Home-Made Eco-Friendly Truck, Unfolds Into a Castle

There are many passionate woodworkers who either have, or would love to, fit out their own mobile living space, giving it their own unique identity using their woodworking skills, but this beautiful truck which unfolds into a spacious castle from New Zealand couple Justin and Jola just about tops anything I have seen before. Don't forget to watch the video at the end of the article.

By Bryce Langston | LivingBigInATinyHouse.com

This incredible transforming house truck is one that you really have to see to believe. Completely folded up, it would look very similar to a regular house truck were it not for the two turrets on the back that give a hint of what it becomes. Once parked, the house truck completely folds out and transforms into a fantasy castle.

When travelling, the entire house truck is a compact and tidy package. The roof retracts, the sides of the walls fold in, the turrets rotate inwards and it’s ready to go. When compacted for travel mode, the house easily meets all the minimum road clearances and is therefore very easy to travel with. 

Once parked however, the castle truck comes to life, expanding to create a beautiful little home for its builders / owners Justin, Jola and their son Piko. The family have a very active lifestyle and the indoor outdoor flow of the house was a central theme in it’s design.

The castle-truck is completely off-the grid. It is solar powered, heats water through a mixture of solar panels on the roof, a wetback fire, and gas, and it captures rain water from the roof that is then stored in water tanks below the truck.

Inside the house is just as impressive with beautifully crafted living and working areas providing all the necessary comforts for this busy family. The kitchen has been created as the central feature of the home. All of the appliances are full-sized and the kitchen is a wonderful space for this family who love to cook.

Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this truck is the amount of storage space that is built into it. Huge wardrobe and cupboard spaces fill up all corners of the house and easily allow enough storage space for all the families’ belongings.

A magical sleeping loft raises up from above the truck and creates a wonderful place for the family to relax and sleep. The wallpaper was created by Jola who spent many hours cutting out music and lyrics from old song books. Each of the songs sing about beauty, love, and sleep and set the mood for this tranquil space.

Climb up even further and you will find yourself on top of the world. The castle truck boasts an impressive roof-top balcony, with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, a hammock, solar food dehydrator built into the roof, and even a roof-top bathtub!

To the rear of the truck you’ll find the bathroom turrets. The turret to the left is the composting toilet, and to the right is the shower turret which also is home to a small washing machine.  In addition to being a very unique feature on the house, this design also has the practical benefit of separating the bathroom from the living space.

Justin and Jola have created a truly spectacular home. The engineering that has gone into the house is pure genius and it is both skilfully and beautifully executed. In my mind, this House Truck has single handedly raised the bar on what is possible in small space design.

Now watch the video to appreciate this space in all it's glory   :-)

Jola works as a travelling performer. To find out more about her incredible acrobatic duo click here.

Source:
Courtesy of Bryce Langston
http://www.livingbiginatinyhouse.com/