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From folding caravan to tiny house: three stories of alternative living

12.06.2026 14:01 1 min 3 sources
Business Insider DEU + 2 more
From folding caravan to tiny house: three stories of alternative living
© Business Insider

In Brief

Architect Eduard Böhtlingk created the folding caravan 'De Markies', while Morgan DeCanio converted a box truck into a tiny house. Caravans are becoming a budget housing alternative in Germany, but require compliance with regulations.

The folding caravan 'De Markies'

Architect Eduard Böhtlingk developed the folding caravan 'De Markies' in the 1980s, which triples its living space when expanded. The original never went into series production but has been exhibited at the Vitra museum since 2002. Since 2023, Turkish manufacturer Ortsan Outdoors and French company Beauer have been producing series models based on a similar principle.

A tiny house from a box truck

Morgan DeCanio converted a box truck into a functional tiny house on wheels with a kitchen and a lift bed. She bought it two years ago and now leads a nomadic lifestyle after health issues ended her military career. According to consumer centers, tiny houses are not necessarily more environmentally friendly due to high material and energy consumption.

Caravan as a housing alternative

Caravans are being considered as a budget option for permanent residence in Germany. Legal use requires compliance with traffic regulations, obtaining a long-term parking permit, and meeting building codes. Autonomous water and energy systems increase mobility.

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Story sources

Legendary caravan turns into a tiny house

12.06.2026 Business Insider DEU Original source

Morgan's Box Truck Is a Functional Tiny House on Wheels with Kitchen and Lift Bed

23.04.2026 chip.de DEU Original source

Caravan as an affordable housing alternative

17.02.2026 immowelt.de DEU Original source

🇩🇪 Germany — fuel prices

Updated: 13.06.2026

Diesel

$2.12 /l

€1.84 · £1.59/l

112 of 132

pricier than 84% of countries

Petrol

$2.20 /l

€1.91 · £1.65/l

121 of 134

pricier than 90% of countries

LPG

$1.33 /l

€1.15 · £1.00/l

46 of 48

pricier than 94% of countries

Popular route

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Fuel cost

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Best regions in the coming days

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern +22°·34 km/h
92
Schleswig-Holstein +22°·29 km/h
90
Bavaria +25°·64 km/h
87
Brandenburg +26°·32 km/h
83
Lower Saxony +27°·28 km/h
82
Avoid now
Saarland +34°·21 km/h
72
Rhineland-Palatinate +33°·20 km/h
73

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