Spain’s housing crisis has pushed many to seek alternatives to the increasingly unreachable dream of owning or even renting a home.
While prefabricated houses have already gained traction, a new contender has quietly arrived on the scene from China.
The idea was brought to Spain by Beatriz Castro and Antonio Luaña, co-founders of Caslua Import, currently the only company importing these futuristic dwellings into the country.
Their first installation is already in place in San Vicente do Mar, in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia.
Far from being a simple demo, the home is fully functional, and smart. As Beatriz explained in a recent television interview, the capsule responds to voice commands, speaks via an avatar, opens curtains, switches on lights and even retracts the roof.
‘It works with voice orders and attends to different commands,’ she said.
Antonio added: ‘When I saw them in China, I thought, how is this not already in Spain?’
The homes themselves are small but flexible. They come in various sizes, starting at around 13 square metres and going up to 40.
Their modular design allows owners to connect multiple units to expand the space as needed.
Assembly is simple, and delivery takes about three months. Constructed from durable structural aluminium and galvanised steel, these houses also include thermal and acoustic insulation, making them resistant to corrosion and humidity.
Prices vary depending on the model and features. The most basic designs are priced from €25,000, while larger, more luxurious versions – complete with retractable roofs, jacuzzis, or terraces – can reach up to €80,000.
Even at the top end, the pricing remains competitive compared to traditional Spanish housing, especially in urban centres where many young people are being priced out of the market entirely.
The appeal of capsule homes goes beyond cost. They require almost no maintenance (the aluminium exterior is painted and comes with a 25-year guarantee) and they’re designed to operate in tight spaces, making them suitable for both rural plots and dense urban environments.
With home prices and rents continuing to rise and no meaningful relief in sight, alternative housing like this is starting to look less like a novelty and more like a necessity.
Read more Spain property news at the Spanish Eye.
