Floor Plan
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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.
Their goal was to build a compact, energy-efficient, low-impact dwelling, and a prefabricated shipping container home by specialists Sonic Steel offered the ideal solution.
Cantilever Interiors’ creative director Kylie Forbes says a single visit to the site made the design direction clear: a strong, dark exterior form that would blend quietly into the trees while framing views of the tranquil landscape.
Inside, Tamsin and Tom had a clear vision for a subdued colour palette.
“This decision gave the rooms a completely distinct atmosphere — the tone is rich, warm, and earthy.”
At just 115 square metres, the dwelling is intentionally modest yet highly efficient. It’s a smart, thoughtfully compact home that blends into its serene setting — a testament to the idea that sometimes less truly is more.
Floor Plan
Video
About Manufacturer - Sonic Steel
At Sonic Steel, we’re committed to building quality homes that truly make a difference. Our proprietary VenSulation® system is the only solution on the market that simultaneously tackles ventilation, insulation and condensation in shipping container homes. Above all, we prioritise creating healthy, comfortable living spaces for our clients.
Expertise That Sets Us Apart
Every one of our homes is custom-designed and built in Australia by professionals with backgrounds in architecture, fabrication and engineering. This breadth of expertise distinguishes us from companies that focus only on construction.
We celebrate individuality in how people live. From the size of each room to the placement of power outlets, every detail is tailored to suit your lifestyle. Most importantly, our VenSulation® system resolves one of the biggest challenges in container living — condensation — by optimising both insulation and airflow.
Premium Relocatable Homes
From day one, our mission has been simple: to build Australia’s best shipping container homes. All design, engineering and construction work is carried out in-house at our Melbourne factory.
Condensation is often a key concern for relocatable homes. That’s why we developed the VenSulation® system, combining Zehnder’s Heat Recovery Ventilation with Sonic Steel’s own advanced insulation. Together, these technologies deliver a constant supply of fresh air, draw out excess moisture, and maintain airtightness and thermal efficiency — all to make your indoor environment as comfortable as possible.
If you’re thinking about building a relocatable home with us, call the Sonic Steel team for a chat or arrange a visit to our display home. We pride ourselves on giving honest, direct and supportive advice.
Shipping Container Ventilation
Ventilation is critical to any container home, which is why it’s a cornerstone of our VenSulation® system. Fresh, filtered air flows continuously through the house to regulate temperature and humidity.
We install Zehnder’s Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV), which not only supplies consistent filtered air but also retains up to 85% of thermal energy. Consuming as little as 8 watts, it’s a highly energy-efficient solution that helps reduce running costs.
Shipping Container Insulation
Insulation is another key element of comfortable, healthy container living. Unlike conventional houses with natural gaps and joints, container walls are fully welded and airtight. Without the right insulation, this can trap moisture, leading to condensation, material deterioration and hidden mould growth — issues that pose both structural and health risks.
Our unique insulation approach eliminates these problems by removing air gaps inside the walls, preventing moisture from contacting the metal surface. We achieve this by CNC-cutting polyurethane (PUR) foam blocks, cured for at least 30 days, to precisely fit the container’s corrugated panels. Galvanised steel strips or timber serve as studs for fixtures, while electrical wiring is run within foam grooves. We finish walls with plasterboard, cement sheet or PVC foam panels, bonding everything together with liquid polyurethane.
This process creates a continuous thermal and vapour barrier, stopping condensation before it starts.
| Address | 8 Centro Ct, Brooklyn VIC 3012, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9364 8797 |
| enquiry@sonicsteel.com.au | |
| Website | https://sonicsteel.com.au |
Links
https://thedesignfiles.net/2025/01/interiors-cantilever-cabin
https://sonicsteel.com.au/projects/mark-2t-aireys-inlet-vic/