Pénélope's big dream was to own her own house in old age, where no one could kick her out. She realized this dream with her own Tiny House in Endersbach near Stuttgart. Since November 2022, she has been living in her own four walls on 28 m².
However, the road to her own home was long and rocky. After her children moved out, Pénélope initially rented a small apartment in Stuttgart. But the possibility that she could be given notice to quit made her want to live in her own property. As a pensioner, the 68-year-old did not want to burden herself with debt. Finally, she came up with the idea of a tiny house.
The biggest challenge, however, was finding a suitable site for a small house. The search took around three years. Pénélope sought support from a planning office that helps people realize their tiny house projects. Eventually, the planning office was able to put her in touch with her current pitch landlord. "I saw my future home for the first time in 2021 and I knew immediately: 'I want to stay here'". She was able to rent the property for an initial 15 years. The landowner even had water, electricity and telephone lines laid for her.
The Tiny House stands on a foundation of six concrete blocks set into the ground. The planning office also took care of the building permit. The outer walls of Pénélope's Tiny House were erected on the plot in just one day. She was able to move in after around two months of interior work. Pénélope does not wish to comment on the exact costs. Depending on the size and fittings, tiny houses are generally available from 65,000 euros.
Pénélope's mini house has a floor area of 28 m². The dimensions were fixed from the outset due to building regulations. "That's quite enough for me, but I had to reduce a bit. It makes you realize what's really important." Pénélope was lucky: the landowner also rents her a shed, which she can use in part. This gives her a little more storage space despite the tiny living. The whole house can be transported in one piece. Even if Pénélope doesn't have to worry - should she no longer be able to stand in her current parking space with her Tiny House, the entire house can be transported away in a truck.
The Tiny House is heated exclusively with electricity. Pénélope has underfloor heating and infrared panels hang from the ceiling to heat the two rooms. It was particularly important to Pénélope that natural building materials were used. The house is made entirely of wood, the paint on the walls is chalk paint, the floor is only oiled and the windows are also made of wood. "It's simply a completely different feeling when you live in a wooden house. It smells different and also feels really great."
Pénélope also lent a hand with her wooden house. The exterior cladding of the house has a total of 102 slats. Pénélope painted each one of them twice with red paint. "I wanted a Swedish cottage, hence the red color. And of course it's a great feeling to know that I had every single one of these boards of my house in my hand."
And Pénélope was able to realize another dream in her tiny house: sleeping upstairs.
"I always wanted a bunk bed as a child, which is why I love my sleeping loft. I've always wanted that." Of course, Pénélope also wondered whether a bed on a loft is really age-appropriate. But she has decided to simply let things happen to her and then react accordingly: "I'm living now". She hopes to be able to stay in her tiny house until the end.
A film by Marina Schulz (editor), Enno Endlicher, Lukas Steinki (camera), Cécilia Marchat (sound), Daniela Schramm Moura (editor). Production: EIKON Media GmbH, on behalf of SWR.
00:00 Into the Tiny House for retirement
00:38 Living area
04:27 Kitchen
06:50 Bathroom
09:31 Bedroom
10:50 Garden