Outdoors

Swanky concept caravan explores the future of glamping

Swanky concept caravan explores the future of glamping
Bürstner debuts the Harmony 3 at the 2018 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon
Bürstner debuts the Harmony 3 at the 2018 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon
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A peek inside the Harmony 3 doorway reveals the hanging dining area lights and stone-look kitchen wall
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A peek inside the Harmony 3 doorway reveals the hanging dining area lights and stone-look kitchen wall
Bürstner adds some color and graphics to give the Harmony 3 exterior a distinctive look
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Bürstner adds some color and graphics to give the Harmony 3 exterior a distinctive look
The Harmony 3 also has a bright rear lighting signature
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The Harmony 3 also has a bright rear lighting signature
Bürstner debuts the Harmony 3 at the 2018 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon
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Bürstner debuts the Harmony 3 at the 2018 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon
The Harmony 3 is the third in a series of concepts exploring a more comfy, homey future for campers
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The Harmony 3 is the third in a series of concepts exploring a more comfy, homey future for campers
It's easy to feel like you're looking at an apartment and not a caravan cabin
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It's easy to feel like you're looking at an apartment and not a caravan cabin
Bürstner Harmony 3 caravan concept
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Bürstner Harmony 3 caravan concept
Bürstner Harmony 3 caravan concept
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Bürstner Harmony 3 caravan concept
The kitchen includes a cooktop with induction hob
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The kitchen includes a cooktop with induction hob
A look at the Harmony 3's dining area and kitchen
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A look at the Harmony 3's dining area and kitchen
Bürstner Harmony 3 caravan concept
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Bürstner Harmony 3 caravan concept
A built-in wine rack adds to both the look and luxury
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A built-in wine rack adds to both the look and luxury
The bed lifts to the ceiling during the day and drops down at night, saving space versus a permanent bed
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The bed lifts to the ceiling during the day and drops down at night, saving space versus a permanent bed
Built-in coffeemaker for easy coffee prep just like home
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Built-in coffeemaker for easy coffee prep just like home
The view from the large sofa
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The view from the large sofa
Harmony 3 bathroom
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Harmony 3 bathroom
View gallery - 16 images

The future is on full display at this year's Düsseldorf Caravan Salon. At Mercedes-Benz, that means integrating fuel cell and smart home technologies into camper vans. At Dethleffs, it's about exploring how electric power can impact the camping trailer. And at Bürstner, it involves making the caravan look a lot more elegant and comfortable with the Harmony 3 concept. If Bürstner's vision becomes reality, expect camping to feel more and more like home.

About as far away from sleeping under the stars at night and drinking cowboy coffee in the morning as you can get while still technically "camping", the Harmony 3 is designed to make you forget you're in a camping trailer at all. That won't actually happen until you're inside – the shell is a little smoother and prettier than the average camping trailer, but it's still a camping trailer, not a tiny home.

The interior, however, looks and feels very much like a home and not so much like a camper. Hanging lamps cast soft light onto the removable dining table just inside the doorway, and stone-look walls lend a rustic-chic look to the kitchen. The kitchen itself is equipped with modern features, including an induction cooktop and built-in coffeemaker. Just to the right of the entryway, a transparent wine case puts your collection on display.

The kitchen includes a cooktop with induction hob
The kitchen includes a cooktop with induction hob

The open floor plan keeps things as spacious as a home living room, stretching back to a large couch. There's even a small coffee table for that extra home-like touch. At night, the queen bed drops down from the ceiling over the couch/coffee table, providing a comfy night of sleep for two.

A TFT display in the living area works as both a television and a digital picture frame, and an Alexa-based control system provides for quick, intuitive lighting and TV control.

The final component of the Harmony 3 floor plan is the rear corner bathroom, which includes a spacious shower area. A backlit shower wall adds some extra color and style.

Harmony 3 bathroom
Harmony 3 bathroom

Bürstner has created a compelling vision for a caravan of the future, but there's a reason that caravans don't usually have residential-style features like dangling lamps and coffee tables. We assume the manufacturer has a plan to keep those from smashing around during bumpy rides – perhaps a retraction system for the lights and floor mounting for the coffee table.

The Harmony 3 is just a design study for now, but we do expect to start seeing more residential-like technology and decor moving into the camper/glamper segment, and Bürstner seems determined to be among the leaders in that movement.

Source: Bürstner (German)

View gallery - 16 images
5 comments
5 comments
J Scott
Wow! Finally an RV that doesn't look like a box from 1978, inside and out. Hurray!
guzmanchinky
I've found the best modification I've ever made to my RV was installing a skylight with a retractable shade, and indirect lighting.
Lardo
"About as far away from sleeping under the stars at night and drinking cowboy coffee in the morning as you can get while still technically camping" - That's a matter of opinion.
"If Bürstner's vision becomes reality, expect camping to feel more and more like home." - The whole point of camping is to get away from "home", and "roughing" it. Leave it to the hoity-toity's to squeeze the fun out of most everything.
By the way, how insanely expensive is this monstrosity?
Seajet
Lardo is obviously quite happy sleeping on the ground inside a tent. That is ok. But why does his way mean camping has to mean roughing it? Do not understand nor agree. Neither do I agree with being called a hoity-toity. Why? Just because I live my life different than you do? I find the Buerstner design hip, modern and refreshing and hope they will bring it to market. Contrary to what Lardo will think, the price will be surprisingly competitve with the mostly stale US offerings. Anyways, we live and travel in a 45ft motorhome. How shocking is that! We stay in National and State Parks, commercial campgrounds and sometimes we boondock, too. We bring along our hiking boots and get up at 5 AM to go out on a trail, use our bicycles as well as our kayaks. We live more outdoors than inside our monstrosity.
ljaques
Absolutely gorgeous with one exception: the ugly ink-stained white interior walls. Love the concept, but it's ill-thought out with its 4.5" ground clearance which would get stuck on a standard driveway outlet. Those corded dining lights would go flying on the freeway, too. They'll probably price this so only Saudi princes and low government officials can afford them, but they're nice anyway.