Yarrabee - Beautiful 150 m² Shipping Container Home, Tasmania, Australia

Plans
Construction
Video
Location
About Tassie Containers

Project	Yarrabee
Manufacturer	Tassie Containers
Containers	5
Area	150 m² (1,600 ft²)
Bedrooms	3
Year	2023
Budget	$230,000
Price	$1,350,000
Location	Tasmania, Australia

A pair of newlyweds are embracing an unconventional approach to home ownership by building their dream house out of shipping containers amid sky-high building costs and a challenging real estate market.

The Flowerpot couple tied the knot in November 2022 and wanted to see how far they could get building a home with a small budget and a bit of DIY.

They hope to inspire other young Tasmanians trying to break into the housing market.

“This was a good opportunity for us to have a beautiful home, in the location we want without the massive expenses that come with a traditional build,” owner Kiara Rolf said, “It’s been a pretty awesome journey and adventure to go on with your partner.”

Cocoa Research Station for Chocolate Manufacturing Company, Costa Rica

Video

Construction

About Containerwerk

Project	Research Station Costa Rica
Architect and Builder	Containerwerk
Client	Rausch Schokoladen GmbH
Containers	4
Installation Time	4 days
Year	2019
Location	Costa Rica

This beautiful cocoa research station in Costa Rica is made out of four 40-foot shipping containers, which were mechanically foamed and upgraded in Germany and insulated according to EnEV standards.

Two containers form the basis. Two further containers are placed crosswise to each other. The upper two containers contain sleeping and living units for up to eight people. Large glass elements are inserted at the ends of the containers, with a view over the rainforest and the cocoa plants. The entire upper floor is surrounded by a terrace made of regional wood.

On the ground floor, half of a shipping container is equipped as a bathroom and changing area for the workers on site. The other half contains the fully equipped laboratory where Rausch can conduct research. The second container on the ground floor becomes the lounge with a kitchen area and large dining table and a couch area. A meeting place for everyone. The two containers are about six meters apart. In this space a garage will be installed.

The cocoa estate lies in the middle of the jungle and within a biotope network. Since the Rausch GmbH in Costa Rica basically pursues an ecological concept, the construction of the estate from used shipping containers is an obvious option. Due to the high degree of prefabrication of the containers in Germany, there are hardly any construction emissions on site, such as noise, dust or aisles for construction site logistics. The impact on the original nature of the region is kept to a minimum and the building can be dismantled at any time without leaving any residue. In addition, the solution is completely self-sufficient. This means that the buildings do not have to be connected to any infrastructure. Electricity is produced by a solar system and the building network has a septic tank. In a second stage, a water treatment plant will be installed. This means that research can be carried out completely independently and in the middle of the rainforest.

Portable Cabin - Two Containers Year-Round Living Space / Remote Workplace and Two Containers Storage Space, Poland

Floor Plans / Drawings

About wiercinski-studio

Project	Portable Cabin
Architect	wiercinski-studio
Contractor	Modulo
Area	60 sqm
Containers	4 x 40 ft
Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1
Location	Poznan, Poland
Photography	ONI Studio
Year	2020

Portable Сabin is a year-round living space made of two adapted shipping containers above storage space, which is also made of two shipping containers. Owners are a couple of brave people who are familiar with temporary architecture and are interested in searching for interesting and difficult to adapt spaces. The implementation of a Portable Cabin as a remote workplace turned out to be a great response to the present times. The facility is currently located at the community garden next to the Szelagowski Park in Poznan, and in the future, it is to go to the forest and ultimately stand on the water. Containers were fully prepared in the production hall, while its transport and assembly on the plot took one day, and only the last internal finishing works remained on site.

The cabin was partially placed on the roof of previously standing containers, which serve as storage space for a garden. Due to the sloping terrain and views, the solid was shifted by half its length, creating a large terrace on one side facing the nearby river, and on the other side, it came closer to the plot, lowering the height needed to enter it. The cabin consists of two cargo shipping containers, 12 m x 2.5 m and 2.9 m high.

By arranging the function inside, which includes a living room with a kitchen, place to work, bedroom, and bathroom with bathtub, it was possible to obtain a total of 54 m2 of usable space and 24 m2 of space among greenery on the terrace. The walls of the portable cabin are insulated with spray foam and finished with birch plywood, which gives a unique atmosphere inside. By using appropriate materials, it was possible to obtain 2.6 m of internal height in the light and to hide the lintel created when connecting container frames.

