Tiny house project in Unterammergau: a dream in a small space

Created: 08/08/2022, 11:00 am

Is this the future?

Small wooden houses are lined up in the tiny settlement in Unterammergau.

© Laetizia Foerster

"We made a lifelong dream possible for them." Manuela Schädle looks contentedly at the approximately 1,000 square meter site on Hofstadelstrasse in Unterammergau.

Where only the floor plans were laid out about six months ago, there is now a completely new district with six mini homes - all of them inhabited.

Unterammergau

– The municipal council had already approved the ambitious plans in 2020.

Six of these so-called tiny houses plus a common room have enriched the townscape since March 2022.

After the construction was delayed by half a year in November (we reported), the first residents were finally able to move in three months ago.

"We are pleased that it has come together in this context," says Schädle.

Now the heads of town hall from Oberau, Bad Kohlgrub and Unterammergau were able to get an idea on site, to be inspired, so to speak.

Unterammergau's Mayor Robert Stumpfecker drove up with his 250 BMW Isetta – fitting for this Minwelt.

However, many other officials and district administrator Anton Speer did not accept the invitation.

Schädle and her partner Bernd Klöpper were downright disappointed about this.

"Showing such disinterest in a topic that is becoming increasingly popular with a not inconsiderable part of the population suggests a fundamental rejection and disregard for the wishes of the population," concludes Schädle.

Matching the miniature houses: Mayor Robert Stumpfecker rolls up to the on-site visit in an Isetta.

© Laetizia Foerster

Her partner Klöpper, a craftsman, builds the houses.

He is supported by the Gaida carpentry.

"It is important to us that everything is built locally and regionally," assures Schädle during the tour of the Tiny Quarter.

Everything made of wood, everything handmade.

The houses are designed to be 6.7 meters long, three meters wide and around three and a half meters high.

The 75 cubic meters are perfectly sufficient for the residents.

"The houses are very simple and are mainly made of wood," explains Klöpper.

Except for the roof and masking foils, the mini buildings are completely plastic-free.

"You also need little energy to heat." Each cottage is a little different, designed entirely according to the wishes of the owner.

The common room can be used by all residents.

"There are washing machines and storage facilities there," explains Schädle.

The Unterammergau resident leases the land to the Tiny residents.

The parking space costs them 200 euros a month.

Schädle could also imagine the hitherto unique concept for other municipalities.

"That makes perfect sense.

A lot is already paid for with 12,000 euros for development.” If Schädle has his way, it shouldn't stop with this one settlement.

“Creating living space is also the task of the municipalities.

You can create a lot more living space with a small house,” assures Schädle.

In addition, a Tiny gives much more than an apartment.

Everything you need to live is there.

"It's not hype, it's a permanent solution."

You have to have the attitude to do it.

Franz Degele

According to her, the adjacent station area would offer itself as an expansion area.

Stumpfecker is still critical of this suggestion.

"First of all, we'll see how that develops." It remains to be seen whether the pilot project will catch on.

"Our concern is that the residents will then change their minds and just make the Tiny their second home," fears the mayor of Unterammergau.

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A justified objection, also find his counterparts.

"You have to have the attitude for it," notes Franz Degele.

According to Kohlgrub's mayor, living in such a small space is not for everyone.

“It would certainly be an interesting solution for single people.

It will probably be too small for two.”

Schädle is undeterred and also sees a possibility in holiday rentals.

She already rents out a model household for vacationers on Roßanger.

"It's been extremely well received." The mayor of Oberau, Peter Imminger, can also imagine a concept made up of tiny holiday homes.

"I'm more likely to see that something like this works."

The owners of the mini houses are satisfied.

"I've been preparing for a reduced life for a long time," reports one resident.

The 57-year-old moved from Wolfratshausen to the tiny settlement in Unterammergau.

"It enriched me and was a nice process." From a financial point of view, it had never been possible for the social worker to own a home.

When she heard about the project from a former fellow student, the 57-year-old was immediately hooked.

"I live close to nature and I'm outside in no time."

A family of three has also found a home in the district.

For this, the new parents from Murnau put two tiny houses together.

"We have a total of 50 square meters plus five square meters on the upper floor," says Lorenz Töpfer.

The Winkeltiny is exactly the right solution for the family.

Potter's offspring even get their own room when they grow up.

"It is enough.

And that sometimes gives you an incentive to go outside," says the 29-year-old.

Essentially, according to Töpfer, Winkeltiny is nothing more than an apartment with a garden.

The cottages are also becoming increasingly popular.

The crowd is big.

According to Schädle, around 200 aspirants are already waiting for their Tiny dream home.

The crux of the matter is the permit.

"We get unfounded rejections," complains candidate Caroline Dirscherl.

They and many others have been waiting for a parking space for a small home since construction began.

"A few areas wouldn't be bad," notes Schädle.

But the search turns out to be rather difficult.

The woman from Unterammergau is therefore hoping for private providers who would lease their land for this purpose.

Interested parties can send an email to info@ tiny-wohn-t-raum.de or call 0 88 22/9 41 01.