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

Stephanie StaceyMar 12, 2023, 16:13 IST

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.

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.

Nigel Rigden

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.

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.

Nigel Rigden

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.

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.

Mike Heffner/Getty Images

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.

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

Nigel Rigden

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."

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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.

Nigel Rigden

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.

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

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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.

Nigel Rigden

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.

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

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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

Nigel Rigden

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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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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