the idea of the tiny house comes from the USA and has become increasingly popular in Germany in recent years. The so-called mini house embodies the new future trend of postmodern minimalism, which is to consciously avoid excessive consumption and pay attention to the environment. But what exactly is a tiny house, why is it becoming more and more popular, how much does such a house cost and which tiny house manufacturers from the Baltics are recommended? You can find out in our guide.
Why Tiny House?
Away from mass consumption and towards a more conscious life: this is an attitude towards life that more and more people are adopting. Many of us want to live a more focused life, free ourselves from unnecessary luxuries and therefore do something good for the environment. Tiny House offers great opportunities to have only what you really need. Many small homeowners associate the reduction of living space with their new attitude towards life, because having less space in a small space also means less costs and fewer worries.
The Tiny House movement originates from the United States. After the financial crisis, many Americans could no longer afford to own their own home and had to upgrade to smaller homes, as small homes have significantly lower construction and operating costs. Since 2007 the tiny house has been anchored in building legislation in the United States.
The tiny house trend first spread to Canada and Australia, then several years ago it also arrived in Germany and is becoming increasingly popular. The Tiny House Movement is one of the few forms of housebuilding around which a global movement has formed.
Low construction costs reduce financing costs and even people with low equity can realize the dream of owning their own home. Furthermore, the Tiny House Movement brings other decisive advantages:
- By reducing living space, energy consumption is also reduced. Tiny houses are coming Significantly less electricity and heating energy compared to larger properties. So you’re one step ahead when it comes to sustainability. If you then invest in a future-oriented energy concept, a small house can ideally supply itself with energy.
- The smaller living space forces you to do so Avoid constant purchases of new furniture and decorative items. Awareness of the value of things is growing. This leaves more financial space for other life plans.
- Anyone who lives in an apartment has to get along Neighborhood deal with so much Potential conflict can offer. If you live alone in your home, in most cases you will automatically have more peace and quiet more nature at your fingertips.
How big is a tiny house?
There is no precisely defined maximum or minimum size for tiny houses. Normally the size is between 15 and 45 m2. According to American legislation, a house with an area of 37 square meters or less falls into the tiny house category.
As for the name, there is no distinction whether they are on wheels and therefore mobile or whether they are fixed in one place. However, most tiny homes are now offered with wheels.
During transport, however, you must ensure that the height of 4 meters and the total weight of 3.5 tonnes (including trailer) are not exceeded. Furthermore, TÜV approval is required and the maximum permissible speed of 80 km/h must not be exceeded during transport.
What should you consider in a tiny house?
The living space in a small house is usually enough for two people. Also, you live in a very small space with the person, which can become a problem in the long run.
Living with children in a small house is possible, but it must be well thought out and organized. Especially in the winter months, long-term stressful situations can arise in confined spaces.
If you like to receive visitors, you should also provide space for a guest mattress.
Overall, “normal” living is possible even in a small house, provided the house has been well thought out and creatively designed beforehand.
Good design is extremely more important for a small house than for a normal-sized house, because it must offer compact and very efficient solutions. Design errors significantly worsen the quality of life and lead to permanent frustration.
Due to the small living space, compromises inevitably have to be made in terms of living comfort, but in a tiny house these are consciously accepted for a lifestyle that leads to greater self-satisfaction and concentration on the essentials of life.
Small house on wheels
With a tiny house on wheels, the house is built directly on a trailer. Compared to a normal tiny house, it can be moved by car.
The small houses on wheels also come with a living area, bathroom, kitchenette and mezzanine.
However, tiny houses on wheels are not comparable to a mobile home, a caravan or a circus trailer, because these models are designed specifically for travel, while the house on wheels is designed for permanent living.
How do you build a small house?
In Germany you need a building permit to build a small house if you intend to live in it permanently. Because then the tiny house is classified as a building. However, if you only want to use your tiny house occasionally or as a vacation home, you can set it up on a property in a designated leisure area.
There are several ways to build a tiny house. From a simple kit for those who want to do it themselves, to a turnkey, individually designed high-tech tiny house, almost everything is now available for purchase. Below you will find three examples of tiny houses from Estonia that we find particularly successful.
What are the costs of a tiny house?
The question of costs is difficult to answer at all levels. Ready-to-assemble kits are available starting from just 5,000 euros. A smaller, turnkey small house is available from around 15,000 euros. If you want to buy a tiny house equipped according to your individual wishes and equipped with high technology, the price can quickly reach six figures. A slightly more sophisticated version of a tiny house of around 50 square meters costs 85,000 euros. In general, however, we can say: the simpler and more compact the shape of the house, the more economical it will be.
Small houses from Estonia
Environmental protection and minimalism are topics that also interest Estonian architects and civil engineers. Over the last 10 years, many tiny house manufacturers have entered the market who, in collaboration with renowned architecture firms, offer modern, modular mini houses for living and working. Here are our top 3:
KODA
Koda mini mobile homes offer countless combination and expansion possibilities and are born from the desire to stop energy waste and reduce energy consumption in the construction sector. Koda mini houses embody true Nordic minimalism combined with very well thought out solutions and a visually sophisticated design
NIGHTS
The idea for the ÖÖD Tiny House was born when brothers Andreas and Jaak Tiik were planning a hiking weekend. They were looking for a small house to stay in an idyllic location. But all they found were wooden huts for larger groups or small houses of mediocre quality. These homes were far from the ideal home they were looking for. This experience gave her the idea to develop an ÖÖD hotel concept with an elegant and bold design, also ideal as a small home for private individuals.
Visually, ÖÖD adapts perfectly to its surroundings thanks to its three mirrored external walls and conveys the feeling of being one with nature. Inside, the tiny house is functionally thought out down to the smallest detail and allows for luxurious living in smaller spaces.
IGLUHOUSE
The aim of Igluhouse camping homes is to take people out of their daily routine and show them a more alternative lifestyle. The round houses look like igloos, they are completely covered on the outside with shingles – the ancient building material of the Estonians – and their round internal ceilings create a feeling of well-being like in the mother’s womb. Igloo houses are particularly popular in England after David Beckham ordered one and shortly after world-famous chef Gordon Ramsey.
Nordic furniture for small spaces
The equipment of a tiny house should be as multifunctional and practical as possible. You can find our best home furniture for tiny houses in the Baltic Design Shop.
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