Vagabundo Tiny House

Vagabundo tiny show house in Munich, Germany

Sharing a vision for sustainable, affordable housing, Vagabundo Living’s founders Luca Knipp, Michael Leitner and Andreas Müllner joined forces to create an extensive portfolio of modular and tiny houses. Their clients can choose from a variety of micro-architectural models, which are all assembled at a family-run workshop in Germany. The efficient timber-frame construction using natural raw materials reduces the houses’ carbon footprint, helping to protect the environment. Each house is delivered as a finished unit that can be decorated and configured to the client’s personal requirements.

Vagabundo has a finished and furnished show house open to the public by appointment in the Munich English Garden. Thonet features prominently in the show house’s furniture: “Thonet has always been synonymous with quality and durability. Both Thonet products and the Vagabundo tiny houses are designed to be used over generations; they have that in common,” states Vagabundo Living founder Andreas Müllner. Accordingly, Thonet turned out to be the perfect match to furnish the house with high-quality design pieces.

On the top floor of the two-storey tiny house, the Vagabundo team used Thonet tubular steel classics to create a flexible multi-purpose working area. The B 109 folding table is a slim console table when folded up against the wall but can be opened out to the size of a regular 90 x 90 cm table when needed. For seating at the folding table, the team selected the S 64 tubular steel cantilever chair designed by Marcel Breuer. Featuring a black synthetic mesh in the seat and backrest that picks up on the colour of the tabletop, the chair retains natural wooden elements in keeping with the timber construction of the house. Both designs are from the 1930s but have a light, modern air thanks to their aesthetic minimalism. 

From the window of the upper storey, your gaze lands on the outside space of the Vagabundo tiny house, which has been purposely designed as an extension of the living space. A comfortable S 35 armchair from Thonet’s Outdoor collection creates an inviting spot to enjoy some time outside. The S 35 was a pivotal piece in furniture history. When Marcel Breuer created it in 1929, it was the very first cantilever chair to be made out of a single continuous piece of tubular steel. Breuer’s design even managed to create a double cantilever effect: the seat and armrests flex independently from each other. And for additional seating comfort, Thonet also has a matching footstool.

The dining area has been furnished with the contemporary 1140 table, designed by Werner Aisslinger. Its solid-oak legs are attached to the corners of the tabletop and rounded on the outer edges, making it particularly comfortable in small spaces. This table’s dimensions were adapted especially for the Vagabundo show house and it has a light, understated air while still having an impressive presence in the room. Two bentwood armchairs from Thonet’s 118 F collection by Sebastian Herkner sit on either side of the table and provide green pops of colour. This comfortable wooden chair has been pared back to very few individual parts and brings a subtle elegance to every table. With comfortable armrests and an airy canework seat, the chairs are an ideal fit for the tiny show house.

Upstairs in the cosy bedroom area, Thonet pieces have been selected that highlight wood as a construction material. The 2001 bentwood armchair features an airy bentwood frame that surrounds a plush upholstered seat cushion and also serves as the armrests. This upholstered piece makes innovative use of bentwood – a material closely intertwined with Thonet’s history. Next to the bed, the 1025 sidetable designed by James Van Vossel has an eye-catching form that appears almost like a sculpture in the room. Three wooden legs cross over each other under the tabletop, drawing the outline of a circle on the floor. The legs taper to the floor and their visible wood grain celebrates this natural material. The 1025 can easily be moved around in a space to where it is needed.

The shiny tubular steel of the LUM 125 floor lamp with individually adjustable light intensity creates a unique contrast to the otherwise dominance of wood in the Vagabundo Living show house. Thanks to its minimalist aesthetics, the lamp lends an air of elegance to a variety of different settings.