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You can stay in this 'delightfully quirky' tiny home in a remote part of Scotland that looks like a submarine tower

Stephanie Stacey

2023-03-12T09:00:00Z

An alumninum house with lots of windows sits amid green trees and nature on a stormy day — The Pilot House is located in one of the most remote parts of Scotland. Nigel Rigden

A husband-and-wife duo based the structure of their two-story tiny home on a military submarine.
The elliptical Pilot House is available to rent on Airbnb for $196 per night.
It overlooks the Sound of Mull — the waterway that divides the Isle of Mull from mainland Scotland.

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Husband-and-wife duo — architect Roderick James and interior designer Amanda Markham — designed an elliptical tiny house in Drimnin, one of the most remote corners of Scotland, overlooking the Isle of Mull.

An aluminum home with a sloping roof in front of a large body of water

The two-story aluminum property, called the Pilot House, draws inspiration from military vehicles. Its sloping roof and elliptical structure are based on military submarines, while its raw materials and decoration recall fighter jets.

An elliptical metal home sits amid vast green expanses

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Its structure was inspired by a submarine's 'conning tower' — the raised platform from which a captain or pilot can direct a submarine's movement. This feature is also known as a "pilot house," which inspired the property's name.

Navy officers stand beside a submarine's conning tower on the USS Boise, which is decorated with a US flag

It's available to rent on Airbnb and costs a minimum of $196 per night.

An elliptical metal home with a sloping roof in front of a sunset

Source: Airbnb

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The building is made from sheets of industrial aluminum joined by aircraft-style rivets. Aluminum can endure pretty harsh weather so it's quite well-suited to this isolated corner of Scotland. Markham and Rogers initially considered using oak but they wanted something more "contemporary."

The aluminum exterior of the tiny home emblazoned in large letters with PH5

Source: Out Of The Blue

The property sleeps two. There's a double bedroom on the ground floor.

A double bed in the center of a light bedroom

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There's also a small, wood-paneled bathroom with a shower and toilet.

A small cream bathroom with white features and a large mirror

A metal spiral staircase leads up to the kitchen, lounge, and wrap-around balcony.

The spiral staircase sits at the back of a narrow corridor

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The interior walls are covered with a layer of corrugated aluminum sheets. This is intended to offer further "resonance" of a submarine, according to the property's listing on Airbnb.

A kitchen area with wooden cabinets, a small wooden table, and a poster of a military aircraft

Source: Airbnb

There's a small wooden kitchen equipped with basic cooking supplies.

A small kitchen with corrugated aluminum walls, a fridge, a stove-top, and a microwave

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The Pilot House includes miniature models of fighter jets and vintage posters for Britain's Royal Air Force to suit the military theme.

A seating area with a model military aircraft hanging from the ceiling

Building further on the military theme, owner Amanda Markham included books about Britain's Spitfire fighter jet — as well as an array of books about small-scale architecture.

A pair of binoculars sits on a stack of books on military themes

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The windows are all triple-glazed to protect against the icy temperatures of Scotland.

A wood-burning stove and a glass door opening out to a terrace

The Pilot House is shaped like an ellipse. Its designers describe it as a "warm" and "enveloping" shape.

A lounge area with armchairs, large windows, and a wood-burning stove

Source: Out of the Blue Ltd.

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The wrap-around balcony overlooks the Sound of Mull, which divides the Isle of Mull from mainland Scotland.

A terrace with black plastic chairs overlooking a body of water

The property has an average rating of 4.96 out of 5 on Airbnb. Guests have called it "delightfully quirky."

An aluminum home with a sloping roof sits amid a gravel pathway

Source: Airbnb

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This isn't Markham and James' first unusual project. They've previously designed a fully self-sufficient property that looks like a spaceship.

A property that looks like a spaceship with a wall entirely made of glass

Source: Insider

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