Construction
| Project | Shipp’s Creek |
| Designer | Babb & Mack Design Co. |
| Containers | 4x 40ft HC |
| Bedrooms | 4 |
| Bathrooms | 2 |
| Contractor | J Brown Services |
| Structural Engineer | Arrow Structural Engineering |
| Survey | On-Point Survey & Mapping, LLC |
| Shipping Containers | VersaVault Mobile Storage |
| Year | 2025 |
| Location | Pennsylvania |
A 48-hour stay in a shipping container home tucked into Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands reveals how thoughtful design can deepen a connection to place. Built from four repurposed containers and surrounded by forest and flowing water, the Shipp’s Creek retreat balances sustainability, comfort, and playful detail while serving as an ideal base for exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s nearby architectural landmarks, local cafés, and outdoor landscapes. The experience is less about novelty and more about slowing down—showing how adaptive architecture and nature-driven settings can quietly restore both body and attention.
A late-autumn escape to Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands offered a rare combination of stillness, thoughtful architecture, and immersive design. Set beside the flowing waters of Laurel Hill Creek, a new container-built retreat known as Shipp’s Creek served as both a quiet refuge and a carefully crafted home base for exploring one of the region’s most design-rich landscapes.
On a blustery November morning near Ohiopyle’s rushing falls, the absence of summer crowds made space for something else entirely: wind, water, and a heightened sense of presence. That same feeling carried through the weekend spent at Shipp’s Creek, an Airbnb that blends sustainable construction with playful cultural references and a strong sense of place.
A Container Home Rooted in Landscape
Constructed from four repurposed 40-foot shipping containers, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home was designed to accommodate up to nine guests. Its layout balances openness with privacy, making it well suited for families or groups of friends seeking a shared experience without sacrificing comfort.
The home’s owner, Pittsburgh-based Brady Inners, initially envisioned renovating an existing cabin on the site. That plan shifted after deeper investigation revealed the scale of work required. Inspired by distinctive properties he followed online—and by the wooded creekside setting—Inners opted instead for a shipping container home that could respond more directly to the site.
Purchased in April 2023 lot and fully completed two years later, the project emphasizes local collaboration. The containers were sourced from a nearby supplier, while elements such as floating stairs and custom wood countertops came from regional craftspeople. The result is a structure that feels both contemporary and grounded.
Design Details and Lived-In Comfort
Inside, vaulted ceilings rise across two floors, anchored by a sculptural staircase with black cable railings and warm wood treads. A chandelier marks the vertical connection between levels, while large windows frame the surrounding trees and water.
A second-floor deck extends the living space outdoors, offering a protected gathering area centered around a fire feature. From here, guests can listen to the steady flow of the creek while remaining sheltered from the elements—a recurring theme throughout the home.
Throughout the interior, small but deliberate details elevate the experience: a fully stocked kitchen with a dedicated coffee-and-tea drawer, spa-like showers with provided toiletries, and shelves filled with books, games, and puzzles. Cozy blankets and a faux fireplace reinforce the cabin-like atmosphere.
Subtle nods to the television series Schitt’s Creek appear throughout the home, woven into artwork and décor for those who recognize them, without overpowering the overall aesthetic.
Architecture Beyond the Property Line
The Laurel Highlands are inseparable from the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the surrounding area offers a rare concentration of his work. Nearby visits to Kentuck Knob and Fallingwater reveal Wright’s signature principles—organic integration with the landscape, dramatic cantilevers, expansive glazing, and carefully choreographed spatial transitions.
Seen back-to-back, these homes highlight Wright’s ability to shape experience through architecture, using compression and release to guide movement and emotion. Their proximity makes the region a pilgrimage site for design enthusiasts.
Local Dining and Thoughtful Pauses
Between architectural tours, local cafés and restaurants provide moments of rest and connection. Bittersweet Café offers comforting, unfussy meals in a welcoming setting, while Trailhead Brewing Co. in nearby Confluence blends small-town conviviality with live music.
For a more immersive experience, TreeTops restaurant at Polymath Park delivers dining among the trees, adjacent to homes designed by Wright and his apprentice, Peter Berndtson. Elevated pods, lap blankets, and space heaters allow guests to linger outdoors even on crisp evenings.
As daylight fades, the forest becomes a silhouette and conversation slows. Later, stepping back into the night, the clear sky reveals constellations unobstructed by city light—a reminder of how quickly nature recalibrates perspective.
A Quiet Return to Nature
By the end of the weekend, the container home felt less like a novelty and more like a lens through which to experience the Laurel Highlands: intentional, grounded, and quietly restorative. Shipp’s Creek demonstrates how adaptive reuse, local craftsmanship, and sensitive siting can come together to create a place that encourages guests to slow down—and, inevitably, to plan a return.
Construction
