| Architecture | O.G.E Group Architects |
| Project | Beach Box Buddina |
| Owner and Architect | John Robertson |
| Builder | PJP Construct |
| Containers | 3 |
| Cost | $170,000 |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 1 |
| Year | 2014 |
| Location | Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Photography | Ross Eason |
| AWARDS | AIA Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the year 2014 |
| AIA Regional Commendation 2014 |
AIA Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the year 2014 Jury Citation
The utilization of “once used” shipping containers provides a robust and cost effective opportunity to re-engage with the beach culture and mixed use zoning of Buddina. The grouping provides separate private zones with pop outs for greater internal widths, linking with decks and courtyards and a simple skillion roof over entry referencing modest beach house vernacular. This playful use of containers, engages simple yet appropriate interiors and integration with the landscape. However, its power lies in the way it engages with the street and greater public domain through blurred internal/external and public/private boundaries, street furniture and through its honest and engaging presentation.
Description by O.G.E Group Architects
The ‘Beach Box Buddina’ is a modern day beach shack which uses three shipping containers as the primary structural building modules. The end doors have been removed to make way for full glazing panels, surrounded by crisp white awnings to bring a modern feel and protect from the elements. Deck areas and an internalised roofed link tie the shipping containers together and provide a touch of skillion roof beach shipping container house vernacular.
The primary objective was to deliver a modern shipping container house with a very simple method of construction and very modest budget with an architectural language that could be regarded as being both gritty and refined, and both urban and coastal.
Features such as full height glazing to the ends of the modules, hardwood timber cladding fins, plywood lined roof over the deck and the sleek white alpolic awnings, create a striking architectural composition. The plan arrangement of the 3 modules at splayed angles and separated from each other with linking decks and an internal sitting area, create a dynamic and playful series of spaces.
Distinctive landscaping features including extensive custom cut and painted sleepers, painted edge timber screen fences, and gabian blocks to the front footpath line, compliment the shipping container home and bring refinement to the project as a whole.
The Beach Box is a unique architectural project which has successfully utilised a very raw building module to create a building of surprising substance and refinement, and one which opens up absolutely to celebrate its oceanfront location.
On Saturday 20 October 2018 the Beach Box in Buddina was open to the public as part of Sunshine Coast Open House. Visitors were able to walk through the space and hear about the challenges and rewards of designing and constructing such a unique building by owner and architect John Robertson.
Description by Live Sunshine Coast
Local Architect and Sole Director of O.G.E Group, John Robertson, believes that good architecture must challenge, test and respond to countless variables, which is exactly what he has achieved with his contemporary and eco-friendly ‘Beach Box’ Shipping Container Home in Buddina.
This modern-day shack uses three shipping containers as the primary structural building blocks and has the extremely modest and almost unbelievable budget of $170,000 to construct, which certainly isn’t something you hear these days for a modern beachside home.
John came up with the initial idea after finding the block of land that had future development potential. He needed something that was affordable, cost effective and flexible. He researched kit homes and other alternatives but found that they weren’t within the cost parameters he was seeking. John discovered the containers and the fire was sparked!
The plans were subjected to intense scrutiny by the local council with the case going to the State Parliament. The project was about to be called in (stopped) however logic prevailed and he was able to finish the project. Three months later he won the House of the Year award and received a commendation by the Minister of Innovation for the State finals, where he was up against a $10 million build.
John, his partner and their combined five kids have lived comfortably in the Beach Box Buddina for three years and are now looking to renovate by adding a master bedroom and a kid’s rumpus room. He said his favourite thing about the pods is that he can go to work in the morning and by the afternoon two new rooms would have been added.
Over the past 2-3 years John and his team have been developing a ‘design menu’ for people of all ages to create one of their very own pod homes starting at only $60,000. The major reason behind it is to give people the flexibility to put more money into their land and location rather than the house and in turn gain better capital growth.
As the shipping container house is small or ‘semi-tiny’, it has been designed to be very functional. This limits what you can buy and forces you to forego unnecessary house times i.e. “junk” as John likes to call it, that I am sure we are all very aware of, most likely filling your cupboards or corners!
As your life evolves or demands change, the bliss in these shipping container homes is that you don’t have to entirely move. The option of adding an extra room or two on top or to the side is easy.
With the famous quote by Glenn Murcutt in mind “touch the earth lightly”, John is extremely passionate about providing sustainable properties that embrace the outdoor land and don’t lock you into an air-conditioned room. These houses of humility enable people to have their own humble personality in an urban and architectural place.
He is a strong believer that it doesn’t have to be an expensive house to be cool!
John has very big plans for these sustainable pods and hopes to one day make them entirely ‘off the grid’ with integrated solar and battery power.