The characteristic facade made of thick trapezoidal sheet metal was intentionally left to show the sincerity of the raw construction material. The walls are painted a dim green color which blends the object with the surroundings. In the living area overlooking the river, large balcony windows have been installed in the places where the metal gates were located. On the side elevations, windows have been placed in the middle of the wall height to leave as many interior arrangement options as possible.

Openings and windows are squares that stylistically fit perfectly into a simple shape and, depending on their function, combine into double and triple configurations. The facility is complemented by designed external steel stairs and a characteristic arched balustrade on the terrace. The furniture shown in the photos, i.e. a bench, a table and a chair with a round backrest, are also of our design.

The great advantage of this year-round living space and remote workplace is its mobility. In this case, the shipping container home ceases to be a property tied to a specific place, but it can change its location along with the changes accompanying the life of the owners.

Lovely Little 3x 20 ft Shipping Container Home, Lincoln, Nebraska

Video

Construction process

Location and contact info

Designers, builders and owners	Amera and Josh Nix
Area	480 sq ft
Containers	3 x 20 ft
Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1
Location	Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Year	2021

Amera and Josh Nix from Lincoln, Nebraska are designers, builders and owners of this lovely little 3x20ft shipping container home right in the middle of the city. The configuration of the shipping containers makes for a stunning look and a spacious interior. Inside is bright and never lacks space anywhere. The bedroom is up the steps and right off of that is the rooftop patio space. The tiny house is unique is all of its ways.

Shipping Container Restaurant with Inner Courtyard, Brazil

Floor plans / drawings

Location and contact info

About Bernardo Horta Arquiteto

Architecture	Bernardo Horta Arquiteto, Meius Arquitetura, Zargos Arquitetos
Collaborators	Debora Camargos, Joao Pedro Lacerda, Rodrigo Pereira
Area	78 sq m (840 sq ft)
Containers	Four 40 ft
Manufacturers	Cosentino, A3 Marmores, Espaco 670, JP Marcenaria, Oppa, Suvinil, Tenue Origamis, Torino Moveis planejados, iluminar
Photography	Henrique Queiroga
Location	Lagoa Santa, Brazil
Year	2016

Description by architects

The project is based on a simple line of reasoning: open the container for the public and thus invite them to enjoy the space. The colors and combinations complement each other: woods, metals, threads, light, black and red; complementary contradictory elements receive the individual. The main element is the wood that melts the environments creating a continuous space, where the interior and exterior are mixed, adding everything in a coherent way.

The kitchen, in red, superimposes the neutrality of the external colors, attracting attention beyond the space called social and coexistence. In the presumption of a visual impact, the individual is drawn to the base where the services take place: the heart of the restaurant. Finally, the urban art in the external canteen integrates the elements of the bar into the environment, providing all the miscegenation and spatial singularity of the project.

As every shipping container has its industrial air intrinsic to its shape and characteristics, our option was the most attractive for the local public.

Our inspiration was integration, which was achieved through a large opening (front facade to the inner courtyard), bringing the outside in. When we observed that all the environments projected by us would be complementary, we saw the need for this integration.

The main environment was treated in such a way that the wood of the floor covering is also the same for the internal chairs and for the lining (providing the connection). The bar, located in front of the container, will have the same language since we reuse its cutting can to make the wrapper. At the end of it all, we wanted to bring an environment that was a bit more vivid to the space, a place that is usually left in the background or treated as a service, the kitchen. This was painted with warm and strong colors, so that it was not just a common form, but a place of experience and curiosity (the kitchen will work serving the shipping container restaurant).

Casa P406 - 1200 sq ft Shipping Container Summer House, Chile

Floor plans / drawings

Construction process

About Orfali & Ehrenfeld

Project	Casa P406
Architecture	Orfali & Ehrenfeld - Ignacio Orfali, Felipe Ehrenfeld
Engineering	Francisco Ottone V
Collaborators	Joaquín Germain, Victoria Riquelme
Area	115 sq m (1200 sq ft)
Containers	Four 40 ft
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
Manufacturers	Arauco, Kitchencenter, Dap Ducasse, Ledstudio, Trimble Navigation, Servicontainer, Wasser
Photography	Gonzálo Carrasco A
Location	Quilimari, Chile
Year	2021

Description by architects

Located in Quilimarí, 25km from Los Vilos, a historic town in which cultural remnants dating back to the colony can be distinguished. The project consisted of the design and construction of a summer house located on the slopes of the "puntiagudo" hill, on irregular terrain and difficult to access site. These were main conditions along with the difficult logistics involved in finding labor for the construction of the project. To address it, we think of the modular shipping container structure, to be able to prefabricate the house in the workshop in order to limit the construction process on the ground. Four high cube shipping containers were used, due to their greater free height. Of these, 3 shipping containers were cut in half, joined by dismantling the side panels to form a single environment, with 70m² (750ft²) area. With them we build the lower floor, whose program is mainly intended for the public area of the shipping container home. We place a glazed façade looking for the view of the valley and the distant sea; Its predominantly south orientation left the house with little solar radiation, which is why we developed a continuous skylight adjoining the north wall, so as not to deprive the house of sunlight.

