Beautiful Two Story Shipping Container Home with Cantilevered Second Floor Container, Peru





The house consists of three shipping containers, very functional and self-supporting structures.

About SF Architects

Architecture:Sachie Fujimori, SF Architects
Project:Casa Reciclada (Recycled House)
Containers:2x20 ft and 1x40 ft
Area:60 sqm (645 sqft) internal area and 53 sqm (570 sqft) terrace area
Location:Peru
Year:2014

One of the most innovative proposals of the Casa Cor 2014 in Peru was the "Recycled House" by SF Architects, led by Sachie Fujimori and her team consisting of Anna Duelo, Ursula Ludowieg O'Phelan and Marc Koening, This is a purely ecological initiative based on shipping containers and recycled materials that privileges comfort, space savings and the self-generation of energy and resources.

The structure of the "Casa Reciclada" consists of three shipping containers. Two of them are 20 feet on the first floor, and one is 40 feet cantilevered container on the second floor. Fujimori explains that the design is created for a young couple for a countryside living.





The use of shipping containers for housing is an alternative that several countries have adopted to build homes, apartments or houses for students. In Peru shipping containers are usually use for mining camps, hospitals and offices.

"What's new in this case is that a shipping container, being a modular system component, becomes a fundamental part of design and can adapt without any problem to customer needs and tastes", Fujimori explains.

Among the advantages of this material, there are highlights in its self-supporting condition. Shipping containers are marine systems whose function is to transport cargo, and they have ability to engage in groups of nine, one over another. It shows that shipping containers are very structurally resistant, and they are also prepared to resist extreme temperatures. "These characteristics convert containers in very adaptable systems. Thus, it is possible to use it for different projects, such as construction of homes once they have been discharged", explains the architect.

In the same way, and if you plan to ever increase the number of rooms at home, you can increase the number of containers. "Make an architecture with shipping conteiners is an evolutionary work, which may vary over time", she says.

As part of the proposal, there are interior elements made from recycled materials. Inside of the house, it was decided to leave the floor of original container wood and terrace is made from recycled rubber tiles.

During the tour through the house, you appreciate multiple objects that have been transformed to give life to another product. For example, a modified topographic survey tripod was used to create a lamp; while at the entrance a small table was formed with a small bench and an old briefcase. In the second level, a Singer sewing machine serves as a base for washing basin while a tennis racket was turned into a mirror.

The shipping container house also has a small garden. The architect Fujimori states that this space was designed in compliance to own generation of energy and resources, as it allows cultivating food to have them fresh and at hand. Green wall works like natural thermal and acoustic insulator, which provides better comfort inside.

The same energy concept is applied in the placement of 10 solar panels on the roof. Ten solar panels reduces the electrical consumption of the house by more than 25% in the local climate, and also allows to illuminate the terrace and the garden, outside the house.

The "Recycled House" includes 60 sqm internal area and 53 sqm terrace area.

Social space was considered as terrace with floor from recycled rubber tiles; as well as an orchard and gardens on both the first and second levels.

The shipping container home includes an entrance hall, living room, kitchen-dining room and guest bathroom on the first floor, while in the cantilevered second floor there are the couple's desk area, bedroom and master bathroom.

Fujimori also highlights the use of glass materials, oriented to "open" the container towards the outside nature, considering that the house was designed for a countryside area. At the same time this also allows the visual space be wider.





"For these types of projects, what ideal in ecological terms is to use double leaf windows. This type of windows are in the bedroom and what they do is that the
indoor environment always have an optimal temperature; and at the same time, is acoustically resistant to noise exterior", she says.

The idea behind this project is to generate reflexion regarding the use of recycled materials and all possibilities that exist around them as well as the use of alternative solutions in terms of materials and clean energy.

In addition, the importance of knowing how to value living space: "We do not need to have zones so spacious or huge houses for comfortable living", Fujimori concludes.

20 ft Small and Cozy Shipping Container House, NSW, Australia






Containers: 1x20 ft
Location: Byron Bay, NSW, Australia

This beautiful 20 ft small and cozy shipping container house located midway between Byron Bay and Suffolk Park in New South Wales, Australia.

Treed crown reserve on both the north and eastern sides enhances the appeal and privacy, as does the beautiful established trees and tropical gardens that are well positioned along the boundaries giving you your own private forest shipping container home to an abundance of local birds.





Decription from Airbnb

The Bungalow is a glamping accommodation nestled amongst a tropical rainforest. 15 minutes stroll to a beautiful lake and the beach. An amazing whisky bar and Cafe at the end of the street which is also one of the best Restaurants in Byron. You’ll love the bungalow because of the comfy bed, the cosiness, waking up to the sounds and views of the the beautiful trees and laying in the bathtub under the canopy of the forest at night with some wine. Perfect for couples and solo adventurers.

Our 20ft container has been transformed into this unique accomodation. Having worked on and decorated it myself it really feels like home. The space faces a nature strip so it really feels like you could be further away from the hustle and bustle but you're conveniently close to the town of beautiful Byron Bay.

Shipping Container Cabins and Homes by Tomecek Studio, Colorado







Description from architects

Our practice, while fundamentally concerned with issues of space, light, and texture, is underpinned by an exploration of “how to build.” Construction technology is hundreds of years old, and while other industries have rapidly adopted new fabrication technologies, the fields of architecture and construction have been averse to exploring similar possibilities. In our own small rebellion, we have explored modular prefabrication through shipping containers and wood-frame boxes, panelized prefabrication with Structural Insulated Panels and German Eco-panels, and are currently reviewing opportunities to utilize cross laminated timber panels in multi-story construction. Our explorations have materialized into actual built works rather than mere theoretical musings, and with the variety of lessons learned, we continue to research the opportunities inherent in new construction technology.

Part of our research at Tomecek Studio is to better understand and question how we construct projects. We believe that prefabrication can be a great choice for the right project. The degree of prefabrication and the manufacturing facility that we choose varies greatly with both client and project goals. At Tomecek Studio, we are always looking for ways to utilize the newest construction techniques. Ultimately, to be effective, the options with these new techniques must parallel project goals. While quality space that fits our clients needs is our ultimate desire, architectural design, fabrication and client intentions dictate how the project begins to materialize. Our experience has found that when prefabrication, as a project delivery method, aligns with these goals, we can create a project tailor fit for our clients that may indeed save both time and money.





In our climate, insulation is a major issue and the modification of containers requires much more involvement from the steel trades. These projects tend to be smaller, which often results in higher cost in dollars per square foot. Misinformation exists about the ease of container construction. In reality, the container acts as only a single component of the project, and depending on the modification, you are still building with a traditional timeline given the sub-trades that need to run through the project. It should be noted that TSA is custom architectural practice with unique clients and sites. Cost savings may be found with a pre-designed container product or model. Other factors to consider are methods of insulation and steel fabrication costs which tend to drive costs higher.

2x40 ft and 2x20 ft Shipping Container Home by Project Container, Uruguay






Video (Spanish)
About Project Container






DesignPaola Rossi - Project Container
Containers2x40 ft and 2x20 ft
LocationJose Ignacio, Maldonado, Uruguay