This Man Transformed a 700-Year-Old Cave Into His Dream Home
You won't find Fred Flintstone living in this unique abode. Even though Angelo Mastropietro built his dream home out of a 700-year-old cave (hand-carving 250-million-year-old Triassic sandstone in the process) it's far from what cavemen used for shelter. In fact, the property (known as the Rockhouse Retreat) is being touted as Britain's first luxury cave.
It all started when Mastropietro was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007. His health issues made him rethink his life and the way he was spending his time, as he explained to Barcroft TV: "I had a lapse that left me paralyzed essentially, which was really the catalyst to make me review where I was at, where I was going, and obviously my lifestyle." Enter: his cave home passion project.
Located near Bewdley, England, the cave was last inhabited in 1962 (meaning no bears were displaced from their homes in the making of this retreat) and Mastropietro snatched it up in January 2015. He spent $230,000 and eight months transforming the rock structure into a cozy 203-square-foot home - even excavating approximately 70 to 80 tons (!) of rubble by hand to create a 328-square-foot outdoor terrace.
As you could guess from the scope of Mastropietro's project, the cave home offers many expected amenities - and then some. We're talking Wi-Fi, underfloor radiant heating, LED mood lighting, a fully-functioning kitchen with a gas range, and a shower that will make you feel like you're rinsing off in a rainforest downpour. Not too shabby.
Take a look:
Like what you see? You can rent out this luxury cave for $286 per night for an experience that you'll likely never forget - just try to keep your "Yabba Dabbo Doo" hollering to a minimum.
[via Inhabitat]
