Pioneering sustainable living across Europe, Eco Tiny House blends engineering innovation with a passion for nature, crafting customizable tiny homes that transform the way we experience space and freedom. We’re joined by CEO Szakács Botond to explore the journey from a personal project on wheels to a thriving company dedicated to eco-friendly design, mobility, and minimalist living without compromise.
Key Takeaways:
- Eco Tiny House began as a personal solution and has grown into a leading European builder with over 550 homes crafted since 2017.
- Expertly tackles unique design challenges, from compact 5-meter models to 13-meter smart homes.
- Emphasis on eco-friendly materials like wood and sheep wool insulation, avoiding plastics wherever possible.
- Highly customizable designs enable clients to bring personal visions to life, from colors to smart home systems.
- Clever space-saving solutions, such as storage-integrated staircases, maximize living areas.
- Low-maintenance construction with durable materials and dedicated service team ensures longevity.
- Large windows and strategic ventilation connect tiny homes seamlessly with nature and enhance comfort
What inspired you to start manufacturing tiny houses?
In 2016, my wife and I bought a plot of land near our hometown, but we couldn’t get a building permit for it. As both of us are engineers, we started looking for alternatives and discovered that if a house is built on wheels, no permit is needed. That’s how we ended up building our first tiny house — the Tiny Lincoln — on the chassis of an old Lincoln limousine. We lived in it with our kids for a year, and that experience completely changed our perspective on space, freedom, and living simply.
The house was meant just for us, but soon others started asking about it. So in 2017, we founded Eco Tiny House. At first, we used repurposed vehicle chassis — it was affordable and practical, since we knew the house wouldn’t move much. Later, as demand grew, we started working with professional chassis manufacturers to ensure better mobility and quality.
In the early days, a Belgian entrepreneur, Antoine Dusenne, found us online and joined us as a partner and helped us expand to Western Europe. Our second model was already sold in four units to a Belgian company which is still one of our biggest clients today. What began as a personal solution has now grown into a company of 50+ workers building dozens of tiny houses each year across Europe.
What are some of the unique design challenges that come with building tiny houses, and how do you address them?
Since founding Eco Tiny House, we’ve built over 550 homes — and while we offer standard models, almost every house is unique in some way. That means we’re constantly developing new ideas and technical solutions to meet custom requests. It keeps the work exciting, because nearly every project is different.
Our team has tackled everything from compact 5-meter homes to 13-meter steel-framed models. Recently, we were challenged to build a fully smart tiny house — something we’d never done before. It turned out beautifully, and we’re incredibly proud of the result. Whenever we face something new, we put our heads together and find a way. We love challenges — they help us grow.
How do you incorporate sustainable and environmentally-friendly features into your tiny houses?
There’s a reason “Eco” is in our name. Respect for nature is one of our core values, both in our work and personal life. From the very first house, it was important for us to build with wood instead of plastic, using natural and sustainable materials wherever possible.
We love working with wood, and aim to build homes that are as environmentally friendly as possible. For example, we often use sheep wool for insulation, and upon request, we replace plastic pipes or windows with aluminum alternatives. Sustainability isn’t just a trend for us — it’s a principle we live and build by.
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ASK FOR QUOTESWhat kind of customization options do you offer for your tiny houses?
We build a lot of custom tiny houses, and one of the best parts of our work is seeing the smile on our clients’ faces when their dream home that was once just a sketch or 3D render becomes a reality.
Each house is as unique as its owner. If they want red walls, we paint them red. If they want smart home systems, we make it happen. From custom layouts to unique interior design, we love turning personal ideas into real, livable spaces.You dream it, we make it. Together.
What kind of partnerships or collaborations do you engage in to stay at the forefront of tiny house innovation?
When we started Eco Tiny House, we were one of the earliest tiny house builders in Europe and ever since, we’ve been committed to staying at the forefront of design, planning, and construction.
We work with a wide range of international partners and distributors, especially in the tourism sector. Their feedback helps us understand where the tiny house market is heading, so we can stay ahead of trends and needs.
We regularly attend international expos, where we exchange ideas with other manufacturers and industry participants.
How do you approach the challenge of maximizing living space in tiny houses?
Well, one of the biggest challenges of a tiny house is that… it’s tiny! That means every little detail has to be thoughtfully designed to make the most of the available space. We’ve learned that smart design can go a long way. One of our favorite solutions, which is now standard in all our houses, is building staircases that double as cleverly segmented storage units. It’s just one example of how we try to make every inch count.
Of course, less space means you can’t keep everything, but that also becomes a huge advantage. A tiny house naturally filters your life down to the essentials. You’re surrounded only by the things that truly matter to you. Less is more.
What kind of maintenance and upkeep is required for a tiny house, and how do you educate clients about this process?
We build our tiny houses exclusively with premium-quality materials, so they’re designed for long-term use with minimal maintenance. If the house is used as intended, upkeep is very straightforward. Maintaining the exterior woodwork, for example, usually just means applying a coat of wood-preserving varnish every two years. It’s a quick, half-day job that most owners handle themselves.
We also design the foundation and chassis to be service-friendly, so key components can be easily accessed and repaired by any local contractor, no special tools or parts needed. And for extra peace of mind, we have a dedicated service team that’s available 365 days a year. They travel across Europe, visiting clients and servicing any tiny houses in need of repairs or check-ups.
During handover, we always take time to educate our clients on all of this. We provide a clear guidebook specific to their house. With just a little attention now and then, our houses are built to last for decades.
How do you incorporate natural light and ventilation into your tiny house designs?
For us, large windows are absolutely essential in every tiny house we design. We build with the understanding that most of our homes will end up placed in nature, so the house itself should become a kind of medium between the resident and the outdoors. It brings the comfort of a home into the wild, and natural light plays a huge role in creating that feeling.
We pay special attention to window placement and size to ensure that every space receives plenty of daylight, because waking up to sunrise or winding down at sunset really does lift the spirit.
When it comes to ventilation, we integrate built-in systems right into the structure of the house. These keep the air fresh, help the insulation stay dry, and ensure the house remains durable over the years. Each home comes with a dedicated ventilation unit in the main living area and in the bathroom, as standard. This way, comfort and air quality are always taken care of, quietly, efficiently, and reliably.
Curious to discover how sustainable living can fit your lifestyle? Explore Eco Tiny House’s online catalogue for detailed models, pricing, and endless customization options—and take the first step toward your dream tiny home.
