João Neves – a Portuguese ceramist and sculptor – is the creator, designer and builder of MiniCasas. MiniCasas Portugal is based in Caldas da Rainha, in the centre of Portugal.
With the help of MiniCasas, you can expand your living space, create your own special getaway or set up a summerhouse, studio or stylish office space.
The Gypsy caravans are built with a keen eye for detail and from natural materials, such as cork and timber, then painted in warm tones, with water-based paint. They may be used as additional mobile living space, a place to host guests, an office or other type of work space, a library … the list is simply endless! If required, a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom-lounge area, running water and electricity can all be provided.
The Gypsy caravans are made from natural materials that guarantee permanent comfort. All have excellent insulation so that the temperature is always pleasant, during both summer and winter. A low-consumption electric radiator is provided to take the edge off chilly days. Learn more by visiting their website.
Oh, God, I love these!
ooh, beautiful!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these! The round window is so charming. How big does the bed extend out?
Hi Christina, sorry for answering so late! I hadn’t seen your comment. The bed is 2m x 1,40m so big enough for 2 adults. When closed it’s a large cauch, as you can see on the pictures. Thanks for your interest! Karolien & João
I know we’re all adults here and maybe I’m ignorant to these things but what exactly is a “bedroom-cum-lounge area?” Typo maybe?
Could be a translation issue, I’ll edit it.
FYI-
cum:
–preposition
with; combined with; along with (usually used in combination): My garage-cum-workshop is well equipped.
From the latin “cum”, roughly meaning “with,” or, even more roughly, “as well as.”
Hi all, it means that the bed during daytime transformes into a cauch – lounge area…
Thanks for your interest, best regards, Karolien & João
It’s one of those Latin words, used as Jeremy described, also in “cum laude” meaning “with honours” (“honors” in American spelling)and a host of other phrases. All right and proper!
Looks great! How is the trailer frame made? Is it from a stock frame already on the market or did you build it yourself?
Very cool, I love it !!!!
Very cute like all the little gypsy wagons.
I love this kind of caravan. Visited some actual gypsy caravans when I was a child, wondrous. I wanted to live in one then! These are adapted to western stylistic preferences; very attractive.
And isn’t it ironic that at the very time we are celebrating the genius of these beautiful and practical movable homes, several European countries are (or already have) closed down numerous Romani communities on various pretexts? Many of those communities had been in existance for decades. It is pure bigotry, of long standing in Europe and here in the states as well. The community I visited (because my mother knew one of the families) was allowed to camp in the county fairgrounds for a few weeks then forced to move on after the fruit picking season, even though a landowner offered to let them camp for the winter on his property.
The further irony is that the Romani are nomadic because they have been forced to be. Their non-movable homes have the same charm and beauty that the caravans do.
beautiful caravans, much nicer to look at than their modern counterparts
When I was a little girl, gypsies camped across the road from my aunt’s house. I remember dancing in her front lawn to their music late into the night…we were curious, but not allowed to invade their privacy, so I did not have the opportunity to peek into their caravans.