Teeny Tiny Haus - This 20-Foot Shipping Container Holds a Complete Home for Two, Stonewall, Texas

Location

Project	Teeny Tiny Haus
Designer and Builder	Backcountry Containers
Containers	1x 20ft HC
Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1
Year	2025
Location	Stonewall, Texas

Set in the Texas Hill Country, Backcountry Containers’ Teeny Tiny Haus transforms a single 20-foot shipping container into a refined retreat for two. With carefully placed windows, a compact kitchen, full bathroom, and an outdoor porch that extends the living space, the project shows how light, proportion, and thoughtful planning can make just 130 square feet feel calm, functional, and unexpectedly spacious. It’s a quiet example of how industrial materials can support warm, intentional living.

Shipp’s Creek - What It’s Like to Spend 48 Hours in a Laurel Highlands Shipping Container Home, Pennsylvania

Construction

Project	Shipp’s Creek
Designer	Babb & Mack Design Co.
Containers	4x 40ft HC
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
Contractor	J Brown Services
Structural Engineer	Arrow Structural Engineering
Survey	On-Point Survey & Mapping, LLC
Shipping Containers	VersaVault Mobile Storage
Year	2025
Location	Pennsylvania

A 48-hour stay in a shipping container home tucked into Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands reveals how thoughtful design can deepen a connection to place. Built from four repurposed containers and surrounded by forest and flowing water, the Shipp’s Creek retreat balances sustainability, comfort, and playful detail while serving as an ideal base for exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s nearby architectural landmarks, local cafés, and outdoor landscapes. The experience is less about novelty and more about slowing down—showing how adaptive architecture and nature-driven settings can quietly restore both body and attention.

Small Footprint, Tropical Soul: A 20-Foot Container Home in Paraty, Brazil

In the historic coastal town of Paraty, Brazil, a striking example of minimalist architecture has taken shape: a fully functional home built from a 20-foot shipping container. This compact dwelling demonstrates how thoughtful design, sustainable materials, and careful spatial planning can transform a small footprint into a meaningful living environment—perfectly suited to both its tropical surroundings and contemporary lifestyles.

Couple Trades Renting for a Shipping Container Home — Saving $400,000 Along the Way

A couple has dramatically reduced their living costs by leaving behind rental life and moving into a shipping container home, saving an estimated $400,000 in the process.

Miriam, 31, and her husband Eric Gutierrez, 32, were previously based in Las Vegas, where they were paying close to $2,000 per month in rent. Over time, the rising cost of living began to feel unsustainable, and the couple longed to live closer to family.

FLEXhab: A Prefab Shipping Container Home Preparing Astronauts for Lunar Living

Drawings
Construction
Video
About SAGA

Project	FLEXhab
Designer and Builder	SAGA
Containers	1x 40ft HC
Area	28 sqm (300 sqft)
Year	2025
Location	Denmark

Set to operate fully in 2026, LUNA — the European Space Agency’s lunar training facility at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany — will simulate the harsh and unfamiliar conditions of the Moon here on Earth. Alongside it will stand a unique and fitting companion: the FLEXhab, a mobile, prefabricated living habitat designed to mimic what astronauts will experience during multi-day missions on the lunar surface.

Wind River Patio Home - 2 Bedrooms 800 sqft H-Shape Shipping Container Home, Boulder, Wyoming

Floor Plan
Video
Location
About Pivot Structures - Designer and Builder

Project	Wind River Patio Home
Designer and Builder	Pivot Structures
Containers	3 containers
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1.5
Estimated property price	$439,500 (2025)
Area	800 sq ft (74 sqm)
Location	Boulder, Wyoming
Year	2023

Pivot Structures is redefining modern living with the Wind River Patio Home, an 800-square-foot modular residence designed for efficiency, durability, and low-maintenance comfort. Built with closed-cell foam insulation, LED lighting, and cove heating, this home balances sustainability with style. Inside, residents enjoy high-end finishes including quartz countertops, alder cabinetry, shiplap accents, luxury vinyl plank flooring, and premium appliances.

Understanding 2019 ICC G5 Guideline for the Safe Use of ISO Intermodal Shipping Containers Repurposed as Buildings and Building Components

This is a description, not an exact copy. If you would like an exact copy of the Guideline, you can purchase it here.

