Tiny Houses

Butterfly roof tiny house is ready for 'burbs or bush

Butterfly roof tiny house is ready for 'burbs or bush
There are a lot of optional extras and upgrades available for the Swallowtail
There are a lot of optional extras and upgrades available for the Swallowtail
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The Swallowtail measures just 7.2 m (23 ft) long
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The Swallowtail measures just 7.2 m (23 ft) long
The Swallowtail is clad in textured ply and corrugated sheeting
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The Swallowtail is clad in textured ply and corrugated sheeting
The Swallowtail is based on a triple-axle trailer
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The Swallowtail is based on a triple-axle trailer
The Swallowtail's windows were placed with ventilation in mind
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The Swallowtail's windows were placed with ventilation in mind
There are a lot of optional extras and upgrades available for the Swallowtail
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There are a lot of optional extras and upgrades available for the Swallowtail
The Swallowtail starts at AUD$79,000 (around US$61,000)
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The Swallowtail starts at AUD$79,000 (around US$61,000) 
The Swallowtail's living room features a sofa bed
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The Swallowtail's living room features a sofa bed
The Swallowtail's interior layout looks uncluttered
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The Swallowtail's interior layout looks uncluttered
The Swallowtail's kitchen includes four-burner stove, oven and sink
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The Swallowtail's kitchen includes four-burner stove, oven and sink
The Swallowtail features louvred windows
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The Swallowtail features louvred windows
The Swallowtail includes a small dining table
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The Swallowtail includes a small dining table
The Swallowtail's desk area
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The Swallowtail's desk area
View of the Swallowtail's kitchen
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View of the Swallowtail's kitchen
The Swallowtail's drop-down loft ladder
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The Swallowtail's drop-down loft ladder
The Swallowtail's drop-down loft ladder
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The Swallowtail's drop-down loft ladder
Top-down view of the Swallowtail's drop-down ladder
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Top-down view of the Swallowtail's drop-down ladder
Options for the Swallowtail include off-grid capability
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Options for the Swallowtail include off-grid capability 
The Swallowtail features louvred windows
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The Swallowtail features louvred windows
The Swallowtail measures just 7.2 m (23 ft) long
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The Swallowtail measures just 7.2 m (23 ft) long
The Swallowtail starts at AUD$79,000 (around US$61,000)
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The Swallowtail starts at AUD$79,000 (around US$61,000)
The Swallowtail's bathroom
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The Swallowtail's bathroom
View gallery - 21 images

This distinctive-looking towable dwelling was designed by Australia's Tiny House Company. Named Swallowtail after its butterfly roof, it has a well thought-out interior layout that saves space with a drop-down ladder. It gets power from an RV-style hookup as standard, but those who want to cut the cord and run off-the-grid can do so with extras like a rainwater collection system, solar power, and composting toilet.

The Swallowtail measures 7.2 m (23 ft) long and is covered in textured ply cladding and corrugated sheeting. The door and glazing (much of which is louvered) were situated to promote ventilation. According to the Tiny House Company, it can withstand high winds too.

Inside, the Swallowtail looks relatively spacious and open, considering its size. The living room is on the right and has a sofa bed. To the left lies a small dining table, a desk area with shelving, and a kitchen with a large countertop and four-burner stove and oven. A sink and some more cupboard space is located opposite. The kitchen units come from Ikea.

The loft is accessed by a drop-down ladder that's left in the up position when not in use, saving floor space. While this is a pretty typical way to access a loft in brick and mortar homes, it seems such a good fit for tiny houses that we're surprised we don't see it more often. The Swallowtail's bathroom contains a shower, toilet and vanity unit.

The Swallowtail's living room features a sofa bed
The Swallowtail's living room features a sofa bed

There are a lot of optional extras available for the Swallowtail, such as its layout and appliances. Highlights include a solar power kit comprising a 1.5kW solar array and batteries, a rainwater collection system that makes use of the butterfly roof, a greywater system, and a composting toilet.

The most novel upgrade though is an electric queen-sized raising bed with winch system. We've no information on how this works, but assume that it's similar to the model in the firm's earlier prototype Portal tiny house.

The Swallowtail starts at AUD$79,000 (around US$61,000).

Source: Tiny House Company

View gallery - 21 images
2 comments
2 comments
Mik-Fielding
Yet another supposedly towable home with an overlapping roof on the front that looks like it has been designed for MAXIMUM wind resistance! Do none of these designers try, yet alone consider, towing one of their creations at anything above 20mph?? This could actually be dangerous at anywhere near even the lowest of highway speeds ...
Paul Robertson
Not being a caravan these houses should not be constrained by the design imperatives of caravans. Wrapping a house for extended movement does not seem as onerous when the house is likely to stay in one position for extended periods, if not its lifetime. Being on a trailer is an important work around to many local government restrictions on extra dwellings being built on already inhabited land.