Tiny living, Steampunk style

From supersized tiny homes to a cabin disguised as a rock, we've covered some unusual abodes here at Gizmag. The recently-completed Steampunk Adventure Home, by Ogden, Utah-based Maximus Extreme Living Solutions, is just as left-of-field, and the tough towable home highlights the impressive variety of the small living movement with its Steampunk-inspired detailing.

Designed by Maximus Extreme Living Solutions CEO Stew MacInnes for a local resident and her young son, Steampunk Adventure Home rests on a road-legal custom triple axle heavy duty trailer that's towable with a suitably large car or truck. The home is as hardy as it looks, and MacInnes told us that the Raycore SIP's (Structural Insulated Panels) used for framing the home are rated to tackle temperature swings from -45 to 65º C (-50 to 150º F).

The Steampunk Adventure Home measures 7.3 x 4.2 x 2.6 m (24 x 13.8 x 8.6 ft), and has a total floorspace of 31 sq m (340 sq ft), including lofts. The interior layout comprises a galley kitchen with concrete counter tops in the center and two loft-based sleeping areas that are accessed by stairs. The lounge area is nearest the front door, and the bathroom lies at the far side of the home. The bathroom features a small metal tub and sink, plus a composting toilet. A Mitsubishi HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit tackles both heating and cooling, and electricity comes from a hookup.

The interior decor brings to mind a Wild West saloon, boasting impressive attention to detail including valves and exposed metal pipework. Much of this was created in-house, and Maximus Extreme Living Solutions sourced aged fittings from scrap yards to install. The light fittings were bought from specialist NYC-based firm West Ninth Vintage.

"Greg Dewey, my brother-in-law created from scratch the custom front door and jam (which weighed roughly 250 pounds [113 kg] once completed)," MacInnes told Gizmag. "He also was responsible for creating the solid maple custom cabinetry from scratch. All of the unique plumbing fixtures, tub and bathroom sink were developed by Carl Frazier, his son Jake did all of installation and cutting of the cold-rolled steel, external metal work on the unit.

"We scoured salvage yards for various cool looking brass fixtures, to incorporate in the build. My brother James and nephew Noah, installed the commercial grade metal roof and made all of the intricate cuts associated with the trim work."

The Steampunk Adventure Home's distinctive exterior look was created by treating the cold-rolled steel cladding with salt water and hydrogen peroxide to bring on rapid rusting. Porthole windows complete the look.

McInnes told us the firm is currently working on a tiny home that draws inspiration from the Victorian era and includes features like a roof-based rainwater catchment system and secret compartments for food and weapons storage. We'll keep you posted on that creation.

Source: Maximus Extreme