Tiny houses are big: The "tiny house" way to live
On how few square meters could you live? Six, twenty, forty-five? That last number is the per capita average in Switzerland. Tiny houses show that something beautiful can emerge even in a small space. Tiny houses have potential in Switzerland as "single houses."
Tiny houses are perfect for singles.
Have you heard of the German television show "Löwenzahn"? In the show, Peter Lustig, and later his successor, lives in a remodeled construction trailer. Many children – and, secretly, many adults as well – were charmed by this lifestyle and dreamed of living this way themselves. This dream could become reality with a tiny house. Small houses are winning hearts in the US and the UK right now. They are becoming increasingly popular in Germany and Switzerland as well.
Tiny houses are gaining momentum, thanks to the growing number of single-member households. Since 1990, this has been the most common living situation in Switzerland. Today, almost a third of households are made up of only a single person – and the trend continues to grow. Currently, the number of single-member households sits at 1.3 million. According to an extrapolation by the federal government, this number is expected to grow to 1.7 million by 2045. The tiny-house movement has arrived right on cue.
Tiny houses offer enough space for a family
There isn't a definition of how big a tiny house can be. Most are between 15 and 45 square meters. For comparison, a typical Swiss single home is 80 square meters. Still, a tiny home offers everything you need: a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a living room / bedroom space. "Small houses" of up to 90 square meters in space are appreciably bigger and thus well suited to pairs or families.
Their small size isn't the only thing small houses have to offer – it's also markedly cheaper to buy a tiny house. It's practical as well: If it's on wheels, moving house is as easy as securely stowing your belongings. Even if the tiny house is on a foundation, it can often be moved using a truck. Nevertheless, it should be noted that a building permit is required even for a tiny house.
Tiny houses as vacation homes or primary residences
The range of small houses is already very large. Some are bought as vacation homes or secondary residences. In other cases, the desire for a more sustainable lifestyle is the driving force behind the homebuyer's conscious decision for a smaller primary residence.
Tiny houses are usually built with renewable resources and have low energy consumption. Examples include the tiny houses The Ynez, the Fincube and the Smallhouse.
Tiny houses: small but oh my!
Four examples of tiny houses – for singles, pairs, or families.
-
The tiny house Ynez measures 20 square meters and has wheels.
It was designed and built in the US. Doug Schroeder and his company specialize in building moveable tiny houses.
-
A small space doesn't mean sacrificing beautiful living
The house from Timbercraft Tiny Homes offers everything the heart desires, including a kitchen and bathroom, in a small space. Cost: USD 52,000 (approximately CHF 50,600).
-
The Fincube has a usable floor area of barely 50 square meters.
German designer Werner Aisslinger created the cube, and entrepreneur Josef Innerhofen from South Tyrol brought it to market.
-
The Fincube focuses on sustainable materials and photovoltaics
Inside there is a kitchen, a living room, a sleeping area, and a bathroom. Cost (ex works, without interior furnishing and fittings): from EUR 150,000 (approximately CHF 170,000).
-
The Smallhouse offers 75 square meters of habitable floor space on only 44 square meters
The tiny house designed in 1999 by Bauart Architekten und Planer AG was further developed in 2012 in collaboration with Koppmarcelbaut GmbH.
-
The Smallhouse uses ecological and natural materials
Inside it, there are four main rooms. In between them there is a kitchen and a bathroom. Cost (including planning application and furnishings): from CHF 350,000.
-
The small house Slimline has a useful floor area of over 80 square meters.
The vendors of modular housing are also increasingly focusing on small houses – for example, the German brand Onoxo Home. The Slimline house is narrow, requiring barely 50 square meters of land.
-
Small houses emphasize sustainability
The layout of the house makes it suitable for a small family. Upstairs, it has space for two rooms. Cost (without kitchen, ex foundation): approximately EUR 180,000 (approximately CHF 203,000).
Could you imagine living in a tiny house?
Admittedly, a tiny house or small house is not everyone's cup of tea. However, it provides solutions for many modern problems: Land for construction is in increasingly short supply in Switzerland – especially in central locations. At the same time, the population continues to grow. According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, there will be over 10 million people living in Switzerland by the year 2040. These people want more and more space: In 1980, the average habitable floor area per person was 34 square meters, and by 2016, it was already up to an average of 45 square meters.
The single house opposes this trend somewhat by using habitable floor area in a smarter way. Constructing buildings closer together is easier when the houses are tiny. Many parcels would have space for additional houses if the houses had a small floor area. However, the key question is: How much are Swiss citizens are prepared to limit their habitable floor area? How many square meters are the absolute minimum for you?
