On 5 September 2026, I went to the self-built campervan festival at Põhjala Factory in Tallinn. I went along on my own initiative, camera in hand, to take a few photos and see how people had built homes inside their vans and buses. I like having a look around places like this. At one van, you're looking at how they've fitted the kitchen in; at the next, some small detail catches your eye instead.
But if I'm honest, my favourites were still those two Volkswagen T1s. I've had a soft spot for them for a long time.
I have a soft spot for the T1
The T1 immediately brings to mind a whole picture of American hippie, beach and surf culture. All of that is close to my heart. Add road trips and summer, and I don't really need any more reasons to admire this van.
I'd love to own one myself someday. Drive around in summer and chill out a bit. I suppose it would be quite an accessory for me too, because I like it just for the way it looks. I simply like the T1, and that's that.
Brown tones and a real feeling of home
Besides the T1s, two other lovely vans really caught my eye. Both had brown tones, wood and details that made them feel cosy. One had darker wood, soft covers and little colourful things. The other had wooden surfaces, dark cupboards and a bed right next to the kitchenette. Looking at either of them, I could imagine being quite comfortable in there.
An all-white interior with almost everything cleared away doesn't really do much for me. I like things that bring a bit of joy and make a place feel like home. Some colour, a pattern or two, wood and soft fabrics. Those two vans had just the right amount of all that for me. They were really cool.
They don't all have to be my favourites
I'm not much of a Volkswagen T3 fan. Even so, the homes built into the T3s there were really well thought out. Everything you needed had been fitted neatly into very little space. They were interesting to look around even if the van itself isn't quite to my taste. There were certainly plenty of good practical ideas there.
I photographed the vans as a whole as well as what was inside them: a steering wheel, curtains, mugs, a record player. And the people in the middle of it all. In one photo, a girl is making pancakes at the back of a car. I like having moments like that among these pictures, because part of what interests me about a campervan is what it's actually like to spend time in one.
I went to Põhjala to take photos and have a look around the vans. Now I've got the photos from that day, and the thought of having my own T1 is back in my head.
See all 37 photos from the self-built campervan festival at Põhjala Factory.