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“We turned a rusty oil tank into an incredible home”

One visionary couple's amazing home renovation
Island life
The oil tank project
The joy of DIY
Intrigued by the round shape
A price too good to resist
Signing the deal
The history of the oil tank

The bureaucracy begins
Coming up with solutions to problems
Finding his way around the hurdles
A clever insulation solution

The scepticism of others
Fuelled by an urge to prove the doubters wrong
Inside the oil tank
Expanding to create more space
Living in the oil tank
Enjoying the challenges along the way
A viewpoint towards the future
A double meaning
A multitude of goals
Support from outside organisations
The courage to be creative
Making the most of your opportunities
What’s next for the couple?
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Oljetanken.no.

One visionary couple's amazing home renovation

An old, rusty oil tank would probably be the last place on earth that you’d consider making into a home. But when Martin Otterbeck, 59, saw an abandoned tank on the tiny Norwegian island of Skrova, he looked past the tank’s age and appearance. 

With an ambitious vision and a lot of hard work, Martin set about transforming the oil tank into his new home. Here, Martin shares how he created a stunning property from the most unexpected of places. 

Click or scroll through to take the tour...

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Deborah Cicurel

05 June 2025

Homes

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