A new tiny house settlement is being built in Dortmund Sölde. © Hans Blossey/Imago;Pond5 Images/Imago;Collage:RUHR24
Dortmund benefits from a new residential project. A village of “tiny houses” is being built on an old sports field.
Dortmund – Living space in the Ruhr area is expensive and scarce. Nevertheless, many families, couples and even singles want to own their own home sooner or later. So-called “Tiny Houses” are therefore increasingly coming into focus. The city of Dortmund is also planning a village full of mini houses, as RUHR24 has now learned.
Dortmund gets XS house settlements: How expensive is a mini house?
Specifically, it’s about 40-50 of the small homes in the southeast of Dortmund on a former sports field in Sölde. According to the German press agency The development plan for the “Tiny Village” is currently being drawn up. If everything works out, construction could finally start in 2026. The planning has been going on for years.
The properties are to be developed and then sold or leased to private building groups (at least four parties). According to DPA information, there are already seven interested building groups who would like to live in the new settlement themselves. The small mini-house village should be car-free. The majority of those interested are 50 plus.
“Tiny Houses” in Dortmund: Projects are underway here
But there are other tiny house projects underway in Dortmund. Four free-standing mini houses are being built in the northeast of the city. They should have a living space of 37 square meters, like that DPA white.
The TU Dortmund is also building a tiny guest house on a garage. It should be planned and implemented by architecture students. Dortmund is not alone with the tiny trend. Projects are also underway in other NRW cities such as Celle and Coesfeld.
New residential project in Dortmund: How much does a tiny house cost?
But how much does a tiny house like this actually cost? The question cannot be answered in such a general way. The price depends on the property being leased or purchased. On top of that there are the construction costs for the small house. Here the prices vary greatly, depending on the equipment (more Dortmund news at RUHR24).
If you do a lot of things yourself and forego luxury, you can get relatively far with just a few thousand euros. According to the LBS, if you have a house built, you have to expect costs between 30,000 and 80,000 euros.
Dortmund is getting new mini-houses – these are the hurdles
There are different reasons why people choose a mini house. The housing shortage and high construction costs play a role. Many people simply want to live a more minimalistic life with a tiny house and protect the environment.
But the process surrounding small houses is not without hurdles or skepticism everywhere. In some places, for example, the administration and neighborhood are at odds. One problem: if a mini house is permanently inhabited, it is considered a building and requires a building permit.