Tiny Houses

Tiny house opens up to the sun with sliding roof

Tiny house opens up to the sun with sliding roof
The Cécile's standout feature is its roof, which can be manually slid open, as shown
The Cécile's standout feature is its roof, which can be manually slid open, as shown
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Here comes the sun: the Cécile tiny house's roof slides to open up the main bedroom to the elements
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Here comes the sun: the Cécile tiny house's roof slides to open up the main bedroom to the elements
The Cécile is based on a double-axle trailer
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The Cécile is based on a double-axle trailer
The Cécile measures 6 m (20 ft)-long and is 2.55 m (8.3 ft)-wide
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The Cécile measures 6 m (20 ft)-long and is 2.55 m (8.3 ft)-wide
The Cécile is clad in fir siding, with black polycarbonate accenting
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The Cécile is clad in fir siding, with black polycarbonate accenting
The Cécile features an additional small sleeping loft
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The Cécile features an additional small sleeping loft
The Cécile has an office desk that doubles up as a step
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The Cécile has an office desk that doubles up as a step
The Cécile has a living room that includes a sofa and a coffee table
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The Cécile has a living room that includes a sofa and a coffee table
The Cécile's living room is located below the additional loft bedroom
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The Cécile's living room is located below the additional loft bedroom
The Cécile's kitchen includes a small retractable dining table
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The Cécile's kitchen includes a small retractable dining table
The Cécile kitchen has a propane-powered stove, sink, and storage space. A fridge isn't mentioned but is presumably installed, unless the home is just used for the occasional night away
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The Cécile kitchen has a propane-powered stove, sink, and storage space. A fridge isn't mentioned but is presumably installed, unless the home is just used for the occasional night away
The Cécile's bathroom includes a toilet and sink
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The Cécile's bathroom includes a toilet and sink 
The Cécile measures 6 m (20 ft)-long
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The Cécile measures 6 m (20 ft)-long
Visitors (not usually of the equine variety) enter the Cécile into the main living area
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Visitors (not usually of the equine variety) enter the Cécile into the main living area
The Cécile's standout feature is its roof, which can be manually slid open, as shown
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The Cécile's standout feature is its roof, which can be manually slid open, as shown
A shot of the Cécile's roof in the open position
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A shot of the Cécile's roof in the open position
The Cécile's living room includes a sofa and coffee table (which can be stored under the sofa)
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The Cécile's living room includes a sofa and coffee table (which can be stored under the sofa) 
The Cécile's main bedroom is reached by storage-integrated staircase
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The Cécile's main bedroom is reached by storage-integrated staircase
The Cécile is warmed with a gas-powered central heating system
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The Cécile is warmed with a gas-powered central heating system
View gallery - 18 images

France's Optinid recently caught our attention with its La Tête dans les étoiles (or Head in the stars) tiny house, which is topped by a roof that slides open to expose its bedroom to the elements. The firm's latest model has the same standout feature, but sports a different exterior design and a new layout inside that provides an additional loft.

The Cécile tiny house, named after its new owner, is based on a double-axle trailer and is part of the firm's Tribe line of models. It measures 6 m (20 ft)-long, and 2.55 m (8.3 ft)-wide. Its exterior is clad in fir siding, with black polycarbonate accenting.

On entering the home, a living room that includes a sofa and a coffee table lies to the right. Nearby is the kitchen, which is pretty small and has a propane-powered stove, sink, storage space, and a compact retractable dining table. At the far end of the home is a bathroom with a shower, as well as a separate toilet.

The home's storage-integrated staircase functions as an office desk, as well as providing access to the main bedroom. This is topped a large sliding roof section that can be unlocked and manually slid open. We're guessing it will get a lot of use on sunny days.

A shot of the Cécile's roof in the open position
A shot of the Cécile's roof in the open position

The Cécile also features a secondary loft above the living room that's accessed by ladder. We've no word whether it fits a double or single bed, but judging from the photos, would guess the latter. There's also some shelving in there.

The home gets power from a nearby solar panel array installed on the ground. It features a gas central heating system connected to radiators and is insulated with recycled clothing.

The Cécile starts at €54,000 (around US$62,500).

Source: Optinid (in French)

View gallery - 18 images
5 comments
5 comments
guzmanchinky
I would love this. Or maybe on an RV as well. Maybe a retractable insect screen too.
Douglas Bennett Rogers
It is a really good way to let the heat out at night. It requires nearly twice as much structure because there is an open joint all the way around the top of the building.
Jenny L.
Seriously?
U$62k, and it doesn't have a real toilet -- just a seat above a space for a bucket. If there's a shower, it's not shown.
The roof thing is nothing more than a gimmick. No shots of the roof closed, or partially open, or anything about how that works. I bet it leaks like a sieve in any serious weather, not to mention insulation issues in the winter. I don't see a stove, so the phrase "kitchen" is overly generous.
Just... ugh.
Gizmowiz
Probably not a good choice if you want a solar roof !
ric13
Seriously, how can we write without knowing ;-)
Thus in France we are in an ecological use of Tiny at the most we use toilet without water. The roof little to open or closed as he is wanted without any difficulty, or the roof is isolated with 100mm of isolating, it is tight and no problem with a cold weather report. Our customers live inside even in winter and without too much heating. Yes there is a kitchen witch electric stove which is in photo.
Attention here in France Tiny should not exceed 3500Kg