Tini Living ships prefab homes from Spain to U.S.

Spain, September 5, 2025

News Summary

Tini Living is shipping factory-built prefab homes from Spain to buyers in the United States, offering six upfront-priced base models that can be combined into bespoke layouts. The system uses a steel frame, BIM coordination and full in‑factory production to control cost and quality; typical factory builds take about 100 days. The firm coordinates overseas shipping while local U.S. partners handle permitting, foundations and hookups. Design references include midcentury Case Study Houses; signature projects include an elongated Segovia home and a T-shaped Menorca house that won an architecture prize for its light, material honesty and rapid factory-to-site assembly.

Tini Living ships Case Study-inspired prefab homes from Spain to the U.S.; six upfront-priced models, steel-frame system, 100-day factory builds, and a MATCOAM-winning Menorca project

In a move that highlights the growing role of factory-built homes in contemporary architecture, the Spain-based studio Tini Living is expanding its reach to the United States. The company publishes model designs with upfront pricing, offers a steel-frame system, and promotes a 100-day factory build timeline. The latest project described centers on a Segovia residence that nods to Los Angeles Case Study Houses, while a separate project in Menorca has earned a 2025 MATCOAM Prize for architectural rigor. The combined portfolio emphasizes a philosophy where quiet, essential presence and seamless integration with the landscape guide the design, rather than overt grandeur.

Overview of the prefab profile

The project series is part of “Prefab Profiles,” an ongoing interview-style exploration of people changing how houses are built. The study covers a spectrum from prefab tiny houses to modular cabin kits and entire homes that can be shipped fully assembled. Readers are invited to suggest brands for future features. Founders Ignacio de la Vega and Pilar Cano-Lasso launched Tini Living in 2019, after they confronted the difficulty of predicting final costs in traditional site-built construction. The firm positions itself far from conventional prefab catalogs, describing its work as a distilled, industrialized approach designed to be replicable and high in architectural standard while remaining transparent about process and cost.

Six models, upfront pricing, and customization

Tini Living offers six models that can be combined or arranged in various configurations to create bespoke homes. Pricing is presented up front, and the typical starting cost is quoted as €2,800 per square meter, which translates to about $305 per square foot when converted. Clients can customize façade elements, interior wall and floor materials, and equipment such as wardrobes, bathroom fixtures, and HVAC systems. The company emphasizes clarity and transparency in pricing and aims to control total project cost through its process.

Manufacturing method and energy focus

Central to the Tini Living approach is a factory-based construction system that blends steel framing, building information modeling (BIM), and full in-factory manufacturing with strong cost oversight. The method relies on high-quality local materials and advanced insulation to ensure energy efficiency. The resulting homes are presented as optimized, replicable products whose design focus includes pure lines, noble materials, and fluid transitions between inside and outside.

How the U.S. program works

For international projects—including the United States—Tini Living manages the entire shipping process to preserve quality and control. The firm asserts that its designs comply with U.S. regulations, and it notes that the construction system has passed certification processes in California and New York. In the United States, local partners provide full-service installation, while they handle site work like foundation installation and electrical and water hookups, along with permitting coordination. After a client deposits, the process moves through design with a dedicated team of architects, engineers, and technical experts, followed by state certifications, before the factory build begins. The standard build window is described as 100 days, with clients often citing speed and predictability as advantages of the method.

Segovia project: a Case Study Houses-inspired layout

The Segovia residence spans about 1,830 square feet and was constructed in a factory, with on-site whitewashed walls completing the finish. The site is described as being nestled among mature oaks and red-earth ravines. The plan is elongated and steel-framed, drawing inspiration from California modernism and the Case Study Houses concept. The design interprets a connection to the landscape as a defining feature, aligning the building’s orientation with natural light and views while maintaining a restrained architectural language. The project situates the home as a series of carefully proportioned volumes that read as an extension of the site rather than an imposition on it.

