Living in a tiny space in the forest: Swiss immigrant shows his tiny house in Norway

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Michael Matzinger (59) grew up in Schaffhausen. “As a child, I had a dream of living in Sweden and I was always fascinated by the north,” the trained dental technician told Blick in an interview.

His new home was Norway instead of Sweden. As is often the case, love was to blame. He met his wife in Schaffhausen, where the Norwegian worked as a babysitter. “We were young and both still in education, and when he came back to Norway, I was there a few times until he moved to Norway permanently 30 years ago,” Matzinger says.

Turning point and redirection

He speaks highly of nature, the size of the country, and the many freedoms it offers. “Mentally, Norwegians are similar to German-speaking Swiss. “Living here is not a culture shock,” says the Swiss, laughing. His quality of life is good and he appreciates the comfortable lifestyle. It has also witnessed the economic and prosperity growth of its second home over the years. «I won the lottery twice. I was born and raised in the richest country and here I live in a rich country again. I am grateful for that,” says Matzinger, who has long held Norwegian citizenship in addition to his Swiss passport.

Until their divorce three years ago, he lived with his wife and two adult daughters in a large house with a large garden near Oslo. «Divorce was a big turning point and a new direction in my life. “I thought about how and where I wanted to live in the future.” Living in an apartment was not for him. At some point, the idea of ​​a small house arose.

Gray area for small living arrangements

The Swiss have been renting an old cabin in the forest for many years. Every winter, he and his friends chop wood for the farmer and forest owner and maintain the simple forest hut at an affordable price. “We can save the firewood. But we also enjoy physically challenging work. It’s like a good balance between outdoor exercise and my office work,” Matzinger explains.

Matzinger asked the forest owner if he could build a small house in his forest and was immediately accepted. He pays the equivalent of around 80 francs a month for the property. His plan was more difficult to implement with the community. They did not allow him to live permanently in his tiny house. “I was once a rebel, and yet I built my house and moved in,” Matzinger says.

Regulations regarding this small way of life are not clearly regulated in Norway. For this reason, some huts in fjords and rivers are occupied without permission. “But the authorities have more important things to do than check this, and I duly had a friend register. “A Norwegian television crew has already filmed my little house and me without causing any problems,” said the Swiss. In the worst-case scenario, his mobile home, which he bought for around 100,000 francs, could also be relocated.

Added little outdoor living space

Since then the Swiss lives in just 20 square meters and does not miss a thing. Downstairs there is a living area and kitchen, as well as a separate bathroom with shower. His bed has three windows at the top that provide adequate light.

“I wanted and had to reduce myself and have only what was necessary. But a sustainable lifestyle also fits my belief.” He built the terrace and open kitchen himself. There’s also plenty of space here for visits and celebrations with friends. «In the summer months, I spend most of my life outside. “I also sleep outside and have the most beautiful bedroom in nature,” he says.

Operation in the capital, rest in the forest

There is still snow in Norway right now. For the Swiss, this is the third winter in his tiny house. At this time of year, the forest near the fjord is even quieter, where foxes and squirrels say good night. “My daughters were initially worried that I would become a recluse here. “But that’s not the case,” he says, laughing.

She meets her young daughter, who lives near Oslo, in the capital almost every week for a traditional sauna visit. During the day, he works in Oslo, where he shops and maintains contacts. His daily commute to the capital takes almost an hour by car and train. “There is a lot of activity in Oslo. “I enjoy the contrast when I come home to the peace and quiet in the middle of nature,” says Matzinger.

New plans in the new house

Despite everything, he decided to sell his dream house, quit his job and leave Norway. “I booked a one-way ticket to South Africa with light luggage,” Matzinger says with a laugh. He goes after love again. In the spring, she will move to the Kingdom of Eswatini in South Africa to be with her new partner, whom she met on safari in South Africa. For now he is in a big house with a big plot of land in the country owned by his partner. “He is also close to nature, he was with me a few times and felt comfortable,” says the Swiss.

He currently has a new project in Eswatini and wants to convert three containers into guest houses with farms. Dual citizens have no worries about the future. “If all else fails, I can always come back here and build a new little house.” He also knows that, unlike Switzerland, workers in Norway, even those over 60, have good opportunities in the job market and their experience is valued. Michael Matzinger says with conviction: “In recent years I have experienced that you can live very happily with small items and just a few square metres.”

Source : Blick