On the upper floor we install the remaining shipping container, which we use for the bedrooms. This space, when complete, extends beyond the first floor with a generous cantilever. To achieve a comfortable habitability, taking into account only 235 centimeters (7.7 feet) wide of the container, we had to remove one of its side panels to attach a V-shaped extension that added 150 centimeters (4.9 feet) to the width at its widest point. As a result of this expansion, as the skin of the container was lost, we installed an exo-structure lined with 2x2” impregnated pine in a proportion of 50%. This allows us, first, to shade and avoid overheating in the summer time, when the shipping container house is most often used, and second, to separate the second level formally and aesthetically from the lower floor – it is like a sculpture that needs a pedestal to enhance its value.

The interior coatings are common and simple: vitrified pine tongue-and-groove wood for the floor, and a white lead color was applied to the walls and ceiling. We think of the furniture in work, counter, bookcase and stairs as dual elements that help to build the interior spatiality while fulfilling their own function: they are sculptural objects that segment and limit the space in zones, but also decorate and fill by mere presence.

Under $100k Mortgage-Free Home? Two Stacked Shipping Containers, Washington

Video

Construction process

Location and contact info

Area	480 sq ft
Containers	One 20 ft and one 40 ft
Project cost	$80 000
Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1
Location	Kalama, Washington, United States
Year	2019

With the desire to have a mortgage-free home, Jaimie and Dave have chosen to build a shipping container home. They purchased a small piece of land and spent about $80k turning two metal boxes into beautiful and comfy living spaces. They have stacked a 20ft container on top of a 40ft shipping container, which creates a deck on the upper floor. The budget has been restricted as they have done most of the work by themselves.

This two-story shipping container home has a beautiful brownish exterior with a small roofed section that protects the starting part of the deck. The interiors are bright with a rustic touch of wood flooring and cabinets. There is a spacious lounge, kitchen, bathroom and pantry on the main floor while the bedroom lies upstairs. Another beautiful sight is the abundance of mini planters found everywhere on the shipping container home.

They have included features they would need the most. It is not a luxurious house per se, but a dream mortgage-free home for the couple. The most exciting thing about this build is that the couple has built it on their own, which would have definitely demanded a lot of hard work. The result is really appreciable.

Aside from constructing the shipping container home for under $100k, they have also landscaped the property and built a workshop. They also linked these two structures with a suspension bridge.

Bureau Agreste by Hugues Hernandez, Morgan Baufils and Ariane Marty

Drawings

Project	Bureau Agreste
Designers	Hugues Hernandez, Morgan Baufils and Ariane Marty
Containers	Four 40 ft
Year	2020

The possibilities for shipping container constructions are endless and French company specialized in container design, CAPSA Containers hosted a competition, ‘Design for Tomorrow’ that is focused on innovative and alternative shipping container construction solutions. The winning project is Bureau Agreste by Hugues Hernandez, Morgan Baufils and Ariane Marty.

Organized on 2 levels, the Bureau Agreste is structured around a common central space promoting exchanges in a bright and contemporary environment. Other more confidential spaces are also designed for holding meetings or appointments.

Several solar panels are installed on the roof of the office in containers as well as a rainwater harvesting system give the building its eco-responsible dimension. The use of selected materials in a short circuit continues to establish the responsible dimension carried by the project.

$950,000 2500 sq ft Shipping Container Home, Massachusetts

Interior

Location

Area	2500 sq ft (230 sq m)
Containers	Four 40 ft
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
Sold Price (2021)	$950,000
Location	West Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Year	2018

This stylish and dynamic 2500 sq ft shipping container home with 4 bedrooms/3 baths will provided guests with a spectacular woodland retreat. Located on the ground floor is a wonderful private in-law suite with it's own private kitchen, banquette/dining table, full bath with walk-in shower, smart TV, and full size day bed. The kitchen in this separate suite is equipped with a refrigerator, sink, full size electric range/oven, and full size dishwasher. Two large sliding doors let in a ton of natural light and can be used as a private entrance if needed.

