A Tiny House Castle: One of the Most Fun Tiny Homes You'll Find

A Tiny House Castle? 

Jola Siezen, her partner Justin and their son Piko have created a tiny home on wheels that pushes the boundaries of creativity and originality. Their tiny house on wheels was engineered (the word built simply doesn’t do justice to this home) by the family to turn into a castle when unfolded. Like a Transformer, the house folds up into a full-size truck that is compact and complies with all necessary road regulations. A view from the backside of the vehicle, however, shows two turrets that offer a glimpse of what is to come.

When unfolded, the tiny house on wheels turns into an impressive castle that is solar and gas-powered. Except for the wheels of the truck, it is close to impossible to tell that this tiny home is actually an unfurled vehicle.

While many tiny homes have reduced spaces for cooking and eating, the kitchen in this tiny home includes full-sized appliances, including a full-sized oven for baking. The cabinetry in the kitchen was made from wood that was sourced from old power poles. Justin cut the cross-sections of those old power poles into planks which were then upcycled into a beautiful salvaged wood kitchen interior.

The main living room opens directly to the outdoors with large double doors. “A lot of homes have such small doors to get through, you almost have to go through sideways. Having an entire space open makes it just a good shelter,” Justin believes. The connection between the interior and the exterior of the home makes the home feel larger than it really is while also incorporating aspects of biophilic design.

The bedroom is a loft that raises above the truck and the unique rotating wardrobe is built into the space underneath the loft, complete with automatic lighting. Jola handmade the wallpaper in their lofted bedroom from cutting out musical notes and lyrics from old music books.

Cupboards and storage spaces are similarly interspersed throughout the entire home. The tiny home/castle on wheels is heated in the winter by a small wood stove, which also provides hot water for the family. Solar panels power the few electric appliances and the lighting needs that the home incorporates.

While many tiny homes incorporate a lofted sleeping area, almost none include a second level. Justin and Jola’s tiny house on wheels, however, includes a rooftop balcony with several impressive features. A full-size bathtub located on the covered rooftop allows the homeowners to take in the surrounding sights while enjoying an early morning or late evening bath. The hot water for the tub is either supplied by the wood stove, solar panels, or a separate gas water heater.

The rooftop balcony also includes a hammock and a separate solar food dehydrator that the family uses to dehydrate fruit that they harvest. “There is so much heat generated on a roof,” Justin says, “and it usually gets vented out nowhere. So we might as well channel it into one spot, dry some fruit up and then let it go.” This novel idea is an example of how small homes can utilize what is routinely considered to be an undesirable element (excess heat) into something useful for a more sustainable lifestyle.