What could be cooler than designing and building your own customized motor home from scratch? How about this: add not only every standard camper car amenity but also include a hydraulic lift system to give yourself a second-story Japanese-style zen loft space complete with rice paper windows and tatami mats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ilufP76vy8

This industrious crew of friends converted an old truck into a contemporary and fully-equipped mobile home and even documented the process to prove it (and illustrate it for those who might want to follow their example). Metal construction makes the entire load more light-weight and manageable.

Since completely their project, they have taken their creation on the road and traveled through much of Japan, stopping in camping sites and parking spots wherever they found them along the way. Suddenly, due to the transforming element of the design, normal highway height restrictions are no longer obstacles.

Inside, everything on the first floor of this custom mobile house has a thrown-together look – a kitchen, living area and utilities built for saving space and increasing functionality. On the second floor, however, it is a different story – function gives way to feng shui and spatial relationships, simple decorative touches, warm materials and soft lighting take over.

Best of all, it is clear that the creators of this crazy modern moving house have taken the time to enjoy the fruits of their labors, tripping around the country but also pausing to gather, communicate and celebrate along the way.

–Via dornob

One way to think of a bedroom is as that space where you can remove yourself from the rest of the world, relax and remain disconnected from everything outside while you recharge for the next day. How better to do that than by (literally) hanging out in a box (designed by ECDM) that is physically separated from the rest of your home?

Complete with bed and television, this clever box bedroom is in many ways a central element within this place – defining and displacing space around it, making its presence known on all sides but also positively shaping circulation around it.

However, while it exists in such a central location it is also completely concealed from the primary living area below – as secluded as one could ever need to be and completely safe inside on a bed inside of a steel box hanging from the ceiling.

Moreover, when not in use as a sleeping space the lip of the bedroom provides comfortable-height informal bench seating for guests. Why just loft your bed when you can simply loft your entire bedroom?

–Via dornob