A former factory worker sold almost everything he owned to buy an abandoned water tower and turn it into a sleek home. He wants to sell it next year — but won't settle for less than $2.4 million.

Amanda GohDec 23, 2022, 07:15 IST

After image of the water tank's exterior.Robert Hunt

Robert Hunt spent two and a half years converting a water tower into a four-bedroom home.
Hunt estimates he spent £750,000 on the project, including the cost of buying the property.

A water tower is an unlikely place to make a home, but Robert Hunt was determined to make it work.

Before image of the water tank's exterior.Robert Hunt

The water tower, which was decommissioned in the early 2000s, had been sitting empty for years, Hunt said. Inside the tower was a large, empty space with no rooms, no interior walls, and no windows.

How the interiors of the water tower looked like when Hunt first bought it.Robert Hunt

The water tower, which was decommissioned in the early 2000s, had been sitting empty for years, Hunt said. Inside the tower was a large, empty space with no rooms, no interior walls, and no windows.

Hunt started work on the water tower in December 2019. For the next two and a half years, he worked with architects and builders to transform the property into a home.

Openings were added to the water tower to create windows.Robert Hunt

Hunt helped out wherever he could throughout the entire conversion, he said: "I've basically been like a laborer, doing bits and pieces, and project-managing it."

Hunt posing with the water tank home. The exterior of the tank is covered by a tarp.Robert Hunt

Hunt estimates that he spent around £600,000 on the entire conversion. He moved into the water tower in May 2022, when the renovation was completed.

After image of the water tank's exterior.Robert Hunt

The house has a circular floor plan, with sleek white interior walls and doors.

A collage showing the main entrance to Hunt's water tower home (left) and his second-floor corridor (right).Robert Hunt

Although the transformation was satisfying, Hunt admits that the project was challenging in multiple ways.

The master suite is on the second floor with two other bedrooms.Robert Hunt

The master bathroom — which is on the second floor — is Hunt's favorite spot in the house.

The master bedroom and ensuite bathroom are on the second floor. There are two other spare bedrooms on this floor.Robert Hunt

The primary living area, the dining room, and the kitchen are on the highest floor. The space has an open floor plan with windows that go all around its walls.

The completed upper floor has an open floor plan. The primary living area, the dining room, and the kitchen are on this floor.Robert Hunt

The dining area sits at the center of the highest floor. It was built over the original water tower access shaft, which can still be viewed through a glass panel in the middle of the table.

The dining area.Robert Hunt

The dining area sits at the center of the highest floor. It was built over the original water tower access shaft, which can still be viewed through a glass panel in the middle of the table.

One of the most difficult parts of the project was making sure the fixtures fit the curved walls of the water tower.

Like the master bathroom, Hunt opted for an all-black kitchen, with black countertops, appliances, and cabinets.Robert Hunt

Hunt has some advice for those who want to do the same: It'll take twice as long and cost twice as much as you would initially expect.

The house as viewed from the gate.Robert Hunt

Hunt says he plans to sell the house next summer, but he's not ready to settle for just any offer.

The exterior of the completed water tower home.Robert Hunt

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A former factory worker sold almost everything he owned to buy an abandoned water tower and turn it into a sleek home. He wants to sell it next year &mdash; but won't settle for less than $2.4 million.

A water tower is an unlikely place to make a home, but Robert Hunt was determined to make it work.

The water tower, which was decommissioned in the early 2000s, had been sitting empty for years, Hunt said. Inside the tower was a large, empty space with no rooms, no interior walls, and no windows.

Hunt started work on the water tower in December 2019. For the next two and a half years, he worked with architects and builders to transform the property into a home.

Hunt helped out wherever he could throughout the entire conversion, he said: "I've basically been like a laborer, doing bits and pieces, and project-managing it."

Hunt estimates that he spent around £600,000 on the entire conversion. He moved into the water tower in May 2022, when the renovation was completed.

The house has a circular floor plan, with sleek white interior walls and doors.

Although the transformation was satisfying, Hunt admits that the project was challenging in multiple ways.

The master bathroom — which is on the second floor — is Hunt's favorite spot in the house.

The primary living area, the dining room, and the kitchen are on the highest floor. The space has an open floor plan with windows that go all around its walls.

The dining area sits at the center of the highest floor. It was built over the original water tower access shaft, which can still be viewed through a glass panel in the middle of the table.

One of the most difficult parts of the project was making sure the fixtures fit the curved walls of the water tower.

Hunt has some advice for those who want to do the same: It'll take twice as long and cost twice as much as you would initially expect.

Hunt says he plans to sell the house next summer, but he's not ready to settle for just any offer.

A former factory worker sold almost everything he owned to buy an abandoned water tower and turn it into a sleek home. He wants to sell it next year — but won't settle for less than $2.4 million.