Sharing knowledge in mobile tiny houses – with AL-KO low-loader chassis
The start-up WoodenValley builds tiny houses based on circular construction principles. These serve as educational spaces where people can learn about sustainability and the circular economy. To make the buildings easy to transport, the organization opted for a solution based on an AL-KO chassis.
Facts on the WoodenValley & AL-KO collaboration
- WoodenValley developed the idea of sustainable tiny houses as mobile learning spaces
- In the tiny houses, different target audiences can learn more about sustainability and the circular economy. Another aim is to promote circular and regenerative architecture.
- Thanks to the AL-KO low-loader chassis for tiny houses as well as the AL-KO stabilizer coupling, the small buildings can be used flexibly and are easy to transport.
WoodenValley: Sustainable tiny houses with an educational purpose
How a small idea became a start-up with big goals
When Robert Böker and Kamila Pasko met up at a class reunion, Kamila told him her idea of a small building that can be used as a learning space, where children and young people can experience the circular economy according to the ‘cradle to cradle’ principle. Robert, who studied automotive mechatronics at the TU Dresden, was immediately enthusiastic and so, in December 2021, they founded the non-profit organization WoodenValley GmbH as a responsibly owned company.
Rethinking sustainable business
Kamila's path to becoming a sustainability expert
Kamila gained her expertise through her studies in Cultural Engineering as well as Education & Sustainability. She has also been volunteering in the field of sustainability with a focus on the circular economy since 2007. She was also able to further her education while traveling. That’s because countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Iceland have more developed concepts for renewable systems than Germany.
The project is financially supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Innovation Program for Business Models and Pioneering Solutions. What sets WoodenValley apart is its commitment to a business model focused on the common good. This means that the company reinvests all financial profits exclusively in ways that benefit society and protect the climate.
“The building is the message”
Robert Böker on WoodenValley
Kamila and Robert are fully committed to their mission. The idea behind their tiny house, according to Robert, is that “the building demonstrates how essential cycles – such as water, electricity, and heat – can be directly experienced and understood within the tiny house. This hands-on knowledge helps make such cycles easier to comprehend. And that goes for all age ranges.”
Children and young people experience first-hand how the circular economy and climate-positive construction work – in practice, interactively and in a future-oriented way. But adults can also benefit from the tiny mobile house of the future, named w∞d.ii: The mobile learning space brings knowledge directly to companies like architectural and planning offices to raise awareness among specialists about circular construction and to demonstrate sustainable solutions.
The goal: Minimizing our ecological footprint
AL-KO ensures durability
The materials used to build tiny houses should be as sustainable as possible, whether wood, solar panels, or screws. The building should follow circular construction principles, i.e. all installed materials should be able to be separated later for recycling and reuse. This means that components cannot be glued together. Screws and nails are the first choice here. WoodenValley’s stated goal is to only use products that can be returned to their technological and biological cycles. Furthermore, circular architecture aims to create buildings that have a climate-positive effect on people and thus on nature.
The choice of the low-loader chassis from AL-KO suits this approach perfectly. AL-KO’s decades of experience in producing high-quality chassis components for trailers, combined with intelligent manufacturing methods, ensure the high quality and durability – and that fits in perfectly with WoodenValley's commitment to sustainability. “We are proud to support sustainability through our chassis solutions,” says Mircan Ünsal, Product Manager at AL-KO. 344
The WoodenValley & AL-KO collaboration
Partnering for a future of mobility and learning
How did the collaboration with AL-KO come about? As a passionate camper, Robert’s father has been a fan of AL-KO products for years. He recommended the chassis to Robert, which is ideal for tiny houses.
It quickly became clear that the tiny house needed to be mobile to reach different target groups. And a house on wheels needs a stable foundation. Chassis from the AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group are the first choice for many mini-house manufacturers. Robert and Kamila also opted for the proven safe chassis. It stands out for its modular frame concept and allows for different body lengths and individual superstructures. Hot-dip galvanized chassis components ensure reliable corrosion protection.
State-of-the-art technologies in the production process also reduce energy consumption in the supply chain. In recent years, AL-KO has built up valuable expertise in various materials such as steel, aluminum and fiberglass. This led to a clear commitment to steel as the preferred material as it has the best carbon footprint by far, from production to recycling.
Reliability on the go
High driving safety with the stabilizer coupling from AL-KO
The AKS stabilizer coupling from AL-KO also enhances driving safety by greatly reducing swaying between the towing vehicle and caravan, helping to prevent the entire vehicle combination from rocking This is ideal especially on winding roads or windy bridges. Thus equipped, the tiny house has already traveled around 5,000 kilometers on its robust foundation – without any problems.
WoodenValley plans to order more chassis for its tiny houses in the future. Up to 16 tiny houses are planned to travel to every federal state in Germany to spread the message of sustainable construction.
