A Modular Home Made From Cardboard With Unlimited Footprint Possibilities

The concept of living in a cardboard box got a whole new meaning when design studio Fiction Factory completed their first Wikkelhouse a few years ago. The creative Amsterdam-based studio has been working of this for a long time and actually manage to design and to manufacture a house made from cardboard.

The number of segments that a house can be made of is unlimited
The number of segments that a house can be made of is unlimited

It’s a micro home with a simple and classic design and a modular structure. There’s been over 60 such houses installed in both rural and urban areas so far. Each one is made of segments and each segment is 4.6 meters long and 3.5 meters high and weighs 500 kg. This modular structure allows each house to have a customizable footprint. More segments can be added as needed and the house can grow over time.

The house doesn't require a foundation which makes it accessible and versatile
The house doesn’t require a foundation which makes it accessible and versatile

You’re probably curios how this prefab house is made. In simple terms, 24 layers of high-strength cardboard are wrapped around a mold and then glued together. The mold is shaped like a gable roof house. The cardboard layers are then topped with waterproof coating and wood paneling in order to offer protection against the elements. The Wikkelhouses are 100% recyclable and expected to last 100 years. A complete one which includes a prefab kitchenette and bathroom module starts from $41.000 and the price doesn’t include the transportation and installation costs. Many aspects of the house are customizable, starting with the total footprint. The interior cladding, window placement and finishing are also customizable. The houses are built in a workshop located in Amsterdam and have also become available in several other countries including The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Denmark. Considering all the unique characteristics of a Wikkelhouse, would you live in a cardboard home?

The shell of each segment is made of 24 layers of cardboard wrapped around a mold
The shell of each segment is made of 24 layers of cardboard wrapped around a mold
The cardboard layers are glued together and covered with plywood and waterproof coating
The cardboard layers are glued together and covered with plywood and waterproof coating
On the inside, A Wikkelhouse looks like a tiny plywood home with minimal features
On the inside, A Wikkelhouse looks like a tiny plywood home with minimal features
You can choose to add a kitchenette module to the house which looks like this
You can choose to add a kitchenette module to the house which looks like this
The glazed sides create a strong connection between the micro house and its surroundings
The glazed sides create a strong connection between the micro house and its surroundings
The cardboard houses can be installed in a variety of different environments including remote sites
The cardboard houses can be installed in a variety of different environments including remote sites
The modules can be transported and installed on site in only a day
The modules can be transported and installed on site in only a day
There are numerous different uses for these unusual cardboard modules and a lot of possibilities for customization
There are numerous different uses for these unusual cardboard modules and a lot of possibilities for customization