Head up the spiral staircase to the main floor where you will discover the open concept living room, kitchen, and dining room. The well equipped kitchen has everything a guest may need including a 5 burner gas range/oven, microwave, standard drip coffee maker, coffee grinder, juicer and soda stream. The dinning room table seats 6+, and the living room has a comfy sectional sofa and a Smart TV for guests to stream their favorite shows (no cable channels).


The master suite has a queen size bed, walk-in closet, smart TV with sitting area, walk-in shower, and double sink vanity. One guest bedroom has a queen size bed and is attached to the shared bathroom with a walk-in shower and separate soaking tub overlooking the property. The 3rd bedroom has a full size bed and a dresser for guests to store their clothes. Also on the main floor, there is a separate office with a desk, 2 bookcases, and small bench perfect for a guest that may need to work from home.

Outside this beautiful 2500 sq ft shipping container home you will find 2 sun decks, a grill, Adirondack chairs, a dinging table with outdoor umbrella, and an orb chimney fire feature.

Extremely Comfortable Shipping Container Home in a Great Country Location, Ohio

Video

Location

Project	Woodside Container
Containers	6
Area	1600 sf
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2
Location	Millersburg, Ohio, United States
Year	2021

This beautiful 6 containers shipping container home in Ohio gets an amazing amount of sunlight from all the windows, very peaceful and quiet. Great country location allows you to escape from the chaos of the big city life. Modern and extremely comfortable 1,600 square foot shipping container home is a perfect place to stay in Amish country.

Master Bedroom - The master bedroom features a queen bed and is located on the top floor. It has closet space for storage. It also features a flat screen Roku TV with YoutubeTV along with a couch.

Bedroom #2 - The second bedroom features a full bed with a closet for storage.

Master Bathroom (Top Floor) - The master bath has a large vanity as well as a walk-in shower, toilet & storage for towels.

Bathroom #2 (Main Floor) - This bathroom features a relaxing soaker tub, vanity, and toilet.

Kitchen - The kitchen features fully equipped stainless steel appliances.

Living Room - The living room features two large couches & a coffee table. There is a large flat screen TV with Roku and YoutubeTV.

Dining Room - The dining area holds 4 chairs. It can be used as a formal dining area to enjoy dinner or a casual work space.

Top Floor Lounge Area - The space at the top of the spiral staircase has a couch and a DoubleSun Telescope to let you explore the universe.

Outdoor Areas - The back patio is likely one of the more popular hangout areas of the house. It features a large, four-burner grill. It also includes patio chairs & a table. It gives a great view of an open space known for deer sightings. The side patio features a table and chair for two. It's the perfect place in this beautiful shipping container home in Ohio to enjoy a morning cup of coffee. There is also a campfire area on the rear side of the house, for late evening smores!

DIY Modular Shipping Container Home Addition, Richmond, Virginia

3D Rendering

Construction Process

Location

Builder	Chris Raynore
Containers	2x45 ft
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Area	1,500 square foot
Year	2020
Sold for	$373,000 (2021)
Location	Richmond, Virginia, United States

This DIY modular home addition in Richmond, is Virginia's first shipping container home. The original small mid-century home, built in 1946, inspired by west coast and minimalist Scandinavian designs, has been stripped down to its shell and completely transformed.

The courtyard entry welcomes you to the warm tones of birch throughout the house. Amazing natural light flows through the skylights and oversized wall to wall, cornered, floor to ceiling commercial glass featuring solar shades. Enjoy this minimalist design with luxury Viking and Dacor appliances in a beautiful gloss slab kitchen with quartz counters, in-wall surround sound and projector in a huge living space, body spray shower in the master suite, heated floor bathroom in the shipping container home addition, wall hung Duravit toilets, tankless water heater for continuous heat and efficient, and mini split units. Custom floating stairs lead you up to a loft-like second floor in the DIY addition that includes another bedroom and a glass garage door to a covered patio. Huge windows give a panoramic view in this space. The backyard features a large patio and a deck with a hot tub, and a 200 sq ft finished studio.