Menorca project: a model of rapid factory fabrication and landscape integration

Tini Menorca is highlighted as a flagship project that embodies the studio’s vision of serene architecture. Built entirely in the factory within 100 days and installed on-site in one day, the house is positioned on a slope to optimize views of the Mediterranean. Its T‑shape layout is crafted to maximize natural light and transparency to the surroundings. The design respects existing vegetation by weaving trees into the architectural flow and relies on passive systems—such as pergolas for shading and natural ventilation—to reduce energy use. The project’s restrained aesthetics and site-responsive approach contributed to its recognition with the MATCOAM Prize for innovative architectural rigor in 2025. Client reactions emphasize a sense of peaceful retreat, clarity of connection to the landscape, and bright, light-filled interiors.

Materials, details, and customization options

Plans emphasize the ability to customize exterior facades and interior finishes, with a focus on finishing details that connect to the environment. The galvanized steel facade is cited as reflecting forest tones and blending with the oaks on some sites. Interiors commonly feature warm flooring choices such as oak and cork, which contribute to a calm atmosphere. The design process also accommodates customized wardrobes, bathroom fixtures, and HVAC systems, offering a level of personalization that remains within a factory-driven workflow. Some projects describe a full-height window next to kitchens and living spaces that frames a garden, while other layouts include private outdoor decks, small offices, and even a small pool as potential features. Custom kitchens have included bespoke fronts for cabinetry brands through external design firms. The overall emphasis remains on a balance between disciplined manufacturing and a living environment that is responsive to landscape and climate.

The bottom line for buyers and designers

What emerges from the Segovia and Menorca projects is a model of prefab living that prioritizes speed, predictability, and total cost control within a design language that aims to respect and enhance the surrounding landscape. The combination of upfront pricing, a steel-frame system, and a 100-day factory build timeline offers an alternative path to traditional construction, with a focus on careful detailing, local materials, and a transparent process. The company’s emphasis on Case Study-inspired rhetoric reflects a broader industry interest in linking contemporary prefab design with mid-century architectural ideals while delivering modern performance and efficiency to homeowners in a cross-continental context.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tini Living?

Tini Living is a Spain-based design studio offering six upfront-priced prefab home models built with a steel-frame system and BIM-based manufacturing, with an emphasis on transparency, cost control, and a factory-based construction process that can extend to international projects, including the United States.

What makes the Menorca project notable?

The Menorca project is highlighted for its 100-day factory fabrication, on-site installation in one day, and its T-shaped design that enhances light and views while integrating vegetation and passive climate strategies, earning a MATCOAM Prize for innovative architectural rigor in 2025.

How many models does Tini Living offer and how are prices presented?

There are six models, with pricing presented up front. The typical starting cost is around €2,800 per square meter, with a conversion to about $305 per square foot for budgeting in the U.S. market.

How does the U.S. installation process work?

For U.S. projects, Tini Living coordinates the shipping and works with local partners who manage permitting, foundation installation, and site work, ensuring compliance with local regulations. A dedicated team handles design and certifications before the factory build proceeds.

What design features are common in their projects?

Common features include a strong emphasis on landscape integration, exposed steel framing, whitewashed on-site walls, oak and cork flooring, customizable facades, and interior finishes, with options for large windows, outdoor decks, and passive shading elements such as pergolas.

Key Feature	Details
Models	Six upfront-priced prefab home models with configurable arrangements
Pricing	Upfront pricing; starting around €2,800 per square meter (~$305/ft²)
Construction Method	Factory-built with a steel-frame system and BIM; full in-factory manufacturing
Build Time	Typical 100-day factory build; rapid on-site installation for some projects
U.S. Expansion	Shipping management, local partners for permitting and site work; designs meet U.S. standards
Notable Projects	Segovia (1,830 sq ft, Case Study Houses-inspired), Menorca (MATCOAM Prize, 100 days)
Customization	Facade, interior finishes, and equipment customization available