Sharing knowledge in mobile tiny houses – with AL-KO VT low-loader chassis
The start-up WoodenValley builds circular tiny houses and offers them as mobile learning spaces where knowledge about sustainability and the circular economy is shared. To make the buildings easy to transport, the organisation chose a solution with a chassis from AL-KO VT.
Facts about the collaboration between WoodenValley & AL-KO VT
- The idea of WoodenValley is to create sustainable tiny houses as mobile learning spaces.
- In the tiny houses, various target groups learn more about sustainability and the circular economy. Another goal is to promote circular and regenerative architecture.
- The low-loader chassis for tiny houses from AL-KO VT and the stabiliser coupling from AL-KO VT ensure that the small buildings are flexible and easy to transport.
WoodenValley: Sustainable tiny houses with an educational mission
How a small idea became a start-up with big ambitions
When Robert Böker and Kamila Pasko met again at a class reunion, Kamila told him about her idea: a small building serving as a learning space where the circular economy following the cradle-to-cradle principle could be experienced by children and young people. Robert, who studied motor vehicle mechatronics at TU Dresden, was immediately enthusiastic. In December 2021, the two founded the non-profit organisation WoodenValley GmbH with responsible ownership.
Rethinking sustainable business
Kamila's journey to becoming a sustainability expert
Kamila acquired her expertise through degree programmes 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 expand her knowledge while travelling: In countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Iceland, concepts of regenerative systems are more advanced than in Germany.
The project is financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of the Federal Republic of Germany, as part of the Innovation Programme for Business Models and Pioneering Solutions (IGP). Specifically, WoodenValley follows a model that serves the common good: profits are reinvested solely for the benefit of society and climate protection.
"The building carries the message"
Robert Böker on WoodenValley
Kamila and Robert are convinced of their mission. The idea behind their tiny house: "The building carries the message," says Robert. "All cycles, i.e. water, electricity, and heat, can be experienced directly in the tiny house. It's knowledge you can touch. This helps to make the cycles more understandable and tangible—across generations."
Children and young people can experience hands-on how the circular economy and climate-positive construction work—practically, interactively, and future-oriented. But adults also benefit from w∞d.ii: The mobile learning space brings knowledge directly to companies and architecture/planning offices to raise awareness for circular construction and highlight sustainable solutions.
The goal: Minimising your ecological footprint
AL-KO VT provides durability
When building the tiny houses, all materials used should be as sustainable as possible—be it wood, solar panels, or screws. The building should remain circular. This means everything that is installed can be separated by material type. For this reason, adhesives are avoided and screws and nails are the preferred choice. The explicit aim of WoodenValley is to use only products that can be returned to the technical or biological cycle. Moreover, circular architecture is all about constructing buildings to be climate-positive for humans and therefore for nature.
This matches the choice of the low-loader chassis from AL-KO VT. Decades of experience in manufacturing high-quality chassis components for trailers and intelligent production concepts form the basis for high quality and durability—matching WoodenValley's commitment to sustainability. “We are pleased that we can make a contribution to sustainability with our chassis,” says Mircan Ünsal, Product Manager at AL-KO VT.
The collaboration between WoodenValley and AL-KO VT
Working together for mobility and educational initiatives
How did the collaboration with AL-KO VT come about? As a passionate camper, Robert's father has trusted AL-KO VT products for years. He recommended the chassis to Robert, which is perfectly suited for tiny houses.
It quickly became clear that the tiny house should be mobile to reach various target groups. And for a house on wheels, you need a solid foundation. The chassis from AL-KO Vehicle Technology are the first choice for many tiny house manufacturers—and also for Robert and Kamila. They went with the reliable and safe chassis, which features a modular frame concept enabling different body lengths and individual designs. Hot-dip galvanised chassis components ensure long-term corrosion protection.
The latest manufacturing technology also reduces energy consumption along the supply chain. Over recent years, AL-KO VT has built up valuable expertise in a range of materials such as steel, aluminium, and glass fibre-reinforced plastic. The result is a clear commitment to steel as the preferred material, thanks to its industry-leading CO2 balance from production to recycling.
On the road reliably
Maximum safety with the AL-KO VT stabiliser coupling
The AKS stabiliser coupling from AL-KO VT also improves driving safety by significantly reducing the snaking motion and the pitching of the combination of towing vehicle and caravan. This is particularly advantageous on winding roads or in windy conditions on bridges. With this setup, the tiny house, on its robust chassis, has already travelled around 5,000 kilometres—with no problems at all.
WoodenValley intends to order further chassis for the tiny houses in the future. Up to 16 tiny houses are planned to travel across all federal states in Germany to spread the message of sustainable construction nationwide.
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