Redondo Beach House - 2007 Design Excellence / Innovation AIA - Award Winner Shipping Container Home, California

Construction

Rendering

Location

About DeMaria Design

Project	Redondo Beach House
Design	DeMaria Design
Architect	Peter DeMaria
Containers	8
Area	3000 square feet
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3.5
Location	North Redondo, Redondo Beach, California
Year	2006
Awards	AIA 2007 Excellence in Design - Innovation Award
Cost	$125 a square foot

Description by architects

Like the work produced by the Master Builders of centuries past, this project is a direct result of the Architect’s re-insertion into the building design process and the method by which the project is constructed. This project is a Recycled Steel Shipping Container based building that also employs a combination of conventional stick frame construction and prefabricated assemblies. These materials result in an end product that is affordable and nearly indestructable. The modified shipping containers are mold proof, fire proof, termite proof, structurally superior to wood framing and along with various other “components” come together to create a system/kit of parts that is predicated on cost savings, construction timesavings, and energy/environmentally conscious priorities. Seventy percent of the building is efficiently created/assembled in a controlled shop environment where quality construction and fabrication are the highest priority. This project has been published and exhibited internationally and has given birth to a prefab shipping container based residential product line called Logical Homes.

 

Description by peerspace

The shipping containers are clearly visible from both the outside and the inside. The corrugated steel container walls have not been covered up with drywall.

In addition to the unique shipping container construction, two of the walls in the large two-story living room and kitchen combination are airplane hangar doors that open up flush to the roof. When these doors open, the living room feels as big as the entire back yard.

The backyard also has a 30-foot lap pool and spa.

The shipping container home is 3,000+ square feet with a subterranean 3 car garage, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bath, office, studio, gym, and living room kitchen combo on a 9,000 square foot lot. Interior design is very modern with stainless steel appliances, Hans Grohe faucets, concrete counters, concrete floors and original container floors.

Another plus is the accessibility. The back yard backs up to an extra-wide alley (2 lanes with sidewalks that deadends in a turnabout) that is perfectly suited to trucks of all sizes. Large parking lots and warehouses are available for use only a block away. The shipping container home is located in Redondo Beach, within 5 blocks of the 405 freeway.

3000 sq ft Shipping Container House, Phoenix, Arizona

Location

About Jorge Salcedo

About Braid Contracting

Designer and Builder	Jorge Salcedo, Braid Contracting
Project	Gold Container Home
Containers	4
Area	3,000 square foot
Cost	$610,000 (2018)
Year	2014
Location	Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Description by realtor, 2018

A home constructed of shipping containers is unlike anything the Phoenix housing market has seen. The structure, consisting of four shipping containers, is a fascinating riff on the region’s shipping container craze, which includes The Churchill, a small-business incubator downtown built from containers.

The homeowner, who’s also an engineer, built this three-bedroom, four-bath passion project at the urging of his two children and lived in it briefly. It’s now listed with Shara Terry of Berkshire Hathaway for $610,000.

“He wants to take this concept and see where it can go, perhaps build more,” says Terry.

For those leery about waking up in what might feel like a steel cage, listen up: “When you’re inside the home, it’s seamless, especially upstairs,” Terry says. “It’s a hybrid. You’ve got two shipping containers on the east and two on the west, with traditional framing in the center.”

Taking a year to build, the 3,000-square-foot property has a dazzling interior that bears little resemblance to the cold metal of a container. Catering to eco-minded buyers, the four-car garage features a car charger and is wired for a workshop. Aluminum radiant barrier material aims to combat Arizona’s harsh sun from heating up the home’s interior.

South Mountain, where the home is located, is a booming area of Phoenix and named for the nearby mountain.

“Every window you look out of captures [a view],” says Terry. “If you’re washing the dishes, for example, you can see the East Valley.”

And the neighborhood is on the rise, and appealing to a savvy investor looking for a different type of dwelling.

“South Mountain has rewoken up,” says Terry. “It was quite the craze back in the day, until everything kind of halted when the market crashed.”

In 2020, the Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway)—a 22-mile extension of the 202 freeway—will be complete, connecting with Interstate 10 and the West Valley. And the new Valley Metro Baseline light-rail line is a mile north.

Because this area is close to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Terry thinks a new owner might use it as a “crash pad” for airline pilots and flight attendants. It could also be used for a corporation’s social events, given its eye-catching design. Whatever the use, we’re sure it’s a place that will always remain cool in the desert.

