I have been browsing various topics in the forum for some time but so far have only come across larger construction projects: 120 sqm to 180 sqm (1300 sq ft to 1900 sq ft) or similar.
Therefore, I wonder if anyone here has experience with very, very small residential buildings?
For example: 40 sqm (430 sq ft) of living space (see Thule KuBu40), which is just enough for one person, especially if there is an accompanying garden, conservatory, etc.
Can I still expect costs roughly like the following, adapted from a response in another thread:
Land already owned
2500€/sqm (230$/sq ft): 100,000€
30,000€ for outdoor facilities
Additional construction-related costs 50,000€
No basement
So about 180,000€ in total? My goal is to have a base comparable to my apartments from the last 10 years (30–50 sqm / 320–540 sq ft), but with a private garden and a view of nature.
Unfortunately, I have not been very successful searching the forum, and on my other questions I keep getting lost in threads that are unrelated to what I am asking.
So a link to a similar project would also be very helpful.
Thanks in advance if anyone feels like responding 🙂
Therefore, I wonder if anyone here has experience with very, very small residential buildings?
For example: 40 sqm (430 sq ft) of living space (see Thule KuBu40), which is just enough for one person, especially if there is an accompanying garden, conservatory, etc.
Can I still expect costs roughly like the following, adapted from a response in another thread:
Land already owned
2500€/sqm (230$/sq ft): 100,000€
30,000€ for outdoor facilities
Additional construction-related costs 50,000€
No basement
So about 180,000€ in total? My goal is to have a base comparable to my apartments from the last 10 years (30–50 sqm / 320–540 sq ft), but with a private garden and a view of nature.
Unfortunately, I have not been very successful searching the forum, and on my other questions I keep getting lost in threads that are unrelated to what I am asking.
So a link to a similar project would also be very helpful.
Thanks in advance if anyone feels like responding 🙂
ypg schrieb:
No one is going to discourage you from choosing the small house.
It just doesn’t make much sense if floated or flying homes are only slightly more expensive than an affordable standard bungalow from budget providers.
You can also be happy with a standard design. I am rather skeptical about these houses that even have a new term coined for them; they seem a bit too fancy to me.
That’s why I still prefer the simple design of the Thule KuBu, built with a timber frame construction. It feels more comfortable than a container house (ceiling height, open living space). But I need to see it in person next time I have the chance. They also offer extensions from 60m² (645 sq ft) to 80m² (860 sq ft). 40m² (430 sq ft) of living space plus 20m² (215 sq ft) for everything I might not have thought of (utility room, fireplace), while the 40m² (430 sq ft) KuBu partly has double ceiling height, so that’s somewhat more living space in my opinion, even if it’s “just air without a floor.”
If anyone has experience with such houses (40–90m² / 430–970 sq ft), I’m still very interested.
Such experience reports are rather rare. I keep searching.
The next step is probably to move from the big city to the countryside near the plot, so I can see whether I want to live there and also to carry out the demolition of the existing building (barn) where the house is planned.
So the thread will get quieter for a while.
eenuep1 schrieb:
The next step will probably be to move from the city to the countryside near the plot, so I can find out if I want to live there and also be able to carry out the demolition of the existing building (barn), where the house is planned. That’s a very sensible step. Had you mentioned before that there was an existing building?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
[A very sensible step]
Yes, I agree!
I don’t have experience living in a small space for a long time, but from my perspective, I would still like to share some thoughts:
After moving into my own house a few years ago, and initially struggling with limiting myself to a living room of “just” 22 square meters (236 square feet), I have since realized: it always depends.
Friends of mine moved into a smaller house next door and are completely satisfied.
When I’m cleaning and “doing my part” (which I consider normal and right), I’m always glad there isn’t more space to cover.
A larger living area would still be appealing to me, but if I look closely: I don’t really notice it in day-to-day movement – and if it were smaller, that wouldn’t be a problem either.
Feeling comfortable depends on so many details – and some of those you can intentionally influence.
“The neighbors have more space” is one of those details, and I think jealousy affects us all far more than we admit to ourselves.
In Berlin, many people would have more space; in Amsterdam, I’d be “the king” with my 22 square meters (236 square feet). Keeping this relativity in mind helps.
I experience the difference between city and countryside like this:
What feels cramped in the city, for example when the apartment has no balcony, matters less in the countryside because you usually have (assuming you have some land around) much more outdoor space — or can at least be outside more.
What helps against feeling cramped – from my experience – is space where you can move freely without having to coordinate with others. The space doesn't even have to be yours … it still relaxes you.
At least as important as available space is the location of the house. Nice neighbors? Beautiful surroundings? An interesting environment?
A friend of my father’s — long gone now — said: I love the commuter train speeding past here. If it didn’t exist, I would never have been able to afford this house at Schlachtensee ... 😀
Here in northern Hesse, where I live, I miss the variety of good restaurants, but if my wife didn’t cook well, I’d practice more myself ... 😎
In summary:
there is no practical answer of what is good or bad, but above all your own preferences and tendencies. You should look closely at those beforehand.
Yes, I agree!
eenuep1 schrieb:
Such experience reports are quite rare.
I don’t have experience living in a small space for a long time, but from my perspective, I would still like to share some thoughts:
After moving into my own house a few years ago, and initially struggling with limiting myself to a living room of “just” 22 square meters (236 square feet), I have since realized: it always depends.
Friends of mine moved into a smaller house next door and are completely satisfied.
When I’m cleaning and “doing my part” (which I consider normal and right), I’m always glad there isn’t more space to cover.
A larger living area would still be appealing to me, but if I look closely: I don’t really notice it in day-to-day movement – and if it were smaller, that wouldn’t be a problem either.
