect harmony in the front of the trailer, which acts as a space-efficient kitchen and great room. While the cherry plywood details bring some warmth to the trailer's cool-toned, nature-inspired palette, a collapsible dining room table, chairs, and desk help make the most of a limited footprint. Speaking of the layout? The trailer embraces Wright's penchant for compression and expansion with a narrow hallway—which has a door to the bathroom and ample discreet storage—that leads to the bedroom. For sweet (and versatile) dreams, the bedroom has two twin mattresses that can come together to form a king bed with the push of a button. In fact, the labels for each of the trailer's many buttons are in the same font as the foundation's logo. The Airstream's interiors might speak to the architect's legacy, but true to Wright's aesthetic, there's also an emphasis on the trailer's surroundings. Ample windows draw the great outdoors inside, while a clever use of strategically placed lighting and slatted details play up the trailer's shadows—a technique which is a key pillar of Wright's design DNA. If you ask Wheeler, a Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer is more than a well-appointed way to get around: It's a dream come true. A marriage between two iconic American brands that celebrates the intersection of the great outdoors and indoors. 'Collaborations like this bring new ideas to the table and push our design and engineering teams beyond their comfort zone,' he says. 'The result distills the essence of these two iconoclasts into a travel trailer that is both beautiful and functional.' The Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer will be available for purchase at Airstream dealers nationwide, and prices start at $184,900. Follow on Instagram and TikTok. You Might Also Like 15 Home Bar Gifts Every Cocktail Enthusiast Will Appreciate 32 Low Light Indoor Plants That Can Survive in the Darkest Corners of Your Home These Are the 50 Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room
Car and Driver
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Airstream's New Trailer Embodies Frank Lloyd Wright's Designs
Airstream has partnered with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation for a new limited-edition travel trailer. The Usonian trailer employs many of the design principles found in Wright's architectural masterpieces, such as the Taliesin West property used by Wright as a winter home. The limited-edition camper costs $184,900, and only 200 units will be built. Compared with the multi-level rectilinear look of Fallingwater and the monolithic rotunda of New York's Guggenheim Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West home in Scottsdale, Arizona, cuts a far subtler silhouette. The property, which served as Wright's winter oasis and is now home to the famed architect's eponymous foundation, consists of a series of low-slung buildings that blend into the surrounding desert. But while Taliesin West lacks the grand presence of some of Wright's other creations, it perfectly encapsulates many of his design philosophies. So, when Airstream—maker of those iconic aluminum campers—decided to partner with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation on a new limited-edition trailer, Taliesin West was the ideal inspiration. Airstream Airstream Airstream Airstream Airstream Airstream Airstream Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
