Budget Breakdown: In the Netherlands, a Historic Thatched Cottage Meets a $97K Prefab

Gwen Vriesema found himself short on space when he began working from home during the pandemic, but he didn’t want to renovate his 1950s thatched cottage in Oosterbeek, the Netherlands. The solution? A tiny prefab dwelling from Swedish company Manta North that strikes a sharp contrast with his historic existing home.

After perusing the company’s four models of prefab homes, Gwen settled on the 270-square-foot Weekend unit. The $67,260 price point was attractive, and with shipping, construction, and utilities the total came to less than $100K. (For North American customers, the fully finished Weekend unit would cost $149,000 as most of the materials are shipped from Europe and assembled in the U.S.)

"We think of our houses as products, much like cars," explains Linda Kletniece, business development manager at Manta North. "We know how frustrating traditional construction can be—long timelines, fluctuating costs, and unpredictable results. With Manta North, you get a ready-built house made from sustainable cross-laminated timber (CLT), and you can move in the same day it arrives."

The design of each Manta North prefab is led by Zurich-based architect Reinis Salins, who draws on Scandinavian and modernist design principles to create homes that harmonize with nature. Each unit is prefabricated in one of Manta North’s factories, which are located in Riga, Latvia, and Salt Lake City, Utah—and then delivered to the site ready for immediate use.