Photo: Nissan (Composite)
Less is more, as the saying goes. Far from encouraging us to settle for mediocre, disappointing, or a general state of scarcity, this lifestyle approach aims to demonstrate that minimalism can be as effective, if not more so, than any other.
With the boom of mobile homes of all kinds, minimalism has become the buzzword of the moment, and it has done so in the most natural way possible.
Minimalism and downsizing go hand in hand, and they would do so even without the belief that fewer material possessions encourage a more intentional lifestyle. To put it in much simpler terms, you can’t have too much of anything in a small footprint, so minimalism is the only way you can achieve any semblance of comfort.
That said, this is minimalism taken to the extreme. Nissan has announced that its 2022 MyRoom camper van concept, formally unveiled as a limited-edition model based on the sixth-generation Nissan Caravan late last year, is now entering full production. The Nissan MyRoom will be available at local dealerships later this year, according to a news agency.
Photo: Nissan
“Local” is the key word here, because it doesn’t look like Nissan has any plans to bring MyRoom to international territories. That means the rest of the world can only look but not touch, and admire Nissan’s sleek and very minimalist interpretation of #vanlife from afar.
The #vanlife trend began with the first wave of travel restrictions imposed by the 2020 global health crisis. Although described by many as a “fad,” it is still widespread today, fueled in part by the subsequent housing and economic crisis, as well as extra-mobility in terms of working hours, triggering the emergence of the so-called modern nomad.
The MyRoom concept was also heavily influenced by all of these, although it was never intended for long-term living. It is part mobile home, part hotel-style retreat, so it is essentially a recreational vehicle with clearly defined functions, but which aims to stand out with its minimalist style, modularity and quality.
Photo: Nissan
MyRoom is just that: a (hotel) room on wheels. As such, it has a modular design that offers a comfortable bedroom and a separate space that doubles as a living room, dining room or workspace, although never at the same time. Its main attraction is the minimalist, rather elegant style, with wood panels and simple fabrics, which is obviously a choice designed to create that specific atmosphere that you can only find in hotel rooms and spas.
In back, Nissan offers MyRoom with two bed options, both the same size. There’s a Murphy-style double bed configuration that drops down from one of the walls and, implicitly, becomes “invisible” when pulled up and out of the way. The second option is the typical bench conversion, with the components stacking against the wall during the day.
According to the photos provided by Nissan, the first bed option has the disadvantage of not allowing free use of the “floating” table that moves on longitudinal trenches in the wooden paneling. With the second, the disadvantage is obvious: you have to remake the bed every time you want to use it and then repeat the same process when you are finished.
Photo: Nissan
The rear seats rotate to face the interior of the camper and are part of the layout. They can also be folded flat, which, along with the privacy curtain, creates a very cozy lounge area, made even more cozy by the ability to open the doors to let the breeze in. During the day, these soft seats pair with the table slat to create a dining area or workspace for remote working.
Sleeping and working are the only activities possible on board MyRoom, because the camper has no kitchen or toilet, nor does it have water or LPG reserves. Likewise, Nissan has no plans to ever include them in production units.
MyRoom does get power, though, via the Leaf Power Station portable battery designed last year with 4R Energy and JVC Kenwood from repurposed Nissan Leaf battery cells. LED lights are discreetly mounted in the ceiling panels, and you get outlets to charge your small devices while you’re out.
Photo: Nissan
To vanlifers or even many casual observers, the Nissan MyRoom seems a bit of a no-brainer as a camper, but only if you ignore the idea behind it, which is that it's designed as a hotel-room-inspired retreat that's a step above traditional tent camping. It's the “less is more” approach applied to vanlife.
Nissan believes there is a market for a camper of this type, so MyRoom will arrive at dealerships in several different configurations, with 2WD or 4WD options and prices start at around $37,400.