Tiny homes aren’t exactly known for being weather-resilient but the so-called Amsterdam 24, made by Transcend Tiny Homes of Tennessee, is an exception. This home offers plenty of storage, is lightweight and towable, and can withstand high winds.
The Amsterdam 24 rests atop a 24 ft (7.3 m)-long double-axle trailer, which is where it gets its name from. The interior measures 292 sq ft (27 sq m), and since its walls are made of fiberglass composite it only weighs 8,340 lbs (3,782 kg), which is about one third the weight of a typical wood frame tiny home. The composite walls were made by a special technique, which involves laminating two high strength phenolic resin based fiberglass skins onto a foam core. This means that a standard 8 x 10 ft (2.4 x 3 m) wall section takes 115,000 lbs (52,163 kg) of pressure. They fuse the layers into the wall panel using a foaming gorilla type glue and in this way the fiberglass skin acts as a sort of exoskeleton of the shell.
Due to this method, the windows and door of the Amsterdam can withstand winds up to 156 mph (251 km/h), which means that it can withstand a Category 5 hurricane. However, to prevent it from being blown over, the house needs to be secured to the ground. The home is also very airtight and therefore energy efficient, and is equipped with an energy recovery ventilator.
The ground level of the home features a sitting area with a sofa bed that has integrated storage, as well as a kitchenette with a stove, fridge and sink, and also a washer and drier. The dining table is small, but functional. The bathroom is quite large for a tiny house, and has enough room for a sink, a good-sized shower, and toilet. The sleeping area is located in a loft, which is accessible via a movable ladder. The home also features lots of storage space.
The current model has a standard RV hookup for power and water needs, but the firm is working on an off-grid add on, which would include a solar power system and a composting toilet. The base model costs $69,700.
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