Architecture

Lunar Lander micro-house is out of this world

View 22 Images
No, a spacecraft hasn't landed in rural Washington state. It's the Lunar Lander micro home designed and built by Kurt Hughes
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's dining area juts out from the main body of the home
Kurt Hughes
Inside the Lunar Lander's main living area
Kurt Hughes
Hughes installed lots of storage space in the Lunar Lander
Kurt Hughes
View towards the Lunar Lander's bathroom 
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's dining area
Kurt Hughes
Stairs lead down to the Lunar Lander's bedroom
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's bedroom
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander is located in rural Washington state
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander measures around 250 sq ft (22 sq m)
Kurt Hughes
Access to the Lunar Lander is gained by staircase 
Kurt Hughes
Structurally, the Lunar Lander includes plywood, epoxy, core, fiberglass and self-made SIPs (structurally insulated panels)
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander is accessed by staircase
Kurt Hughes
No, a spacecraft hasn't landed in rural Washington state. It's the Lunar Lander micro home designed and built by Kurt Hughes
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's metal poles allow it to be placed on rough ground 
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander is located in rural Washington state
Kurt Hughes
A shot of the Lunar Lander's deck area
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's dome-style skylight
Kurt Hughes
A shot of the Lunar Lander's dining area
Kurt Hughes
View towards the Lunar Lander's bathroom and sink
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's kitchenette
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's kitchenette
Kurt Hughes
The Lunar Lander's dining table
Kurt Hughes
View gallery - 22 images

Kurt Hughes originally trained as an architect but spent the last 35 years designing yachts. This experience creating comfortable living quarters in relatively small and awkward spaces clearly served him well for his passion project: a unique off-grid micro-house that's aptly dubbed the Lunar Lander.

Hughes told his local newspaper The Seattle Times that the inspiration behind the unusual project came when his youngest daughter attended space camp at Seattle's Museum of Flight around a decade ago.

In the years that followed, Hughes designed and built the prototype dwelling using plywood, epoxy, core, fiberglass and self-made SIPs (structurally insulated panels), altering his design when necessary to ensure it could be given an official permit to serve as a home. It's supported by three steel beams, which allow it to be placed on uneven terrain, and anchored with guide ropes.

Access is gained by staircase and once inside, visitors are greeted by a surprisingly comfortable-looking interior that measures roughly 250 sq ft (22 sq m) and is topped by a dome-style skylight. It all looks pretty authentic and you get the impression that the project was a labor of love for Hughes. The interior includes a dining area, kitchenette, bathroom, a small outdoor deck, and lots of storage nooks. Stairs lead to sleeping quarters on the lower floor.

The Lunar Lander's dining area
Kurt Hughes

The Lunar Lander runs off-the-grid and gets all electricity from a solar panel array. It also has hookups for electric and sewage connections.

Hughes doesn't intend to sell the Lunar Lander, but he is selling the plans. Those interested can get in touch via the source link below. In the future he intends to continue to refine his design with further prototypes.

Source: Multihull Design Blog

View gallery - 22 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
9 comments
Josh!
Very cool. I love the dining table area.
Trylon
Doesn't look "authentic" at all. Looks more like the spacecraft from Far Out Space Nuts. Not that that's a bad thing for children of the '70s. A DirecTV dish on top would help complete the look. Personally, I would prefer a house that looks like the Jupiter 2 from Lost in Space, complete with a Chariot in the driveway.
dutch
A wet bathroom? Such a shame.
Wolf0579
A dry bathroom doesn't sound very functional.
Douglas Bennett Rogers
This would make a very good below grade house!
Nik
Very well constructed, but I dont understand peoples obsession with living in something the size of a glorified dog kennel.
ljaques
Cool concept, but poorly implemented. Everything looks hacked together, stray wiring is everywhere, etc. Provides a whole new depth of meaning for the phrase "fall into bed". Count me as a +1 for Jupiter 2 (1998 version, please, + Lacy) That interior was VERY comfy.
Don Duncan
Not a permanent dwelling (retirement home). Stairs to get in, stairs to get to the bedroom and out? Not for the elderly!
This is a playhouse for adults.
GregVoevodsky
So, the only living area is cook, eat, sh_t, sleep - repeat. What about a place to hang out - the waste of space for a 2 story skylight above a bed when you are sleeping is nuts. Better to follow the military with small racks and max living working open space. Sorry, I'm not a fan and neither would NASA be.