What is 2019 ICC G5 Guideline for the Safe Use of ISO Containers?
What is International Code Council (ICC)?
Introduction
Current Regulatory Environment

National Level
State Level
Local Level

Industry Segments

Single-Unit vs. Multi-Unit
Temporary vs. Permanent
Temporary Single Unit
Permanent Single Unit
Temporary Multi-Unit
Permanent Multi-Unit

Current Code Requirements
Nonstructural Aspects of a Shipping Container Building Project

General Nonstructural Information
Use and Occupancy Classification
Type of Construction
Fire Protection System
Means of Egress
Interior Environment

Structural Aspects of a Shipping Container Building Project

General Structural
Structural Design
Special Inspections and Tests
Soils and Foundations
Steel
Referenced Standards

CSC Safety Approval Placard
Addressing the Interior of the Container and the Wood Floor
FAQ’s and Best Practices

Over 30 million ISO intermodal shipping containers are currently in service worldwide. Each one is manufactured in accordance with ISO specifications and maintained under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Convention for Safe Containers.

Both new and previously used containers are increasingly being repurposed, fueling a global, multi-billion-dollar industry. Many of these containers are transformed into structures that fall under the International Residential Code (IRC) or the International Building Code (IBC). Their use as a building material varies greatly—ranging from full structural components to smaller architectural elements.

As the trend of converting shipping containers into buildings accelerates, many local and state regulatory bodies are working to catch up with appropriate codes and compliance measures. The ICC Guideline was developed to assist jurisdictions, as well as designers, builders, engineers, and property owners, in understanding how to properly design, evaluate, and approve shipping containers when used as part of a building structure.

From Empty Block to Passivhaus Premium Including a Shipping-Container-Turned Pool House: A Builder’s Personal Journey, Melbourne, Australia

As the founder of the Sustainable Builders Alliance and director of G-LUX Builders, Jesse Glascott has turned his own family home into a showcase of what sustainable construction can achieve.

On a vacant parcel of land in Melbourne’s outer northeast, Jesse built a striking residence that has been awarded Passivhaus Premium certification — a recognition achieved by only a select few homes in Australia.

Asian-Inspired 4 Bedroom 4,000 sqft Shipping Container Home, Vancouver, Washington

Video
Location

Containers	11 containers
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3.5
Estimated property price	$1,242,000 (2025)
Area	4,000 sq ft (370 sqm)
Location	Vancouver, Washington
Year	2015

Near the Washington–Oregon border, one man’s bold vision has transformed an ordinary idea into a remarkable home. Located on S.E. 164th Avenue in Vancouver, WA, the residence is built from 11 multicolored shipping containers, assembled into a truly unique architectural statement.

“The owner built it himself, and everything is executed perfectly,” says listing agent Louise James. She explains that the owner—who works in the import and export industry—sketched out his concept after friends told him it couldn’t be done. “He put it on paper and said, ‘This is what I want.’ The result is an incredible masterpiece.”

Construction on the 4,000-square-foot home began in 2015 and wrapped up two years later. During the build, HGTV featured the project on the first season of “Container Homes.” The finished property includes four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, with design inspirations from around the world.

4 Bedrooms Shipping Container Home with Two-Story Atrium in the Middle of the Home, Waterloo, New York

How the Shipping Container Home Was Built
Location

Containers	4 containers (4x 40ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
Sold price	$335,000 (2025)
Area	1,760 sq ft (160 sqm)
Location	Waterloo, New York
Year	2020

This 1,760-square-foot residence rests on a five-acre parcel along Caroline Road in the Town of Waterloo, just a mile north of the New York State Thruway and within the Waterloo Central School District.

Completed in 2020, the one-of-a-kind home is built from shipping containers and features a dramatic two-story atrium at its center, a floating staircase, and a striking second-floor bridge. Its vivid blue exterior is complemented by floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, flooding the interior with natural light.

Eikonic Box - Shipping Container Airbnb Home in the Catskills, Smallwood, New York

Location

Project	Eikonic Box
Containers	3 containers (3x 40ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Location	Smallwood, New York

Step into a truly distinctive architectural hideaway—where striking “floating” container boxes frame sweeping views of the surrounding forest.

Break away from the everyday and enjoy the contemporary comforts of this stylish three-bedroom escape. Conceived with sustainability and imagination at its core, the Eikonic Box container home delivers an unforgettable stay for guests seeking both innovation and relaxation.

Isla Intersections - Modular Shipping Container Affordable Housing, Los Angeles, California

Location

Project	Isla Intersections
Architect	Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA)
Builder	Clifford Beers Housing
Area	35,000 sf
Units	54
Location	Los Angeles, California
Year	2024

In 2018, Los Angeles opened more than 1,700 of its city-owned parcels to affordable housing developers in a bid to address the housing crisis. Much like other infrastructural zones, this particular plot is ringed by high-traffic corridors, freeways, derelict industrial buildings, and a disused railway line—conditions that make it difficult to weave into the surrounding city and raise urgent questions about how to design livable, well-connected communities in such in-between settings.

Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) takes on these challenges with non-profit developer Clifford Beers Housing in a 35,000-square-foot (3,250-square-meter), 54-unit housing complex and accompanying pedestrian paseo known as Isla Intersection. The project, which won the Architizer Jury Prize in the Concepts + Prefab and Modular category, occupies a 19,814-square-foot (1,840-square-meter) triangular site and unfolds along Broadway Street as a procession of sixteen staggered volumes.

2 Bedroom 45 sqm Shipping Container Home, Auckland, New Zealand

Location

Builder and Owner	Brenda Kelly, IQ Container Homes
Containers	2 containers (1x 40ft, 1x 20ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
Estimated property price	$635,000 (2025)
Area	45 sqm (485 sq ft)
Location	Auckland, New Zealand
Year	2017

This eye-catching compact dwelling, fashioned from two shipping containers, was the first of its kind to achieve an 8 Homestar sustainability rating.

Originally built as a prototype by Brenda Kelly—the founder of IQ Container Homes—it served as her eco show home for three years before being successfully rented out for the past seven. Now, as Kelly winds down her Taupō-based business, the Titirangi, Auckland property is being offered for sale.

Set high on a steep, bush-covered 2,427 m² (26,124 ft²) section to take advantage of the views, the 45m² house reflects Kelly’s long-standing fascination with small spaces—something she says began as a teenager sketching tiny rooms and furniture layouts. She spent considerable time perfecting the plan, which combines a 40ft and a 20ft container placed at right angles on deep piles.

Camp Cargo - Artistic Retreat Constructed From Shipping Containers, Tennessee

Location

Project	Camp Cargo
Containers	9 containers (9x 40ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
Estimated property price	$560,000 (2025)
Area	1,600 sq ft (150 sqm)
Location	Sewanee, Tennessee
Year	2020

Welcome to Camp Cargo, a distinctive retreat set on five wooded acres in the mountains near Sewanee, Tennessee.

“As an agent, you usually rely on comparable sales to set a price—but when you find none, you know you’re looking at something truly special,” says Keith Killebrew of Parks Realty. “This property stands out because it’s built from nine full-size shipping containers sourced from around the globe. Designed to transport goods and stay watertight, they make an exceptional starting point for a home.”

The containers have been transformed into three separate residences:

• A two-bedroom main home called A’HO, inspired by a Navajo greeting.

• A one-bedroom guesthouse known as The Whale Song.

• A compact studio dubbed Hummingbird Hut.

Steelhaven - 3 Bedrooms 1000 sqft Shipping Container Home, Mancelona, Michigan

Building Process
Location

Project	Steelhaven
Containers	3 containers (3x 40ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Estimated property price	$580,000 (2025)
Area	1,000 sq ft (93 sqm)
Location	Mancelona, Michigan
Year	2022

A strikingly contemporary woodland retreat crafted entirely from shipping containers has come onto the market in Northern Michigan, offering a stylish and distinctive escape for $580,000.

Situated amid mature trees in the upscale Mancelona community of Lakes of the North, the compact residence includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a bright, open-concept living area designed to bring the outdoors in.

Completed in 2022 and named “Steelhaven,” the home was built using three 40-foot shipping containers. Two containers form the spacious main level, while the third sits above, containing two of the bedrooms.

3 Bedrooms 115 sqm Sustainable Prefabricated Shipping Container Home, Victoria, Australia

Floor Plan
Video
About Manufacturer - Sonic Steel

Architect	Rema O’Neill
Manufacturer	Sonic Steel
Builder	Owners
Landscape Design	Phyto Landscapes
Kitchen + Interior Design Support	Cantilever Interiors
Solar Power	RACV Solar
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Containers	4 containers (4x 40 ft)
Area	115 sqm (1,240 sq ft)
Location	Aireys Inlet, Victoria, Australia
Year	2023
Photography	Tess Kelly

The new prefabricated home belongs to Green Magazine editor Tamsin O’Neill and Green Press publisher Tom Bodycomb, who assembled a team of specialists to bring their sustainable dream house to life. Their vision included a serene kitchen and flawless custom joinery crafted by Cantilever Interiors.

Having spent over 17 years writing about environmentally conscious design and housing, it’s no wonder O’Neill and Bodycomb’s own residence is both inventive and unconventional.

The couple, the driving force behind Green Magazine, had long been searching for the perfect spot along the Great Ocean Road to create a custom, eco-friendly family home. They found it when a one-hectare parcel came on the market in Aireys Inlet.

5,000 sqft 4 Bedrooms Shipping Container Home, Winchester, New Hampshire

Location

Project	Kennedy Estate
Containers	15 containers
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	5.5
Estimated property price	$5,200,000 (2025)
Area	5,000 sq ft (460 sqm)
Location	Winchester, New Hampshire
Year	2024

An extraordinary property tucked into the center of a small New Hampshire town is drawing serious attention from buyers who appreciate both luxury and originality.

