This 17-square-meter tiny house is wheelchair accessible
According to figures released by the German government in November 2025, there is a shortage of approximately 2.5 million accessible apartments in Germany. The Bosch Health Campus aims to help those affected with its “TinyCareHome.”
Demographic change, rising long-term care costs, and a shortage of skilled workers are posing major challenges for families and local communities. Many family members are looking for a solution that allows grandparents to live independently close to their families. This is where the “TinyCareHome” concept from the Bosch Health Campus comes in.
Bosch Health Campus pursues future- and patient-oriented health promotion and encompasses all institutions and funding activities of the Robert Bosch Foundation. The home was developed by Florian Burg from the Bosch Digital Innovation Hub of the Robert Bosch Stiftung in Stuttgart and the Steinbeis-Institut in Tübingen.
Here’s what the home looks like
A fully equipped, barrier-free living space is being created in 17 square meters: featuring a wheelchair-accessible kitchenette, a bathroom with a shower, a washing machine, a desk and dining table, and a nursing bed. A ramp allows access even with a wheelchair or walker. The interior design aims to demonstrate how barrier-free living can work in a minimal space.
BY THE WAY: barrier-free or low-barrier?
The Social Association of Germany defines “barrier-free” as unrestricted accessibility, usability, and comprehensibility for all people, regardless of disabilities. “Low-barrier,” on the other hand, facilitates access but still presents a hurdle.
The Tiny House is mobile and versatile. It is suitable as a permanent living solution in a family’s backyard, for short-term or transitional care, or as a model project for municipalities and care initiatives. Assistive sensor technology, smart-home technology, and telemedicine connectivity support safety and independence. Assistive sensor technology refers to supportive sensor technology that is, for example, integrated into the floor and automatically triggers an alarm to the care staff in the event of a person falling in the room.
The idea behind the barrier-free Tiny House: an affordable alternative to the traditional nursing home that fosters closeness and opens up new avenues in care.
Anyone who wants to experience just how much quality of life can be packed into 17 square meters will have the opportunity to visit the “TinyCareHome” at NEW HOUSING 2026 from June 26–28, 2026.
