Video
Construction Process
Location
Contact Info
About OBR Architecture
| Project | McConkey Residence |
| Architect | Chris Bittner, OBR Architecture |
| Builder and owner | Mike McConkey |
| Area | 800 square feet |
| Containers | 3 |
| Project Cost | $160,000 |
| Location | Lakeside, San Diego County, California, USA |
| Photographer | Kevin Walsh |
| Year | 2015 |
For many people, a huge mega-mansion represents the beautiful ideal dream home, but for Shawn and Mike McConkey, a shipping container home was their ideal. The shipping container McConkey Residence in San Diego, California, designed by OBR Architecture, is one of the first San Diego’s shipping container homes. 800 square feet of living space was formed by three shipping containers. Floor-to-ceiling huge windows make the open-air space feel even larger. Another thoughtful element is a retractable garage standard door next to the kitchen (and this design can be perfect for those times when the kitchen stove gets a bit too smoky). The roof and windows design incorporate flame-retardant level materials in the event of nearest wildfires.
Building a shipping container home was a dream come true for owners of this shipping container home - Mike and Shawn McConkey. Mike, a construction superintendent and architectural engineer was able to do a good portion of this custom home, along with an architect and general contractor. Having built a farm building stand out of a shipping container earlier in his professional career, Mike knew some of the possible challenges with this type of prefab modular structure.
Mike found that what appears to be standard indestructible shipping containers, lose much of their constructional rigidity when the shipping container sides are modified or changed, such as cutting openings in the metal for doors and windows. Mike learned how to deal with design issues by devising necessary structural reinforcements for containers relating to these windows/doors modifications and other changes in the structure, while maintaining the desired appearence of the shipping containers. Another related challenge was getting necessary construction approvals because of the first shipping container home in San Diego county and the county building department had never seen this type of container construction before this project, ultimately taking about half a year. Joining usual residential conventional construction materials to the shipping containers was also more difficult; attaching conventional construction materials to steel rather than wood. Christopher Bittner, the architect on the shipping container home in San Diego project, recommends “Anyone wanting to pursue this type of construction should thoroughly interview builders to be sure they are up to the task.” When the shipping container home was complete, Mike and Shawn had an environmentally friendly and beautiful house that is very cozy and comfortable.
Description by OBR Architecture
The McConkey’s dreamed about building a shipping container house in San Diego and tasked us with designing an environmentally sensitive home utilizing three shipping containers. The initial inspiration behind their dream was a photo in some literature for a ceramic paint being used on container homes in Europe. The 800 SF house is among the first shipping container residences in San Diego County. Because the area is prone to wildfires, special flame retardant materials were used for the windows and roof. The kitchen has an open-plan where a garage door can be retracted to take advantage of the balmy California climate and bring the outdoors in. The flooring, doors, and bathroom vanity were sourced from the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
As housing prices continue to skyrocket, San Diegans are finding ways to live here for less money. Mike and Shawn McConkey found their solution in shipping containers.
"It seems far-fetched to some people, maybe even primitive. But when you go inside and you see what the inside of a container home can look like, it's not at all primitive, it's very custom," said Mike.
They used three shipping containers for the foundation of their home. Excluding the cost of the property, the 800-square-foot home totaled $160,000. To stay in budget, they shopped at IKEA as well as using reclaimed materials. Due to the location of the home, the McConkey's used flame resistant materials.
Mike believes it's the first fully permitted shipping container dwelling in the county.
On the outside, sections of the original shipping materials were kept exposed, a decision Mike says was intentional.
"The scrapes and bumps and bruises, it just shows the history."
They recruited an architect to help design the home. It's a hybrid of containers and stick frame structure, with ceilings up to 13 feet between the containers.
While the permitting process took a bit longer than the average home, the county cooperated with their vision.
"Then we had every building official out here from the county at one point or another, because they just wanted to see the container house." said Mike.
Because container homes are a relatively new concept, the McConkey's advise having your financing and insurance secured early if you want to build one.
McConkey Residence: The 800 sqft Container Home
Three shipping containers form a compact San Diego residence that combines industrial structure, custom architecture, reclaimed materials, and strong indoor-outdoor connections.
800 sqft
Living Area
3
Shipping Containers
$160,000
Project Cost
2015
Project Year
Floor-to-Ceiling Windows
Large glazed openings make the compact interior feel more expansive and visually connected to the outdoors.
Open-Plan Kitchen
The kitchen forms part of an open interior arrangement and includes an unusual retractable garage-door opening.
