Shipping Container Homes & Buildings: 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.

“Varmt Rede” translates to “warm nest”—a sentiment you immediately experience upon arrival. This is more than a home; it’s a sanctuary that offers peace, comfort, and an escape from everyday life.

Highlights

394 m² of living space spread across four architecturally designed levels
Robust steel construction for low maintenance and resistance to pests and decay
Elevated, flood-free position proven resilient in severe storms
Easy-care gardens with native plants and lush lawns, fully fenced for privacy
Flexible zoning separating living and sleeping areas
Rooftop entertaining area with sweeping Gold Coast views
Two generous storage rooms
2.6 m ceilings with ceiling fans throughout for natural airflow
Compact footprint with clever space planning
Multiple outdoor settings for relaxation and gatherings
Rooftop deck with six-person jet swim spa overlooking the coast and hinterland
Designer kitchen with butler’s pantry and laundry
Spacious open-plan living with expansive glazing for seamless indoor-outdoor living
Master suite with large walk-in wardrobe
Two additional sizable bedrooms plus a versatile guest room/library
Guest suite featuring ensuite, private balcony, and separate keyed entry—ideal for visitors or Airbnb/rental income
Two dedicated home offices with privacy and natural light

Sustainability Features

Energy-conscious design promoting healthy indoor living
Double-glazed windows for climate and acoustic control
50,000-litre rainwater storage with triple-filter UV purification
5.5 kW solar system
Instantaneous gas hot water
Passive ventilation for year-round comfort
Small building footprint maximizing space while protecting the surrounding environment

The owners describe their creation as a seamless meeting point of architecture, sustainability and luxury—a home that blends into its natural setting while still delivering exceptional comfort, style and practicality.

Australian parkour star Dylan Pawson recently put the house to the test, transforming its bold, Tetris-like form into a sprawling obstacle course. Pawson, who first gained fame on Australian Ninja Warrior in 2017 alongside his twin brother Brodie, scaled, leapt and balanced his way across the structure’s dramatic cantilevered forms.

Marketed by Coastal agent Bianca Basile through an expressions-of-interest campaign, the residence at 25 Elbert Ct, Tamborine Mountain is the vision of Bradley and Natasha Hardy, founders of homewares label Genji Homes.

Constructed from 11 shipping containers—eight measuring 40 feet and three measuring 20 feet—each unit was craned into place and welded together, creating a striking three-level silhouette of angled steel modules perched on the mountainside.

Against the lush subtropical backdrop of the Gold Coast Hinterland, its rugged, fortress-like exterior gives way to interiors inspired by Scandinavian design, rich in earthy textures and warm tones. Its Danish name, Varmt Rede (“warm nest”), perfectly captures the home’s sense of sanctuary.

“It envelops you. It comforts you and shields you from the demands of modern life,” says Natasha Hardy.

She describes the house as virtually indestructible. Built from insulated, steel-framed modular components with exterior cladding and double-glazed windows, the property offers fire resistance, freedom from rainforest pests and rot, and has already endured both a cyclone and a tornado without damage.

When the Hardys began the project, modular construction was still rare, but today prefabricated homes are increasingly seen as a cost-effective, sustainable answer to Australia’s housing needs. In January 2025, the Commonwealth Bank became the first of the Big Four lenders to finance modular homes.

“People imagine shipping containers as rusty boxes, but they’re actually robust, fully enclosed steel structures with remarkable strength,” Ms Hardy explains. “For us, building with containers wasn’t cheaper than a standard steel-frame house. But on a steep block like ours, it offered the speed and structural integrity we needed to withstand the harsh environment.”

Designed with multigenerational living in mind, the five-bedroom layout is highly flexible. The master suite occupies its own container, linked by a suspended walkway.

Key features include:

Rooftop entertaining area with spa and panoramic coastal views
Contemporary kitchen with butler’s pantry
Two private home offices
Open-plan living area with fireplace
Guest bedroom with ensuite and separate entry for privacy

Agent Bianca Basile calls the property “an intersection of architecture, sustainability and luxury,” noting that green technologies such as solar power and rainwater harvesting deliver efficiency without compromising on comfort.

Coastal director Rob Forde, who had long wanted to showcase Pawson’s athleticism in a listing, said the property’s dramatic levels and open spaces were perfect for parkour—an acrobatic discipline that combines running, climbing and jumping to move fluidly between obstacles.

The Hardys originally purchased the 1,510 sqm block for $177,500 in 2015 and completed the build two years later.

“We’ve built and renovated many homes over the last 20 years,” says Ms Hardy. “We’ve always favoured non-traditional designs, and building with containers was a long-held dream. When this land came up, we engaged an architect to make it a reality.”

Now preparing to relocate to regional Queensland, the Hardys plan to create yet another distinctive “forever home.”