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In 2004, the residential box Haus Lina was built next to an existing house as a provisional construction experiment. Connected both infrastructurally and structurally to the old building, it included all essential functions like bathroom, kitchen, heating, and hot water. The construction of the first Haus Lina grid matched the delivery size of rough particle boards, with a lightweight structure filled with mineral insulation. Prefabricated elements were placed on steel girders supported by strip foundations. Wrapped in a truck tarpaulin approved as waterproof, it caused some issues but was accepted since the house was designed as a temporary, extendable experiment. But it became a permanent solution for 16 years!
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Linalotte is like a frame through which the rolling hills of Linz seem to flow. At the same time, it evokes a dollhouse where everyday life unfolds naturally. Thanks to the spacious plot, the residents enjoy openness without worrying about curious glances. The house’s façade, made of rough-sawn timber cladding, allows it to blend harmoniously into the surrounding landscape, creating a dialogue between architecture, nature, privacy, and openness.
Upgraded Linalotte features prefabricated timber frame wall and ceiling elements filled with recycled insulation material. The original truck tarpaulin was replaced by a breathable underlay, and a continuous rear ventilation layer was added across the entire structure. On the south side, a covered terrace was built; its canopy provides summer shade, while allowing direct sunlight to warm the space during winter months.
In 2004, the residential box "Haus Lina"—named after the first daughter—was built beside an existing house as a bold, provisional experiment. Wrapped in a simple truck tarpaulin and conceived as a temporary solution, the small structure embraced its role with humility and purpose. It was never meant to last forever; rather, it offered flexibility, ready to be removed or adapted as life evolved. Yet it became a permanent solution. For 16 years, this modest space quietly served as a full-time home, growing into something far more enduring than expected. Then, in 2020, as the family expanded and daughter Lotte was born, the house grew too: it was upgraded with prefabricated timber elements filled with recycled insulation, the tarpaulin replaced with a breathable underlay and a rear-ventilated façade. A covered terrace was added on the south side, offering shade in summer and welcoming sunlight in winter. What began as a temporary shelter became a warm, lasting, and deeply personal place to live. Haus Linalotte had grown up!
Everyone should be lucky enough to live in a Linalotte. More than just a home, it could be a model for the future—one that counteracts soil sealing. Linalotte doesn’t rest on a conventional foundation; there’s no concrete slab. Instead, the house hovers lightly above the ground, allowing rainwater to seep naturally into the earth below. A gentle footprint, both in architecture and in spirit.
At Caramel Architects, every project is a new challenge.
Known for award-winning competition entries, Caramel combines large-scale projects like Science Park Linz and the GIZ Campus Frankfurt/Eschborn with innovative single-family homes and design studies. Idealism and creativity are at the core of their work.
Lectures, teaching, and contributions to events like the 2016 Venice Biennale add inspiration to their architectural practice.
The prefabricated house was developed in collaboration with Juliane Seidl, structural designer.
