Everything you need to know about compact houses: construction, advantages, usefulness

Our Micro Houses are compact, ready-to-move-in CLT timber modules – fully equipped and immediately liveable. They rest on steel piles instead of a foundation and can be installed on virtually any ground. Depending on the configuration, they include a living area, sleeping loft, bathroom and terrace. Perfect as a primary or secondary residence, holiday retreat or home office – for those who choose a minimalist and sustainable lifestyle.

What is a compact house? Manufacturing, advantages and uses

A compact house is a small ecological house made of wood. It is a mobile home, transportable on a trailer. Its length varies between 3 and 8 meters. Its width does not exceed 2.55 meters. The compact house therefore offers great freedom and a comfortable interior.

The compact houses are designed with comfort in mind: they are insulated and connected to electricity, hot water and heating. In addition, they are equipped with mechanical ventilation and are airtight. Their height allows to occupy a volume on several levels, with mezzanines.

How are the compact houses sold at Halzebatz made?

Halzebatz is a designer and manufacturer of compact houses in Luxembourg. Our compact houses are made in Belgium. They are built in the workshop and then delivered and installed on site.

Modular homes made to measure

Each compact house is different from the previous one, because it is customizable. We adapt to your needs. In other words, your compact house is custom built.

You can choose a compact house with or without partitions. Our compact houses are modular in the sense that you can stack blocks or add more on the sides. You can choose a compact house with a roof terrace, or a compact house with or without a mezzanine. Halzebatz offers 5 different modules, but can adapt some modules to your needs.

Compact houses built with CLT wood

Halzebatz compact houses are made of CLT wood, which is a guarantee of quality. Wood remains the most ecological and healthy material. It does not emit harmful gases and stores atmospheric CO2. We use PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) certified spruce wood. The pieces of wood are assembled and glued with a food glue. It is therefore a sustainable and environmentally friendly material.

The advantages of the compact house

The modular house compared to traditional construction

With the compact house, you save between 40 and 60% on construction time (including prefabrication and assembly) compared to a traditional house. When you want to leave, it will be a matter of dismantling, not demolition. You will be able to reuse your compact house after dismantling. This modular construction therefore promotes the circular economy.

The mobility and freedom offered by the compact house

A compact house offers great mobility. It is easily disassembled with access to mechanical fasteners and lifting attachments. The screwed feet can be easily dismantled and make it easy to restore the ground to its original state. Then, the transport of this modular house on wheels will be done simply with a trailer.

Significant savings compared to conventional housing

The use of an architect is unnecessary. You save on this costly item and are autonomous in building your compact house. The price per square meter is lower than that of a house extension or a traditional house. If you do not own the land on which you place your compact house, you do not pay property tax or housing tax.

Saving time to live in a compact house

A compact house is built in 3 to 4 days. This is one of the fastest techniques to obtain housing. Allow 4 to 6 months between your order and delivery.

Energy saving in a wooden house on wheels

Wood is naturally insulating. By choosing to live in a compact house, you will consume little energy. The insulating property of wood is 15 times greater than that of concrete. Using CLT wood for your compact house allows you to reduce the presence of thermal bridges in the house. The CLT wood compact house offers a thermal inertia contrary to the wood frame constructions. The interior finish remains superfluous. The compact house brings comfort and requires little heating.

A sustainable and comfortable home

The modular house is more durable than a camper or a caravan. In addition, it is more comfortable. It offers a better thermal and phonic insulation. Wood is an excellent sound absorber and reduces indoor and outdoor noise.

An ecological modular house

The ecological footprint is very small. The permeability of the soil is respected. Life in a compact house is economical in every way and encourages people to reduce their consumption by adopting a minimalist lifestyle. The rainwater is filtered to make the water drinkable. Some showers operate in a closed circuit with just-in-time sanitation. The toilets are often dry toilets.

Modular house, what for?

Halzebatz is a quick answer to specific needs (housing, home-office, offices, schools, extensions…) thanks to the modular buildings that we manufacture.

Primary residence or home extension alternative

You can live in a compact house all year round. It is a life project and an economical alternative to the traditional house.

If you can’t file a building permit, the compact house seems to be a good solution to enlarge your living space. It will serve as a guest room.

Vacation home or office

The compact house is an atypical mobile home that lends itself well to vacations in nature. But it is also the ideal solution for temporary modular offices.

How to choose your modular home? The interior of the compact house

Inside a compact house, the notion of saving space is essential. There are sliding closets, multi-functional spaces, trap doors, folding shelves, hybrid modular furniture. The space is designed around well-being and ergonomics.

The modular home has a living room area, a kitchen area, a dry toilet, a bathroom, a mezzanine bed and small storage spaces scattered throughout.

As far as equipment is concerned, it is equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave, a shower, a sink, and a sink.

The regulations of the compact house

Halzebatz will give you some recommendations to choose the land for your compact house. Indeed, it is necessary to foresee the connection to water and electricity and to make sure that the ground is not too uneven. The Alur (Access to Housing and Renovated Urbanism) law of 2014 gave legal existence to compact houses. The legislation in Belgium considers compact houses as light housing. The regulations related to compact houses vary by region.

In a nutshell

The CLT wooden compact house is a sustainable modular house that has many strengths. Living in a custom-built mobile home on wheels allows you to cut costs and live comfortably. It gives you a sense of freedom in a small space.