MLK Houses: a Latvian manufacturer of modular houses building for the global hospitality sector
Latvian company MLK Houses positions itself not as a classic modular home brand, but as a high value-added manufacturing partner for international clients. The company specialises in manufacturing modular houses for other brands, focusing on the hospitality sector – hotels, resorts, and nature tourism projects around the world.
“We deliberately chose not to enter the market with our own brand but opted for the so-called white label approach. We manufacture for those who already have their own brand and are looking for a reliable, high-quality manufacturing partner, while we focus on what we do best – manufacturing, quality, and an individual approach,” explains Matīss Kuba, CEO of MLK Houses.
The MLK Houses production facility in Latvia has been operating for three years and is currently at full capacity. The company’s capacity for 2026 is already filled, and its main markets are the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. At the same time, the US market is also developing rapidly and is expected to be the largest in the coming years. “This year is basically already planned out for us. Contracts have been signed, and interest from abroad is only growing,” says Mr Kuba.
The company’s goal for 2026 is to produce an average of 5-6 modules, or approximately 300 m² of finished products per month. Each project is designed individually, with different layouts, façades, and roofing solutions, including wood, metal, green roofs, and roofs with solar panels.
Specialising in design and quality, not mass production
Unlike many modular home manufacturers, MLK Houses focuses not on mass production, but on quality, customisation, and architectural aesthetics, which are particularly important in the hospitality segment. “Almost every one of our projects is unique. In this segment, architecture, aesthetics, and quality are often decisive factors – this is what determines our value in the eyes of our customers,” the CEO of the company emphasises.
To date, MLK Houses has built approximately 130–150 modules. The modular houses produced at the company’s production facility for campsites, rental homes, offices, and various neighbourhood development projects are built from cross-laminated timber (CLT). CLT is a sustainable and renewable building material that is increasingly used in modern timber architecture around the world. It provides high structural strength, good energy efficiency properties, and reduced environmental impact.
International supply chain and smart manufacturing
The MLK Houses production facility in Latvia currently operates across an area of 800–1000 square meters. Approximately 30 professionals are employed in production, while another 10–15 employees work in administration and engineering.
The company’s production model is designed as an assembly plant rather than a full-cycle wood processing company. The components used in the manufacturing process are delivered ready-made, including CLT panels, which ensures high flexibility and avoids large investments in specialised equipment. CLT panels are supplied from Estonia, windows from Poland, and some interior elements from the Netherlands. The company’s strategy is to eliminate intermediaries as much as possible and work directly with manufacturers, maintaining control over quality and costs.
The United States – the next strategic step
MLK Houses is a fully export-oriented company and is currently focusing on strengthening its operations in the United States, which is planned to be its main market in the future. In America, the company has chosen a different approach – integration into the supply chains of local companies. This is mainly due to the very high certification costs for finished modules, which in the United States can reach up to EUR 200 000 for the first module and EUR 30 000–50 000 for each subsequent module. “In such circumstances, it is much smarter to manufacture the panels in Latvia and assemble them on site in the United States, integrating into the supply chain of other companies,” explains the company’s CEO.
The experience and personal involvement of the company’s management plays a significant role in attracting customers. Mr Kuba emphasises that in the international B2B segment, face-to-face meetings and visits to production facilities are the strongest drivers of business. “Once a customer has visited the production facility, the deal can be considered almost closed,” he says.
Other decisive factors include projects that have already been implemented, ready-made modules that can be viewed on site, and the availability of engineering teams.
Digitalisation and LIAA support for growth
In cooperation with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), the company introduced the MONEO integrated management system last year, which combines production, warehousing, accounting, finance, and working time accounting on a single platform. The aim of the project was to grow without increasing the administrative burden, while maintaining control over costs and quality.
MLK Houses has also received incubation support from the LIAA Madona office, which has freed up company funds for research and trips abroad. “In our experience and business model, it is precisely foreign trips that most often result in actual deals, but they are expensive – especially to distant target markets such as the United States,” Mr Kuba says.
Although Latvia currently accounts for less than 1% of the company’s turnover, MLK Houses is exploring opportunities to take part in small residential development projects in Latvia, inspired by ideas seen in the United States.
Information material prepared with the support of the European Regional Development Fund