1300 sqft 3 Bedroom Shipping Container Home, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Video

Floor Plans

Location

About Paragon Designs

Architect and Builder	Paragon Designs
Containers	1x25ft, 4x40ft
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Area	1300 sq ft
Year	2021
Cost	$280,000
Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota

Description by Zillow

Own a jaw dropping, one of a kind piece of art in the Jordan neighborhood. This is the first shipping container house in Minneapolis and Paragon Designs was the mastermind behind the artful design and its construction. The shipping container house sitting high on a corner lot will stop anyone in their tracks and have them begging to see inside. Within those metal walls, you'll see a shipping container home filled with light and unique features that highlight earthly elements: rock - tile and counters, wood - custom staircase and kitchen counters and metal - exposed walls of the shipping container. The builder had thoughtfully designed the doors of the shipping containers to be support of the entrances and upper level decks for an outdoor enjoyment. Beyond the true beauty of this home, it's owner will appreciate the fact that it is zero energy ready. This show stopper is available to the right buyer that qualifies for the Minneapolis Homes Program.

2021

1000 sqft Shipping Container Home, Seattle, Washington

The exterior retains its shipping container industrial look; exterior doors open to reveal classic French doors

Location

Containers	Six 20ft
Area	1000 sqft
Bedrooms	1
Year	2017
Location	Delridge, Seattle, Washington
Photography	Alex Crook

Description by seattlemag

When Julianna Carlson left her parents’ Delridge home for college in Santa Barbara, she never expected to tire of the eternal California sunshine. But the longtime Pacific Northwesterner couldn’t stay away—she graduated in 2015 and returned. She’s now settled on a plot of land she purchased just down the street from the house she grew up in.

Although the neighborhood is familiar, her home is completely novel. Disappointed by homes available in her price range, Carlson decided to do something different: The political science major, with no architectural experience, sketched out her own home made from used shipping containers.

Carlson purchased six 20-foot shipping containers from DryBox, a Chehalis company that provides shipping containers with custom modifications. The containers were trucked in and stacked in two days during the spring of 2017. Window holes were pre-cut based on Carlson’s specs, but the interior build-out—drywall for exterior-facing walls, plumbing, installing electrical—took almost a year, largely because obtaining proper permits wasn’t an easy process, she says. The city didn’t really know how to handle a container home.

On their exteriors, Carlson intentionally left the shipping containers—four on bottom, two stacked on top—largely untouched. But inside, she went with a cozy nautical theme: The handrail to the master bedroom upstairs is reminiscent of those on a ferry; tiny painted cargo boats are stenciled onto an accent wall downstairs; and a porthole in the master bedroom’s walk-in closet gives the feeling of being in a ship’s hull.

“I really wanted the interior space to feel bigger than it was,” Carlson says of maximizing her 1,000 square feet. “We’re a boat family—my parents used to commercial fish. I firmly believe that boats have it figured out when it comes to putting as much as possible in a small space.” To do that in her home, she relies largely on portable furniture—like a wheeled slab coffee table she made—that can be pushed aside when she and boyfriend Kris Wilson are entertaining. There’s also a 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio, which doubles the livable space (as weather allows).

Now 25, Carlson likely won’t live here forever. But she says she’s designed her home in a way that will allow for another container to be added to provide more space later. After all, she figures she only spent 70 percent of what it would have cost her to buy a comparable existing home. “I’ve really fallen in love with shipping containers, more than I ever thought possible,” she says.

Quik House - 4000 sqft 4 Bedroom Shipping Container Home, New Jersey

Interiors

4 Bedroom Shipping Container Home Plans

Video

Time Lapse of the Construction Process

Location

About Adam Kalkin

About Industrial Zombie

Project	Quik House
Architect	Adam Kalkin
Containers	9x 40ft HC
Area	4,000 square foot
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3.5
Year Built	2008
Year Remodeled	2013
Sold Price	$867,000 (April 2021)
Location	Califon, New Jersey, USA

Nestled on a cul-de-sac at the end of a private road in charming Califon, NJ, this 4,000 square foot, 3.1 baths, 4 bedrooms shipping container home sits on just over 3 acres, about one third of which is forest.

After winding through the beautiful pastoral roads of Hunterdon County, just an hour from New York City’s Holland Tunnel, you arrive at a custom-designed checkerboard steel gate that opens to the curved driveway of this one-of-kind modern home designed by renowned architect, Adam Kalkin.

Through innovative design and the upcyling of industrial materials, this unique home with upscale amenities throughout is an architectural wonder. Constructed in 2008, it is comprised of several steel shipping containers welded together with CorTen steel beams. Kalkin created two separate, yet linked, two-story wings, that boast an open floor plan and flexible design.  

Complementing the steel are glass sliders throughout, which serve to bring the outside in, and shine light on the copious wood flooring, doors and accents. The commercial and industrial grade materials used throughout are complemented by state-of-the-art radiant heat, high-velocity central air, recessed lighting, abundant storage, built-in shelving, and top of the line appliances and finishes.

