Wikkelhouse
In May 2016, Fiction Factory, a company of creative makers from Amsterdam, revealed a modular building system made of cardboard components.
Named 'Wikkelhouse', which translates from Dutch as 'Wrap House', the completed prototype comprises a series of interlocking cardboard segments that each weigh 500 kg and can be assembled in just one day.
Each of these tubular components is 1.2 metres deep which can be connected and disconnected to extend or reduce the length of a building. They also make it easily transportable.
Four years of research and development by the team has led to a pioneering construction technology that involves a rotating house-shaped mould, around which are wrapped layers of cardboard. A total of twenty-four layers are bonded together using an 'eco-friendly' superglue. The result is an incredibly robust sandwich structure that provides good insulation. The components are finished with a waterproof, breathable foil and wood panelling.
Each Wikkelhouse is tailor-made with windows, different finishes or individual colour schemes. Fiction Factory suggest the structure can be adapted to a variety of uses such as a holiday home, guest house or office space.
Fiction Factory claim that since each Wikkelhouse is sustainably produced and made of materials that have minimal impact on the environment, it is three-times more eco-friendly than traditional housing. As well as this, the segments can be reused and are 100% recyclable.
Wikkelhouse is currently only available in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, the U.K., and Denmark, although they hope this will change in the future.
Content courtesy of Fiction Factory.
Images credited to Yvonne Witte.
For more information, see Wikkelhouse.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Closed plan.
- Cube Houses.
- Design for deconstruction.
- Disposable Houses.
- Floating church.
- Green building.
- Hex House project.
- Kit house.
- KODA house.
- Modular buildings.
- Prefabrication.
- Prenuptial Housing.
- Sustainability in building design and construction.
- Sustainable materials.
- Wiki house.
- Y Cube.
- Y House.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.

























