An eco home that looks like it belongs on the set of a western movie as its entire roof is in the shape of a cowboy hat has gone up for rent. The two-bed property, appropriately called The Hat House, caught the attention of social media users after images of its striking Stetson-shaped roof, which also serves as a balcony, emerged online.
Heart of Texas Real Estate posted the snaps on property site Zillow, showcasing the rental's 'story book charm' and rustic interior salvaged from discarded materials destined for landfill. The 660 sqft house, in Huntsville, Texas, US, was designed in 2017 by Texan-born builder Dan Philips, and built using recycled wood and cement plaster stucco.
Described as a tribute to Texas' Ranch culture, the $900 (£750) per month property is located on a highway opposite a famous Texan steakhouse and next to another of Philips' works - a cowboy boot-shaped home.
Many thrilled country and western fans declared the property's designer a visionary, while others weren't so complimentary, describing it as "the ugliest disaster I've seen".
A third added: 'Truly the world's most unusual house, I had NO idea what to expect and am still shocked'.
Principal Broker for Heart of Texas Real Estate, Theresa Frazier, described how the property largely appeals to artistic househunters- and that they were looking for a "special" person to lease it.
Theresa said: "It's really adorable. There's a cowboy hat house and a boot house and they're both right beside each other on the street.
"Both have a really sweet almost caricature-like feel to them.
"It's a very interesting property. It seems to appeal to artsy people, students and younger folk in the art department.
"Your conventional furniture doesn't actually fit in there real well, it takes a little bit of creativity to re-arrange furniture in there. It's pretty neat.
"I have a lot of people that just want to look at it, it's like a little museum.
"It's cute and quirky. When it was first built we had loads of people come to see it open.
"People are usually really interested, they want to see the oddity of the type of property it is.
"There's a lot of interest, but it will take a special type of person to want to lease it.
"Dan Philips used discarded materials that were overflowing the landfills. It was all salvageable materials and this was a good way for him to use it.
"It's wonderful, it exemplifies the spirit of Texas. People enjoy driving by and taking a look at it."
The property was shared online with the caption: "Is this Texas enough for y'all?"
One commenter replied: "Say what you will [but] the guy was a visionary, and talented.
"Not being most people['s] style obviously, but every piece was well thought out. A lot of work and imagination went into those."
Another wrote: "This has to be the ugliest disaster I've seen on this site. Gah. I can't un-see this mess."
One commented: "My eyes. There is a lot going on it that little space... interesting though."
Another wrote: "This is a good deal on a rental in a college town. Wow. Weird house though."
One commented: "I hate how so many on here resort to ugly criticism and judgement, just because something doesn't fit with their taste, or the "influencers" they follow so religiously."
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