Tiny Houses

Off-grid tiny house boosts living space with elevating bed

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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's bed is operated using a hand crank
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House, by Build Tiny, has a total length of just 6 m (19.6 ft)
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House is based on a double-axle trailer and is finished in vinyl cladding
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House is accessed by double glass doors that really open up the home to the outside
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's elevating bed is stowed away near the ceiling when not in use
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's kitchen includes a two-burner propane-powered stove
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's bed is operated using a hand crank
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's storage-integrated sofa can transform into a secondary bed
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's bed is lowered into position when the owners are ready to sleep
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's storage-integrated sofa features a removable table
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's kitchen includes a fridge/freezer, microwave, and a dishwasher
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's kitchen features a small drop-down table
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's interior decor is simple and looks light-filled thanks to its generous glazing
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's bathroom includes a sink, shower, and composting toilet
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The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's bathroom features some additional storage space
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How do you squeeze a bedroom into a compact tiny house with a length of just 6 m (19.6 ft), while still maintaining a well-proportioned living space? It's an issue a lot of tiny house firms struggle with, but for its Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House, Build Tiny chose to not to bother with a bedroom at all, and instead equipped the off-grid dwelling with a neat space-saving elevating bed.

The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House was commissioned by a New Zealand couple with jobs that require them to travel all over the country, so their new tiny house will serve as comfortable accommodation, wherever their jobs take them. When it's not being used for work, they plan to enjoy it as a vacation home.

The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's elevating bed is stowed away near the ceiling when not in use
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The tiny house is finished in vinyl and is based on a double-axle trailer. Its exterior looks a lot like previous Build Tiny models and is quite unassuming. Visitors enter through large glass double doors, and the interior layout is all arranged on one floor. The decor is simple and finished in plywood, and it looks clean and light-filled inside thanks to the generous glazing inside.

The living room offers a lot of flexibility. It features a storage-integrated sofa bed that also has an attachable table. Above this rests the elevating bed itself, which is similar to previous models we've seen. A hand crank operates a pulley system and the bed is secured into place with retractable supports.

When not in use, the bed is stowed near the ceiling, then it's lowered when it's time to hit the hay. It's a nice feature and means that no floorspace is wasted on a bulky storage-integrated staircase or a ladder, though of course it also doesn't offer the privacy of a proper tiny house loft bedroom.

The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House's kitchen includes a fridge/freezer, microwave, and a dishwasher
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Next to the living area is the kitchen, which is quite well-stocked for such a compact tiny house model. As well as the basics like a sink, fridge/freezer, two-burner propane-powered stove, and microwave, this space also boasts a dishwasher, plus there's a drop-down table. The kitchen connects to a bathroom with a composting toilet, sink, shower, and some additional storage space (there's also a small storage nook above the bathroom).

The Te Whare Nukunuku Tiny House features a full off-the-grid solar panel and battery setup, and can also run from a standard RV-style hookup. It was delivered as a turnkey build, with the furniture installed, but we've no word on the price of this custom build.

Source: Build Tiny

View gallery - 14 images
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2 comments
Hasler
Wow, a tiny house with rain water gutters! But where is the ladder for the bed in the upper position. A cupboard for coats, dresses or even a broom. Space to put an overnight bag. No mention of space or water heating, tanks and hoses for water and grey waste, a battery and inverter or even an LED screen. And a missed opportunity to set back the double doors and include fold down steps. These 'houses' seem to be created for people without any possessions or experience of the necessity to store everything away before moving.
TomLeeM
I think a bed that lowers might a better idea than a bed in the loft; especially if one has trouble with stairs or a ladder.