NEW HOUSING 2025 is increasingly impressing industry professionals and establishing itself as a meeting place for residential investment

From the smallest to the small but mighty, from those on wheels to those on water, from those on bicycles to those with carports – anyone who thinks that tiny houses are all the same is mistaken. The range offered by the mini house sector is huge. The sixth edition of NEW HOUSING from 27 to 29 June once again impressively demonstrated what small living means.

In addition to accessories, furniture, property search options, house financing and more, the approximately 80 exhibitors showcased more than 30 mini houses of various designs. The Tiny Giants Area featured the big little ones, modular houses up to 50 square metres in size.

"It's always exciting for me to see the areas and stages of life in which mini houses are used and can add value. Every year, our exhibitors demonstrate that the range and possible applications are almost endless. Whether as a retirement home, a holiday home or for rental, mini houses are true all-rounders. I am very excited to see where the journey will take us. In addition to the exhibitors, our visitors make the festival an event unlike any other in the trade fair landscape. The positive, creative and relaxed atmosphere inspires me anew every year," says Ramona Jonait, project manager of NEW HOUSING.

Small giants: modular houses in high demand

In addition to the Tiny Giants, exhibitors presented classic Tiny Houses on Wheels in timber frame or lightweight aluminium construction. Micro-apartments were also a popular destination for visitors. Almost 60 percent of visitors were specifically interested in modular houses. These can be adapted to the respective living situation and are in increasing demand every year. The Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre responded to the growing demand with the Tiny Giants Area.

At the second NEW HOUSING press talk, experts discussed what this demand is, what range of mini houses is available, and whether a tiny house can accompany a person throughout their entire life and adapt to new phases of life. Unlike its premiere last year, this event was open to all visitors to NEW HOUSING and was well received. The talk and the trade fair in general were attended by numerous German and European media representatives and were well received.

Knowledge and exchange platform

The discussion marked the start of the Tiny Talks. During these talks, experts from the mini house industry discussed a wide range of topics, such as financing mini houses, building applications and challenges in the camping market. The Tiny Talks have long established themselves as an important knowledge and exchange platform at NEW HOUSING. The unique community character of Europe's largest Tiny House Festival is complemented by the workshops. As in the previous year, these were sold out. On all three days of the festival, the intensive courses got down to the nitty-gritty. ‘How to finally turn your dream into reality – the first step towards living in a tiny house’ and ‘The art of functional interior design: how to distinguish good planning from bad’ were some of the topics discussed.

Participants convinced

‘We attended a workshop because we are interested in tiny houses and how to finance them. Above all, it showed us that you have to take your time and not think that you can build a tiny house overnight,’ says Hendrik von Stiegenhorn from Pforzheim. Johannes Göddesheim also travelled from Pforzheim to attend the workshop: ‘I wanted to get some clarity on what type of tiny house would be interesting and suitable for me. I found the workshop very interesting and informative. It addressed important questions that you should ask yourself in advance.’

Around 9,000 visitors from 17 countries came to find out more about small living. For two-thirds of them, the trade fair plays a decisive role in their investment decisions, and one in four visitors said they came to NEW HOUSING with a specific interest in buying. Christina Hermanns, 53, from Berlin says: "I work in real estate, so tiny houses are naturally a very interesting topic for me. I find mini houses very exciting because you can see how versatile they are, despite the small space. A whole new market is emerging here."

‘The quality of the discussions is very good.’

This also convinces the exhibitors, whose quality is rated by visitors with a satisfaction rate of 90 percent. Rico Bohn is one of these exhibitors. He is the managing director of nest-io, a supplier of modular houses from Schönefeld: "The demand for alternative forms of living continues to rise. People still want to live in beautiful homes, but the construction costs for classic solid houses do not always allow for this. That is why the trend is towards smaller living spaces. Our target group is very diverse. There is also an unbroken trend in Germany in the area of holiday home rentals. Many people want to go on holiday more often, but for shorter periods and closer to home. At NEW HOUSING, you meet all the target groups I have listed – from young to old, from private users to providers of large parks. It's impossible to list them all. Every conversation and every request is different. And the quality of the conversations is very good. Many interested parties have done their homework in advance, come here with specific expectations, are very knowledgeable and ask high-quality technical questions. We had many interested parties and made lots of contacts."

Martin Gruber, Head of Business Development and Sales at Testa Motari, is also on site. The company, which has its roots in the automotive sector, brought a luxurious modular house with a wraparound terrace and carport to the Karlsruhe trade fair and presented the prototype to the world for the first time here: ‘We have received phenomenal feedback from visitors. We were overwhelmed. We had expected a lot of interest, but this really amazed us. People want to choose their house consciously and realise it in a minimalist way, but at the same time not sacrifice anything. The tension between small space and maximum comfort interests and moves us.’

Holidays in tiny houses

In addition to living in tiny houses, more and more people and providers are discovering these small houses as ideal holiday accommodation. Mein kleinHotel offers holidays in small spaces. Managing Director Nicole Habich says: "We have developed a hotel concept using only tiny houses, which we are presenting here. For people who want a very individual holiday, tiny houses are the ideal way to make this a reality. We are the point of contact for those who want to open a small hotel themselves, but also for anyone who wants to holiday in a small hotel. NEW HOUSING reaches exactly the target group we want to reach. Here, interested parties have all the expertise they need in one place. You won't find this range anywhere else."

In addition to campsites and the like, the range of holidays in tiny houses at NEW HOUSING also includes holidays on the water. Dr Heiner Haass was on site as an expert at the press talk and as an exhibitor during the three days of the festival. He is an expert on floating tiny houses: "NEW HOUSING has continued to develop over the past few years. So I had to be there this year. This is where all the knowledge is gathered. You can go inside the houses, sit or lie down, imagine how you would decorate the little house, and so on. But there is also advice in a theoretical sense. Topics such as building permits, planning, testing, materials and much more are discussed here. That's why I like being here. I myself deal with floating tiny houses. These are houses that can be lived in on the water – as an office or for permanent residence. This is a trend that is sure to continue. Of course, the tiny house is predestined for holidays. And when we put it on the water, the experience is enhanced even further. It's pure holiday feeling. You don't have to travel far. We find such offers in great regions in Germany."

NEW HOUSING expands portfolio from 2026

In order to meet the growing demand for tiny houses in the tourism sector, NEW HOUSING is expanding its portfolio in the coming year. "The sixth and once again successful edition of NEW HOUSING shows that living in small spaces is more than just a trend. Messe Karlsruhe has managed to develop a successful format for this segment and establish it on the market. NEW HOUSING now reaches not only private individuals, but also a growing group of professionals. Next year, we will dedicate a special trade visitor day to these guests with a programme tailored specifically to their questions and needs. At the weekend, NEW HOUSING will then be followed by the Tiny House Festival, which our visitors love. This will create the ideal mix for all those interested in the topic and ensure that we remain the most important port of call for tiny houses in Europe. We are also optimistic that the planned construction boom by the new Federal Ministry of Construction will contribute to the continued growth of the industry and thus also of NEW HOUSING," says Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe.

Date for next year

The next edition of NEW HOUSING will take place from 26 to 28 June 2026.