Constructed entirely from 15 repurposed shipping containers, the residence at 398 Scofield Mountain Road in Winchester is listed at $5.2 million.

“It’s absolutely stunning in person,” says Susanna Corriveau, an agent with Coldwell Banker.

Described as a private escape from daily pressures, the Kennedy Estate offers a sense of peace and beauty that truly comes alive as you arrive. Guests enter through a gate lined with 63 industrial-style lights leading to the house, passing a pond with a water feature and an outdoor basketball court on the way.

Durable 3 Bedrooms 174 sqm Shipping Container Home in a Semi-Rural Area, Whanganui, New Zealand

Location

Containers	5 containers (4x 40 ft + 1x 20 ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1
Estimated property price	$880,000 (2025)
Area	174 sqm (1,870 sq ft)
Location	Whanganui, New Zealand
Year	2017

Shipping containers, when designed and finished properly with quality insulation and reinforcement, can become striking homes. The property featured here – on the market for the first time – is a prime example.

Situated on 1.78 hectares in Durie Hill, Whanganui, this two-level residence is built from five containers: one 20-foot unit and four 40-foot units, arranged slightly askew to create architectural interest and form an upper-level deck. A smaller, separately positioned but connected container serves as a fourth (unconsented) bedroom.

Varmt Rede - Tetris-Style 5 Bedroom Modular Home Built from 11 Shipping Containers, Queensland, Australia

Floor Plans
Location

Project	Varmt Rede
Containers	11 containers (8x 40 ft + 3x 20 ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3
Estimated property price	$1,350,000 (2025)
Area	400 sqm (4,300 sq ft)
Location	Queensland, Australia

Tucked discreetly behind a modest entryway, Varmt Rede instantly unveils itself as a truly one-of-a-kind residence. Conceived as a place of calm and tranquility, it combines soft ambient lighting, sweeping coastal vistas, and the lush subtropical greenery of Tamborine Mountain.

This striking, Scandinavian-influenced shipping container home spans multiple levels and harmonizes refined architectural detail with sustainable living principles. It blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings while delivering exceptional comfort, style, and practicality.

Generous windows frame breathtaking mountain and ocean panoramas, filling the open-plan interior with daylight. Living spaces flow effortlessly onto landscaped gardens and outdoor terraces, creating a relaxed yet elegant lifestyle.

Every element has been thoughtfully designed—from energy-saving insulation and double glazing to bespoke timber features—fostering a healthy, efficient, and balanced environment. Durable materials, passive ventilation, and environmentally sensitive construction ensure resilience and long-term ease of living.

Its flexible floor plan suits families, professionals, entertainers, or anyone in search of a serene retreat. Sustainable technologies such as solar power, rainwater harvesting, and intelligent climate control help minimize environmental impact without compromising on comfort or luxury.

Recycling COR-TEN Sea Containers into Service Modules for Military Applications: Thermal Analysis

June 2017

Carlos Ulloa^1,*, María Elena Arce¹, Guillermo Rey¹, José Luis Míguez² and José Hernández³

1 Defense University Center, Escuela Naval Militar, 36920 Marín, Spain; elena.arce@cud.uvigo.es (M.E.A.); guillermo.rey@uvigo.es (G.R.)
2 Industrial Engineering School, Campus Lagoas Marcosende, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; jmiguez@uvigo.es
3 Armada Española, Escuela Naval Militar, 36920 Marín, Spain; jherse2@fn.mde.es
* Correspondence: carlos.ulloa@cud.uvigo.es; Tel.: +34-986-804-931

Academic Editor: Hua Li

Received: 1 June 2017; Accepted: 14 June 2017; Published: 17 June 2017

Abstract

It is thought that there are 14 million standardised sea containers out of order, equal to 23.3 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), which could be devoted for other purposes. The COR-TEN®steel containers are the best, due to the features of the materials, to be used in applications intended for the accommodation of people. One of the uses is framed in the area of humanitarian help, as service modules in areas of social emergency. Moreover, the deployment of these kinds of modules is quite simple, as the Army is generally able to transport containers in its units. In this project we have selected three typologies of service modules and we have designed modules based on sea containers which can fit into these typologies. The container chosen to be recycled is the 1 TEU, to which the closings and divisions are defined, which must reflect the different typologies of the service modules chosen. Afterwards, a study of thermal charges is carried out on three different settings of service modules located in five locations spread in different climate areas. Throughout a thermal simulation in Trnsys® (V17, Thermal Energy System Specialists, LLC, Madison, WI, USA), the consumption and maximum demand of heat and cold are analysed. Based on these results, the best equipment to cover the energy demand of the modules analysed in this study could be chosen. Moreover, the results can be used to estimate the operational costs of the deployment of the modules.