In this interview, expert Christian Brecht explains why modular solid wood houses are more than just architecture, how a holiday in a tiny house can help you slow down, and what good design has to do with inner peace.
Christian Brecht loves being outdoors – whether it’s hiking in the mountains or ice bathing. The 36-year-old father from Landsberg am Lech once worked as a management consultant, but today he is the co-managing director of Mlab GmbH, where he focuses on how we can build and live more sustainably and healthily.
Driven by his passion for minimalist, sustainable living, he has not only published the first German market study on tiny houses but is also a popular speaker and discussion partner on the topic. Between urban gardening and summit experiences, he talks to us about the future of living and why less is often more.
Gira editorial team: Christian, your company builds small single-family houses but also tiny houses. Could you explain to our readers what makes your products so special?
Christian: For us, it’s not just about building. We create spaces that do you good. Our houses are modular and made entirely from solid wood, free from harmful substances and designed to create a healthy indoor climate that soothes both body and soul. With their clear, timeless design, they combine aesthetics with function – pared down to the essentials, yet full of warmth, character and life.
Sustainability isn’t an option for us, it’s a given. We build the way the planet deserves: resource-efficient, using natural materials, and fully dismantlable. Because we believe that a home isn’t simply where you live, it’s where you feel truly alive.
At the same time, we think bigger. Real impact comes when we also reimagine the future of living on a larger scale. For example, we’re currently developing a senior residence in Cologne based on our concept.
Gira editorial team: Sustainability, healthy living and design are central themes for you. Why was it so important to focus on these aspects?
Christian: Because we believe that building today has to be about more than square metres and concrete. For us, sustainability isn’t an extra. It’s a fundamental respect for our home planet.
Healthy living, meanwhile, is a quiet force. It shapes how deeply we sleep, how clearly we think, how comfortable we feel.
And good design? For us, it’s not just about looks. It creates order on the outside so that calm can settle on the inside. These three aspects are inseparably linked for us. Together, they simply make life better.
Gira editorial team: When choosing the switches and sockets, you went with the Gira E2 design line. What convinced you about it?
Christian: It was important to us that even the smallest details in the house reflect our ethos – and Gira was the perfect partner for this. The Gira E2 design line has a clear, timeless design language and seamlessly complements our architectural style.
At the same time, Gira stands for responsible production, durability and sustainability made in Germany, with a strong commitment to quality and the environment. It was exactly this combination of aesthetics, function and values that convinced us. After all, when you create spaces that do you good, even the switches should reflect that.
Gira editorial team: If I decide to go with one of your modular houses, what exactly is the process until I can finally move into my new home?
Christian: The journey to your solid wood house from mlab.design starts with finding the right plot and asking: Does your dream of living match this place? That’s what we clarify together. Next, we design the floor plan so that it fits you, your life and your space needs. And in many cases we discover together that less really is more.
Together with our team of architects, you’ll prepare the building application. And as soon as the permit comes through, the most exciting part begins – the production of your house from solid wood.
When it comes to customer service, we take things a step further: even for tasks like connecting utilities, laying the foundation or handling permit planning, you won’t be left alone. If you want, you can get everything from a single source with us – responsibly, reliably and with genuine support.
After just a few weeks, we deliver your house directly to you, our local partners connect it and you can move in just a few days later. From the first conversation to moving in, we’re by your side every step of the way to create a home that truly fits you.
Gira editorial team: Quality and design come at a price. How much does one of your solid wood houses cost?
Christian: Our smallest modules start at around €120,000 plus additional costs such as the foundation, transport and anchoring. But what you get is a fully-fledged, long-lasting home. Unlike many tiny houses, our homes meet all legal requirements – from structural engineering to fire protection – and are fully approved for permanent living.
They’re made from solid wood, have a lifespan of over 80 years and, thanks to excellent insulation, offer you very low energy costs. That saves you enormous running costs over the years and actively contributes to climate protection.
Today, there’s often a lack of long-term thinking. Advertising and marketing have turned us into impulsive buyers. “Cheap” is considered smart, and “stinginess is cool” is treated like a virtue. But this kind of consumption ultimately proves expensive: through renovation, maintenance and high ancillary costs.
Our approach is different. We build for people who think ahead, for a home that will stay with you for decades.
Viewed over a life cycle of 20 to 30 years, our houses make much more economic sense and, at the same time, offer you a place where you can truly feel at home.
Gira editorial team: As part of your latest project, you’ve built six mini houses in the Eifel National Park where people can spend their holidays. What inspired you to do this?
Christian: It quickly became clear to us that you can show our houses in pictures, but you can only really understand them when you experience them and the special feel of the space, the light, the materials and the healthy indoor climate. You can really only sense these things when you’re right there, inside. Studies even show that people sleep better and their pulse slows when surrounded by wood.
That’s exactly the feeling we wanted to make tangible. So, we built six mini houses in the Eifel National Park where people can go on holiday and experience our concept with all their senses.
At the same time, we wanted to completely rethink the idea of a holiday home: away from the standard, towards a place of true relaxation – right in the heart of nature, sustainably built and with a design that inspires rather than overwhelms.
With mlab.relax Eifel, we’ve created a retreat that shows how different a holiday can be today and what good architecture feels like when it doesn’t just give you space, but also peace.
Gira editorial team: Christian, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, and best of luck with your future projects.
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