Tiny Houses

Tiny house slides roof open in summer and keeps toes toasty in winter

Tiny house slides roof open in summer and keeps toes toasty in winter
When the sun goes down and the overnight chill nips at occupants of the Axelle, underfloor heating should help keep frostbite at bay
When the sun goes down and the overnight chill nips at occupants of the Axelle, underfloor heating should help keep frostbite at bay
View 13 Images
When the sun goes down and the overnight chill nips at occupants of the Axelle, underfloor heating should help keep frostbite at bay
1/13
When the sun goes down and the overnight chill nips at occupants of the Axelle, underfloor heating should help keep frostbite at bay
The Axelle is based on a double-axle trailer and measures 6 m (19.6 ft)-long
2/13
The Axelle is based on a double-axle trailer and measures 6 m (19.6 ft)-long
Visitors enter the Axelle into a living room with custom-made sofa bed (pictured without the cushions)
3/13
Visitors enter the Axelle into a living room with custom-made sofa bed (pictured without the cushions) 
The Axelle has a total floorspace of 20.4 sq m (219 sq ft)
4/13
The Axelle has a total floorspace of 20.4 sq m (219 sq ft)
A storage-integrated staircase leads up to the Axelle's main bedroom
5/13
A storage-integrated staircase leads up to the Axelle's main bedroom 
The Axelle's kitchen includes a two-burner hob, sink, oven, and storage space
6/13
The Axelle's kitchen includes a two-burner hob, sink, oven, and storage space 
Top-down view of the Axelle's kitchen
7/13
Top-down view of the Axelle's kitchen 
The Axelle's living room is topped by a small loft
8/13
The Axelle's living room is topped by a small loft 
The Axelle's bathroom features a toilet, shower, and sink
9/13
The Axelle's bathroom features a toilet, shower, and sink
The Axelle's bathroom features a toilet, shower, and sink
10/13
The Axelle's bathroom features a toilet, shower, and sink
The Axelle's main bedroom features a sliding roof that opens the home to the elements
11/13
The Axelle's main bedroom features a sliding roof that opens the home to the elements
The Axelle's sliding roof, shown partially open
12/13
The Axelle's sliding roof, shown partially open
The Axelle's main bedroom includes some storage space
13/13
The Axelle's main bedroom includes some storage space
View gallery - 13 images

Optinid, the French firm behind those novel sliding roof tiny houses, recently completed another model in the same vein. Opening up to the elements when the weather's nice like previous examples, the Axelle also features underfloor heating to keep the interior comfortable in colder weather.

The Axelle is located in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. It's based on a double-axle trailer, measures 6 m (19.6 ft)-long, with a total floorspace of 20.4 sq m (219 sq ft). It's finished in Douglas fir, with polycarbonate accenting.

Visitors enter into a living room. This has a custom-made sofa bed with integrated storage, as well as a table. The area is topped by a small loft which is accessed by ladder. An office space with desk is nearby, and next to this is the kitchen with two electric hobs, an oven, sink, storage space, and a retractable table.

The Axelle has a total floorspace of 20.4 sq m (219 sq ft)
The Axelle has a total floorspace of 20.4 sq m (219 sq ft)

At the opposite end of the home from the living room is the bathroom, which contains shower, toilet, and sink.

Storage-integrated stairs lead up to the main bedroom, which sleeps two and sports Optinid's signature sliding roof. This can be unlocked and slid open on rails when the weather is nice.

When the weather isn't so great, underfloor heating is installed downstairs. We don't see many tiny houses with underfloor heating, but Optinid says it's a good choice and enables the owners to walk around barefoot even in winter. Additionally, the home features 10 cm (4 in)-thick insulation in the walls and roof, and 12 cm (4.7 in) in the floor to help keep out the chill.

The Axelle gets power from both a ground-based solar power array and a standard mains hookup. We've no word on pricing for this model.

Source: Optinid

View gallery - 13 images
3 comments
3 comments
TINY TIM
What about summer flies and bugs ?
LouLou
I'm sure it will be just as prohibitively expensive as all the rest of the tiny houses that are on the market.
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really nice. I would not mind living there.