Hybrid Construction
The residence combines shipping containers with conventional stick-frame construction.
13-Foot Ceilings
The spaces between the containers create areas with ceilings reaching up to 13 feet.
Reclaimed Materials
Flooring, doors, and the bathroom vanity were sourced from the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Wildfire-Aware Design
Flame-retardant materials were selected for the roof and windows because of the home's location.
Container + Stick Frame: A Hybrid Construction Strategy
The McConkey Residence demonstrates that container architecture can combine the retained character of steel modules with conventional residential construction techniques.
Three Containers
The three shipping containers establish the primary modular foundation of the 800 sqft home.
Exposed Steel Character
Sections of the original shipping-container material remain visible, preserving scratches, bumps, and signs of its previous history.
Hybrid Container Home
Containers and stick-frame construction are combined to create a customized residential environment rather than leaving the containers as untouched boxes.
Conventional Materials
Residential construction materials are integrated with the steel container structure.
Structural Reinforcement
Cutting openings for doors and windows reduces container rigidity, requiring engineered reinforcement around modified areas.
Key construction lesson: modifying a shipping container is not simply a matter of cutting openings; structural behavior, reinforcement, and connections to conventional materials must be carefully considered.
McConkey Residence: Design Priorities Matrix
Design Priority
Project Feature
Purpose
Compact Living
800 sqft
Creates a complete custom residence within a relatively compact footprint.
Natural Connection
Large Windows
Floor-to-ceiling glazing makes the interior feel larger and strengthens the relationship with the outdoors.
Indoor-Outdoor Living
Retractable Garage Door
The kitchen can open directly toward the outdoor environment and take advantage of the California climate.
Fire Resilience
Flame-Resistant Materials
Roof and window materials were selected with the area's wildfire exposure in mind.
Sustainability
Reclaimed Materials
ReStore-sourced flooring, doors, and bathroom elements helped keep materials in productive use.
Architectural Character
Exposed Container Steel
Visible marks and imperfections preserve the history and identity of the original shipping containers.
Budget Control
IKEA + Reclaimed Materials
Affordable furnishings and reused materials helped the owners stay within their project budget.
Buildability
Specialist Expertise
Container modifications and steel-to-conventional-material connections require experienced design and construction teams.
Modular
Three shipping containers establish the core structure.
Custom
Hybrid construction allows a highly individualized interior.
Resourceful
Reclaimed materials and budget-conscious purchases support affordability.
Site-Aware
Wildfire-conscious materials respond to the San Diego County setting.
Video
Location
Address: 13323 CA-67, Lakeside, CA 92040, USA
Construction Process
Contact Info
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontainerhomeproject/
Email: memcconkey@yahoo.com
About OBR Architecture
Launched in April 2008, obrARCHITECTURE, INC. sprung from the desire to create lasting and meaningful relationships with our clients, our projects and the environment. We are located in the heart of San Diego’s North Park arts district on 3805 Ray Street, San Diego, CA 92104 and are actively involved with the local art community. We are a small, focused firm and believe that each individual partner’s unique talents makes for a dynamic whole that can not only meet, but exceed our client’s expectations. As a small firm we believe strongly in being accessible and flexible with our clientele. With the partners’ wide array of experience, the firm has the ability to take on a wide variety of project sizes and types and can adjust quickly to changes in programs, budgets or designs. We bring an exceptional collaborative and artistic approach to every project and feel we have an obligation to assist, inspire and lead our clients in reaching their project goals.
Gathering allows us to draw inspiration from the spirit of our community. Sharing our office as a space to host events has been a mainstay of the firm’s values since its inception. Our location in the heart of El Cajon Boulevard was chosen for its proximity to so many elements of San Diegan culture, which contributes to the success of each event. obrEVENTS allow us to congregate with neighbors and friends; clients and collaborators; sharing interests that are broader than the realm of architecture. Our quarterly art events showcase local talent in the visual and performing arts within the obrGALLERY. We source the event’s refreshments from local, small, and new businesses with a focus on featuring up and coming vendors. We believe in a balance of passions and the strength of community and each obrEVENT provides us with invaluable inspiration to enrich our architectural designs.
| Old Address | 3817 Ray St, San Diego, CA 92104, United States |
| New Address | 2419 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104, United States |
| Phone | +1 619-564-7586 |
| info@obrarchitecture.com | |
| Website | https://obrarchitecture.com/ |
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McConkey Residence - 800 sqft Shipping Container Home, San Diego, California