The architect’s unique vision is outlined in a book titled “Quik Build: Adam Kalkin’s ABC of Container Architecture” by Alistair Gordon.  

This 4000 sqft shipping container home has been featured in DWELL, CNN, Vogue, among other publications. It has also received international recognition, including an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in NYC.  

Arriving at the front of the house you are welcomed by an oversized Neoporte pivoting stainless steel door at the center of a custom designed glass and stainless steel breezeway, that seamlessly connects the two wings. The breezeway provides a temperature controlled interior connection that serves to unify the home’s aesthetic.

WEST WING

The West wing’s first floor is quintessential modern industrial design. It boasts exposed CorTen Steel beams, concrete floors and an open kitchen with a 12-foot long stainless island.  The island contains a Miele dishwasher, Viking range and sports custom wooden cabinets where one can prepare dinner while taking in the spacious lawn and private courtyard.  

Economic and Minimalist Solutions in Self-Sufficient and Movable Shipping Container Hotel, Czech Republic

Floor Plans / Drawings

About Artikul Architects

Project	ContainHotel (Hotel Trainspotting)
Architects	Artikul Architects
Containers	2x20ft, 1x40ft HC
Year	2015
Location	Treboutice near Litomerice, Czech Republic
Photography	Michal Hurych

Description by Artikul Architects

For a brave investor, we designed a small mobile hotel from used shipping containers. Its first location fell on a surf camp between the Elbe and a busy railway line - that's why we named it Hotel Trainspotting for the time being.

The building consists of two twenty-foot containers and a high forty-foot container transversely placed on them. In the lower containers there is a bathroom, technical facilities, storage and one guest room. There are four rooms in the upper container with a terrace. The whole hotel is designed as a demountable, maximally self-sufficient and environmentally friendly.

Two-story 2000 sqft Shipping Container Home, Arizona

The project showcases how repurposed shipping containers can become a modern, eco-conscious residence. With a smart design that emphasizes natural ventilation, solar energy, and recycled materials, the house balances environmental responsibility with comfort. Its open atrium, rooftop decks, and strong indoor-outdoor connection create a spacious and dynamic living environment.

3D Rendering

Construction

About Marie Jones

About Ecosa Institute

Project	Flagstaff Container House
Design	Ecosa Institute
Architects	Tony Brown, Tom Hahn
Designer	Marie Jones
Builder	Dan Miller
Containers	6
Area	2,000 sq ft
Bedrooms	2
Year	2011
Location	Southside Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

This 2,000 sq ft shipping container home, the first shipping container home in Arizona, is made from six recycled shipping containers. Located in historic Southside Flagstaff, it is a two-story dwelling with a spacious atrium living-dining room, two baths, two bedrooms, two studio/offices, plant solarium, galley kitchen, and five decks with views of the San Francisco Peaks and the lively street life of this outdoor-loving and friendly university town.

Comfortable in wintertime, with passive solar and in-floor radiant heating, and in summertime, with natural mountain breezes, the shipping container house collects solar electric power and harvests rainwater and snowmelt. The insulation is biofoam, recycled denim, and exterior ceramic coating. Aluminum dual-pane aluminum windows and translucent insulated fiberglass fill the house with natural light.

The recipient of a Coconino County Sustainability Award, the shipping container home was designed by communication designer Marie Jones and architects Tony Brown and Tom Hahn of Ecosa Institute, and was built by Dan Miller. Construction was completed in 2011.

Description by Ecosa Institute

This project features recycled ocean-going shipping containers as the main structure; but the home will also include a whole host of other environmental and energy-efficient design ideas and materials. The home is though to be the first shipping-container-based house in Flagstaff, and one of the first multi-story container projects in Arizona.

The containers have been pre-fabricated in Phoenix and trucked to the northern Arizona site for their placement into the project.  With the containers placed and connected together, the home will be completed on-site under the direction of the owners.  The project is planned to be ready to be occupied in late 2010.

This project uses five 40-foot long "high-cube" containers for the main house, in a criss-cross plan that rises into an open, dayligh filled, two-story high atrium space.  This atrium will have operable windows to allow for natural "stack" ventilation, and will be capped off with a pitched roof angled for best performance with solar-electric photovoltaic panels. Across a raised deck from the main house, a detached 20-foor long, standard height container will house an artist studio. The entire project has been designed for rainwater and snowmelt harvesting by Barnabus Kane of TBK Associates in Prescott, Arizona, and the site will also be finished with a permaculture based, minimal water use, native landscaping.

