I Spent 2 Nights In A 2 Story, 100-square-foot Tiny Home In Germany That Was Smaller Than Any I've Seen In The Us
Business Insider's reporter stayed at a cylindrical tiny home hotel in Germany and was impressed by its smart use of the 100-square-foot space.
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- I stayed in a cylindrical tiny home hotel in Germany during a European train trip in 2022.
- The 106-square-foot home made smarter use of space than any tiny home I've seen in the US.
- The European tiny home was two stories and less than half the size of the US tiny homes I've booked.
I love how tiny homes creatively use small spaces. Living in NYC for the last six years, I've rented some cramped apartments.
So, I often book tiny home accommodations when I travel to get some ideas for space-saving hacks I could implement in my own dwelling.
From Florida and Maryland to Canada and Switzerland, I've stayed in several tiny Airbnbs around the world.
But none of those homes used indoor space as smartly as this tiny home hotel in Germany, which I found on Airbnb back in 2022.
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The Airbnb was part of a tiny home hotel in Neustrelitz, Germany, called Slube. The company designs minimal concrete "Slubes" for up to two people.
There are three types of Slubes: Basic, which is one story; Home, which is two stories; and Tower, which adds a rooftop terrace. I booked a Home Slube.
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At 16 feet tall, the tiny home with two floors was 106 square feet.
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When I arrived by train from the airport in Berlin, I didn't see any employees on the property.
I was confused at first, but then I checked my email. I had a message from Slube informing me I'd be staying in room five and could check in by myself.
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The sitting area had a foldout table. When I wasn't using it, I could push it into the wall to save space.
Across from a foldout table was a bench with two seat cushions instead of a couch.
Beneath the benches, there was enough space for me to store luggage.
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There were hooks and storage cubbies above the bench, so I stored all of my clothing and toiletries on the first floor.
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In the back right corner of the sitting area, there was a nook of built-in shelves storing a small coffee machine, a hair dryer, and a few dishes.
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There was a curtain separating the shower head and sink from the toilet and storage space.
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The first-floor windows had a film over most of the glass, which allowed me to let natural light in without sacrificing my privacy.
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I thought it was easy to climb but could be challenging for some.
There was a latched gate at the top of the ladder, which I imagine was built to keep people safe from falling.
Knowing I was securely fastened into the bed area made falling sleeping easier.
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A comfy, full-size bed covered the floor space. The pillows had the ideal ratio of fluff to firmness for my neck and head.
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Before bed, I watched some of my favorite shows.
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It had easily accessible outlets, a pocket for the TV remote, and more space for my electronics and water bottle.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
It had a black-out curtain for privacy and early morning light.
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I controlled the lights and temperature of each story from my phone.
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While I can't stick a second story into my own rental, the European tiny home still gave me inspiration for how I could make better use of my space, starting with vertical storage hacks.