While “cookie cutter houses” might seem like a brick-and-mortar version of uncanny valley, most homes are like snowflakes: they might be similar, but they aren’t the same. 

But sometimes, a home stands the test of originality and individuality. 

Enter: TikToker @LifeonFour, a group of four friends who got together and decided to purchase and renovate a retired ambulance, which appears to be a transport vehicle rather than for emergency response.

Sidenote: The key difference between an ambulance and a camper van is that it’s been insulated to control and maintain a cooler temperature, and this particular model has a raised roof and wider internal walking area. The combination of wide internal space and pre-installed insulation can be a smart solution to save money compared to the more obvious camper van option.

In an admittedly loud and very chaotic video—

—the four friends make major strides in “demolishing” the former ambulance by gutting most of the inside, reframing it to include a kitchen, shower, and small composting toilet. 

They attempted solar panels on the entire roof before realizing they’d need to try another approach, but they did manage to add a small wood stove, finish their kitchen, and add lighting and electricity throughout. 

You can watch the full video here:

@lifeonfour Transforming a old ambulance into a camper van 🚐 #vanlife #vanconversion #campervan #build #diy ♬ original sound - LifeonFour

Not only that, but—

—the four friends managed, according to their next video, to create enough sleeping space for all four of them! At the back of the ambulance, between the shower space and the back doors, they added a seating area, and those chairs could be folded down to make the frame of one bed, large enough for two people to sleep on. A second bedframe was added above that and suspended from the ceiling, and with an electrical pulley system, it could be lowered at the push of a button, with enough room for two people to sleep on top, bunk-bed style. 

To demonstrate, the friends took turns jumping onto the bed, sometimes swiftly climbing onto the top bunk and sometimes flopping onto the lower one, so it’s unclear if they’ll have designated sleeping spots or if they’ll sort of “take turns,” which could be part of the fun!

Going the unconventional route might be a lot of work, and could involve some failures along the way, but it looks like it’s working for them!

What do you think of this new build?