The Art of Small – A look behind the scenes at the Scholz Tiny House Factory

INSTITUT: Welcome! Today we’re sitting in one of Scholz’s latest creations. Looking around here, you almost forget that you’re in a space of just about 20 square metres. What is the secret behind Scholz Innovation Oberlausitz? What makes your homes so special compared to others?

Scholz: Thank you very much for visiting. Our secret lies in the combination of engineering, architecture and solid craftsmanship. We don’t try to ‘shrink down’ a large house. From the very first sketch, we design for a limited yet comfortable living space. What sets us apart is our use of eco-friendly, regional materials. Tactile, truly well-thought-out solutions. You’ll experience a pleasant indoor climate in a cosy setting with optimal use of space.

INSTITUT: Design plays a central role in tiny houses. How do you manage to combine aesthetics and functionality in such a confined space?

Scholz: For us, design means “omitting elements without anything being missing”. We work extensively with sightlines. When you sit here at the dining table, you can look out through the large panoramic window onto the greenery, but also diagonally across the entire house. That gives the mind room to breathe. Elegant functionality, combined with fulfilling customer wishes – those are our strengths.

INSTITUT: Let’s talk about craftsmanship. In an age of factory-built prefabricated houses, Scholz focuses on handcrafted quality. Why is this aspect of craftsmanship so important for the Scholz end product?

Scholz: A tiny house is subjected to extreme stresses, particularly when it is transported on a trailer. Our craftsmen use traditional timber joints on a sturdy metal frame. We also build houseboats, and this is where experience, knowledge of materials and structural engineering interlock with the know-how of Scholz Tiny Houses. Craftsmanship guarantees longevity.

INSTITUT: When people think of tiny houses, they often immediately picture permanent living as a minimalist dropout. What other potential uses do you see for your models?

Scholz: The range of applications has expanded enormously. Of course, we have the classic customers who want to downsize. But we also build mobile offices for freelancers who want to work in the garden but need a clear separation between their private life and their job. Our houses are also in demand in the tourism sector – as high-quality, nature-oriented hotel rooms. And an exciting area is ‘temporary accommodation’ for care workers or students in cities, where we can quickly create living space using modular construction without permanently sealing off land. Or accessible living spaces for older people, also envisaged as small tiny house communities, round off our portfolio.

INSTITUT: Finally: if someone is thinking about buying a Scholz Tiny House – what is your most important piece of advice regarding the design?

Scholz: Come along and see the quality of our houses for yourself. Good design has to be experienced, which is why we take customer wishes particularly seriously and design living spaces for well-being in a wide variety of sizes, floor plans and specification lines. Our architect has developed a variant in which wooden slats are positioned to create a facade of arched panels. This creates a stunning play of light inside. A Scholz Tiny House is not just a product; it is a choice – a choice for a different lifestyle or a holiday immersed in nature.

INSTITUT: Thank you for the lovely chat.