The exterior of the containers will retain their robust steel exterior, and be refurbished and repainted with a super-insulating ceramic based paint, in forest and sunset colors. A "floating" steel interior stair, as well as the entry porch, will be suspended on steel rods from the containers above, accessing the second floor bedrooms and roof decks made from portions of an additional container. Super-insulated windows with recycled content frames will be set back in recycled steel "shade boxes" that will keep the sun and snow at bay.  The project will also include soy=based spray-foam insulation, radiant floor heating, soy-stained concrete floors, photovoltaic panels, recycled metal structure and roofing, translucent super-insulating glazing, graywater recovery, low-water use fixtures and appliances, recycled content and non-toxic finishes and energy efficient lighting.  site fencing and other landscape features will be made from portions of the containers that were cut away in fabrication.

This shipping container home in Arizona has been accepted by the new Coconino County Sustainable Building Program, and will aim to achieve an "Advanced" rating under the program upon completion.

4x 45 ft Shipping Container Home with Metal Siding, Northern Ireland

Set along the Grillagh River near Drumnlaph Woodland, this award-winning home redefines rural living in Northern Ireland. Built from four 45-foot shipping containers, its striking design combines dark grey expanded metal and Corten steel for a stunning visual contrast. Thoughtfully oriented to embrace its natural surroundings, expansive sliding doors connect the interior to an outdoor patio with a charming chimney. This unique home seamlessly blends contemporary architecture with rural charm, offering a functional and breath-taking family retreat.

Floor plans, Drawings
About Patrick Bradley Architects

Project	Grillagh Water House
Architects	Patrick Bradley Architects
Containers	4x45 ft
Area	115 m² (1240 ft²)
Bedrooms	3
Year	2014
Location	Northern Ireland
Photos	Aidan Monaghan Photography
Technical Architect	AD Group
Structural Engineering	Joe Young Engineering
Construction company	Thornton Roofing

Located on the banks of the Grillagh River - for residents known as Pixies Paradise - the young architect Patrick Bradley designed his shipping container house, set in the countryside in Northern Ireland next to the historic and picturesque Drumlamph Woodland, which is what remains of the "Great Killetra Forest", which would have once covered the whole of Northern Ireland.

Unlike any other house that has ever been designed and built within Northern Ireland, this house takes a completely new approach to rural Irish countryside architecture. With the concept of enhancing agricultural buildings spread across the countryside, the house is a refreshing approach to contemporary 21st century Irish architecture.

3 Bedroom Tropical Shipping Container Home, Indonesia

Floor plans / Drawings

About Atelier Riri

Architect	Atelier Riri
Area	155 m² (1670 ft²)
Containers	4
Bedrooms	3
Year	2014
Location	Jatiasih, Indonesia
Photographs	Teddy Yunantha
Architect In Charge	Arga Putra Rachman
Project Director	Novriansyah Yakub
Construction company	ASKALA Indonesia

Description by the project team. 

Atelier Riri was challenged to design a 3 bedroom shipping container home using reused containers, in an area of ​​150 sqm.

The tropical shipping container home is located in Bekasi, a suburb near the big city of Jakarta. Where there are homes for young couples with 2 children. In addition to the basic necessities, and bringing the family together in a living space, the owners also wanted to add a hobby room as an activity area for the children and their parents.

The 3 bedroom shipping container home consists of 4 overlapping and crisscrossing installed shipping containers. These containers serve secondary needs, such as the hobby room, especially since space is limited and thermal comfort is still below average, although several additional layers have actually been added to the ceiling to lower the interior temperature. This includes the installation of a metal mesh for plant propagation and glass wool insulation over the pine wood.

The movement of people inside the tropical shipping container home, is continuous, exploring each space that could be more entertaining for the occupants. Stairs and ramps reach each floor and the part of the house that is divided by a large void in its center. We also made additional space by using a wooden deck on the top. This space can be used to gather the family while enjoying the fresh air in the morning or midday.

To continue the spirit of recycling materials, all the wood in the project is used pine. The metal plates are arranged to form a connection between the container frame and the door. We also focus on reducing materials, such as floors, made of polished concrete, unfinished wood furniture, and brick wall that was only painted to reduce the use of cement.

The roof garden is also used as an extended space from the containers.

We strongly believe that this 3 bedroom shipping container home will give a new definition to contemporary tropical Indonesian homes.