Top 15 Shipping Container Homes
TFM Removals has put together a post of 15 epic shipping container homes. In world where the need to repurpose things is becoming increasingly more important, shipping container architecture is paving the way for a more environmentally friendly and cost effective approach to home building. There are some great projects going on throughout the world and we have picked 15 of our favourites.
In no particular order:
San Antonio Guest House by Poteet Architects
If we owned this beautiful guest house we'd never live in our main building. With extra windows to make the most of the light and a decking area to make the most of the space, this shipping container is the perfect retreat.
Although it has a luxurious feel, it doesn't shy away from its industrial roots, with the original shipping codes still visible on the outside contrasting with the container's roof garden and pretty, homely touches. (image source)
Insta House by Maziar Behrooz Architecture
Minimalist woodland living which welcomes the forest in and makes the most of an upcycled space. This studio uses light to its advantage and does a spectacular job of including all of life's necessities in a small space – with no clutter whatsoever. Gorgeous. (image source)
Beach House by CCCA
Stunning beach living in this New Zealand based set of shipping containers. The real art of this building lies in its simple palette of a few, carefully chosen colours and textures; concrete, timber and weathered zinc surround the containers which have been clad and furnished to work seamlessly with the natural world around them. (image source)
Port-a-Bach by Atalier Workshop
These clever little spaces were developed as portable holiday homes. Forget camping and caravanning, the Port-a-Bach allows you to set up home in the heart of nature (as long as you have a truck to hand). We absolutely love this light, airy space.
Four corrugated metal walls could feel restrictive but, painted and furnished in light colours, with bright natural wood, this small space feels roomy and beautifully breezy – a great demonstration of the effect material choices can have on your home. (image source)
Container City II by Urban Space Management
After the success of Container City I, Urban Space Management wasted little time getting stuck into Container City II's colourful, ziggurat-shaped design. These stacked containers were built to provide workshops and studios for artists, designers and creators.
Inside the containers are roomy and, although they have not been modified to the same extent as our other favourites, the porthole windows let in plenty of natural light. Best of all, the extended balcony areas show that man-made, functional materials look gorgeous with a little extra natural greenery.
MDU (Mobile Dwelling Unit) by LOT-EK
Designed for mobile, globe-trotting living, these stark MDU's by LOT-EK have ‘push out’ storage and living areas which can be retracted to make these minimalist red boxes more compact and transportable when it's time to hit the road. (image source)
The Beach House by De Maria Design
This luxurious beach pad in Redondo may look glamorous but the entire house is based around stacked shipping containers and simple, pre-fabricated stick frame structures. Surprisingly light, airy and elegant, this beautiful building has been intelligently engineered to create an affordable space which is virtually indestructible. (image source)
Venice Beach Residences by De Maria Design
Still under construction, this is another shipping container design from De Maria Design. Again, this space has been developed as studio space for the artists of Venice Beach LA, and to provide attractive, low impact residences. With plenty of inserted windows and bright glass to reflect the California light, these containers will make airy, affordable artistic spaces. (image source)
EcoPod by EcoPod
Welcome to the EcoPod, a shipping container recreational space developed for the environmentally minded, eager to live "off the grid" from time to time. Perfect for getting away from it all at the bottom of your garden or on a patch of land out in the middle of nowhere. (image source)
Loft 30 Surf by Infiniski
This atmospheric shipping container home is the work of Spanish firm Infiniski, who are responsible for dozens of incredible shipping container spaces across Spain, Chile and the world. (image source)
Edifico Viviendas Chile by Infiniski
Another amazing space from Infiniski, this time designed around regularly placed containers and forming a large, light and colourful complex in Chile's Vina del Mar. Perfect for chilled out, communal living. (image source)
Cordell House by Numen Development
Made from three shipping containers, the Cordell House was designed to provide modern, child-friendly living that suited family life with a young child. Light and surprisingly spacious, the beauty of the shipping container home is that more containers can be added to accommodate a growing family. (image source)
House in a House by Adam Kalkin
This incredible structure designed by Adam Kalkin uses many stacked shipping containers to create a house inside a house. It's beautiful, liveable, creative and completely bonkers – but we love it! (image source)
Sri Lankan Lakeside Retreat
This lakeside retreat wasn't built by a creative architect, instead it was assembled by soldiers and, we have to say, they've done a beautiful job. We especially love the huge timber rooftop deck, a wonderful spot to watch the sun go down. (image source)
eCORRE complex by APHIdoIDEA
Although not technically a home, we had to show you these architectural 3D images of the proposed eCORRE complex in downtown LA. This incredible structure is made almost entirely of 65 shipping containers, staggered to look like a crazy, beautiful beehive, ideal for the Environmental Center of Regenerative Research & Education. (image source)