Tiny Houses

Wohnwagon tiny home can look after itself

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The Wohnwagon is built using natural and recycled materials
The Wohnwagon is built using natural and recycled materials
The Wohnwagon measure 10 x 2.5 m (32.8 x 8.2 ft), with a 3 x 2 m (9.8 x 6.6 ft) additional expandable section
The shell of the Wohnwagon is made of larch wood
The Wohnwagon is insulated by sheep's wool, which helps to regulate the interior temperature and humidity
The Wohnwagon heats water using a solar-wood stove
The Wohnwagon has a heated shower
Greywater run-off from the sink and shower is pumped up to the green roof and is purified naturally over the course of about 24 hours
The Wohnwagon has a bio-toilet that separates liquid and solid waste before turning each into fertilizer
The Wohnwagon provides 25 sq m (269 sq ft) of living space
The Wohnwagon uses a fold-out table to conserve space
The Wohnwagon has slide-out storage space that helps to conserve space
The inner panels of the Wohnwagon are made of spruce or wood-fiber panels and clay plaster
The Wohnwagon has a good number of windows to allow light into the interior space
Shelving provides additional storage space in the Wohnwagon
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An Austrian company is building trailer homes that are designed not only to be compact, but with self-sufficiency in mind, too. Wohnwagon's trailers provide 25 sq m (269 sq ft) of living space and have their own off-grid electricity, water and waste systems. They can also be used as offices, guest rooms or cafes.

Wohnwagon was founded in 2013 and is currently building its fifth trailer. As with other typical tiny homes, the Wohnwagons are designed to make efficient use of space and resources. Measuring 10 x 2.5 m (32.8 x 8.2 ft), with a 3 x 2 m (9.8 x 6.6 ft) additional expandable section, they are built using natural and recycled materials and have a variety of sustainability features.

The outer shells of the trailers are made of larch wood and the inner panels are made of spruce or wood-fiber panels and clay plaster. The trailers are insulated by sheep's wool, which helps to regulate the interior temperature and humidity.

Four solar panels mounted on the roof deliver a peak output of 1.2 kW and surplus energy is stored in a 6 kWh battery-system installed under the floor. Wohnwagon says the system requires thoughtful use of energy, but provides enough output for comfortable year-round living. A monitoring system allows residents to keep tabs on their levels of energy usage.

The Wohnwagon provides 25 sq m (269 sq ft) of living space

The water system of the Wohnwagon uses a total of 550 l (121 gal), with 140 l (31 gal) of clean water stored in a tank under the floor. Water is heated using a wood-burning stove or the roof-based solar system and is recycled with perhaps the Wohnwagon's neatest trick.

A green roof provides additional insulation, but features marsh plants that naturally filter greywater run-off from the sink and shower. The greywater is pumped up to the roof and is purified naturally over the course of about 24 hours, after which it is reused for showers or washing. The Wohnwagon also has a bio-toilet that separates liquid and solid waste before turning each into fertilizer.

The trailers each cost in the region of €40,000 to €90,000 (US$45,000 to $110,000) and buyers are able to customize the design of their Wohnwagon prior to the build-stage. The current build is expected to be completed this coming October and will be installed at the Almdorf Seinerzeit hotel in Kärnten, Austria, as a bookable room.

Source: Wohnwagon

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3 comments
groingo2
After readibg the article and looking at their technical spec this trailer lacks on major feature which is adjustable ride height. As it is currently shown, unless you traveled on perfectly flat roads or ground you will either rip out the rear overhand or get high centered on as little as a speed bump. Hope better thought wen into the rest of the design.
groingo2
Unless it has ride height adjustment, moving it over anything but perfectly flat ground could be tough.
Buellrider
I really like what they have designed and would love to be able to rent one parked at a lake or along side a river. Well done.