Feeling comfortable depends on so many details – and some of those you can intentionally influence.
“The neighbors have more space” is one of those details, and I think jealousy affects us all far more than we admit to ourselves.
In Berlin, many people would have more space; in Amsterdam, I’d be “the king” with my 22 square meters (236 square feet). Keeping this relativity in mind helps.
I experience the difference between city and countryside like this:
What feels cramped in the city, for example when the apartment has no balcony, matters less in the countryside because you usually have (assuming you have some land around) much more outdoor space — or can at least be outside more.
What helps against feeling cramped – from my experience – is space where you can move freely without having to coordinate with others. The space doesn't even have to be yours … it still relaxes you.
At least as important as available space is the location of the house. Nice neighbors? Beautiful surroundings? An interesting environment?
A friend of my father’s — long gone now — said: I love the commuter train speeding past here. If it didn’t exist, I would never have been able to afford this house at Schlachtensee ... 😀
Here in northern Hesse, where I live, I miss the variety of good restaurants, but if my wife didn’t cook well, I’d practice more myself ... 😎
In summary:
there is no practical answer of what is good or bad, but above all your own preferences and tendencies. You should look closely at those beforehand.
Brief update:
After a break, I finally had some time and motivation to focus on this topic again.
I contacted Thule, who offers the "KuBu," but despite two inquiries, I received no response regarding a site visit. The provider is probably too small.
I visited a model home park nearby but was initially a bit disappointed because none of the houses appealed to me (all too large, designed for families, not for a single person). That stressed me out (-;
Then I went to a more distant model home park and saw the Flying Space by Schwörerhaus in person. I really liked it in terms of size, quality, and the four double windows/doors on the south side.
Accordingly, I had a sales meeting. Unfortunately, I just found out that the KFW 55 (EE) subsidy ends at the end of January.
That means if I want to secure the 30,000 euros (on a house price of maybe 160,000 euros), I need to sign the offer I receive in the next 1-2 days by the end of this week, so that (without risk) all documents are ready after the company holiday in mid-January and I can apply for my subsidy number by the end of January.
Another major downside: delivery time of 18 months (fixed price for 2 years). I had hoped to move in during 2022; the assembly itself takes only 1 day, ready to move in immediately.
Due to the KFW 55 EE requirements, underfloor heating and an air-to-water heat pump with split units (outside) will be installed. My concern now is that the unit will be too loud. I already get stressed when I hear street noise, but the unit would be basically right in my garden.
Does anyone know if these types of units are noisy nowadays? Or if I can build some kind of wooden enclosure around it, if that would help?
After a break, I finally had some time and motivation to focus on this topic again.
I contacted Thule, who offers the "KuBu," but despite two inquiries, I received no response regarding a site visit. The provider is probably too small.
I visited a model home park nearby but was initially a bit disappointed because none of the houses appealed to me (all too large, designed for families, not for a single person). That stressed me out (-;
Then I went to a more distant model home park and saw the Flying Space by Schwörerhaus in person. I really liked it in terms of size, quality, and the four double windows/doors on the south side.
Accordingly, I had a sales meeting. Unfortunately, I just found out that the KFW 55 (EE) subsidy ends at the end of January.
That means if I want to secure the 30,000 euros (on a house price of maybe 160,000 euros), I need to sign the offer I receive in the next 1-2 days by the end of this week, so that (without risk) all documents are ready after the company holiday in mid-January and I can apply for my subsidy number by the end of January.
Another major downside: delivery time of 18 months (fixed price for 2 years). I had hoped to move in during 2022; the assembly itself takes only 1 day, ready to move in immediately.
Due to the KFW 55 EE requirements, underfloor heating and an air-to-water heat pump with split units (outside) will be installed. My concern now is that the unit will be too loud. I already get stressed when I hear street noise, but the unit would be basically right in my garden.
Does anyone know if these types of units are noisy nowadays? Or if I can build some kind of wooden enclosure around it, if that would help?
eenuep1 schrieb:
Unfortunately, I only just found out that the KFW 55(EE) subsidy will expire at the end of January.
This means that if I want to take advantage of the 30,000 (with a house price of maybe 160,000), I would have to sign the offer I receive in the next 1-2 days by the end of the week, so that (without risk) all documents are ready after the company’s holiday break in mid-January and I can apply for my subsidy number by the end of January. In theory. In practice, you would have to be extremely naive to believe that.
So close to Christmas, no one with even a spark of common sense would bet that the Easter Bunny will get there faster.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
In theory. In practice, you would have to be incredibly naive for that to happen.
So close to Christmas, no one with even a hint of common sense would bet that the Easter Bunny will get there faster.Do you mean that the seller just wants to quickly secure a commission?He already mentioned that we can also plan more relaxed without the subsidy.
But with 160,000 (160k), 30,000 (30k) is quite different compared to 350,000 to 450,000 (350k to 450k). (My opinion)
According to the seller, the KfW 55 standard (in some federal states KfW 40) means it no longer qualifies for funding, according to the law.
According to KfW, funding is now more likely to be directed toward renovations (CO2 reduction potential).
I’m aware that a single-person house is not really desired, so it makes sense that I probably can’t expect any government discounts soon.
Regardless, there are currently still low-interest loans available, which may not last forever. At around 1% interest, it might actually make more sense to finance through a loan rather than using savings.
On the other hand, I am also glad to finally get things moving. I feel like I’ve been dealing with the desire to build a house for too long, but without a deadline, it’s easy to take your time.
It would definitely be interesting to get some input or advice regarding air-to-water heat pumps and noise levels.
Also, there is a slope just south of the house. I will provide a picture later. I’m unsure whether that is nice in terms of the view. But anyway, I have no other option 🙂
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