The High Desert Overlook: 5000 sqft 16-Container Home Anchored in Oregon’s Vast Landscape

Perched on more than 80 acres atop Warm Springs Butte, this striking Oregon retreat transforms sixteen repurposed cargo containers into a sophisticated 5,000-square-foot custom home. With soaring vaulted ceilings, 26 custom windows, refined interiors, and sweeping views across the Harney Basin, the residence offers a compelling blend of rugged landscape, modern design, and sustainable living.

Location

Project	The High Desert Overlook
Containers	16
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4
Area	5000 sqft
Price	$1,950,000 (2026)
Year	2012
Location	Oregon

In the high desert of Eastern Oregon, architecture can either compete with the landscape or become a quiet extension of it. At High Desert Overlook, a remarkable 80-acre property atop Warm Springs Butte takes the latter approach. Overlooking Crystal Crane Hot Springs and the expansive Harney Basin, the residence pairs the rugged character of Oregon's high desert with an unexpectedly sophisticated piece of container architecture.

A Small Home With a Big Horizon: $179,000 Shipping Container Retreat in Montana

Containers	1x 53ft
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
Area	400 sqft
Year	2025
Location	Montana

In central Montana, where the horizon can feel larger than the buildings that occupy it, a small home does not necessarily have to mean a small experience. At 42 Ruby Drive in Hobson, a fully furnished shipping container home demonstrates how 400 square feet can be organized around something more expansive than interior square footage: the landscape.

Shigeru Ban Breaks Ground on Shipping Container Resilience Center in Altadena, California

Shigeru Ban Architects has broken ground on a 1,600-square-foot Center for Community in Altadena, commissioned by Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) as part of Los Angeles’ long-term wildfire recovery strategy. Framed by a vaulted timber structure and supported by repurposed shipping containers, the project emphasizes speed, cost efficiency, and minimal waste. Designed to house mental health services, workshops, and neighborhood programming, the center is expected to be completed within two to three months at an estimated cost of $300,000.

A new community landmark is taking shape in Altadena. Designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, the forthcoming Center for Community has officially broken ground along Lincoln Avenue. The 1,600-square-foot facility is envisioned as a hub for healing, learning, and gathering in the wake of the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

Commissioned by the humanitarian organization Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), the project forms a central piece of the group’s long-term wildfire recovery initiative. Once completed, the center will host mental health services, educational workshops, and neighborhood programming—providing both practical support and a renewed sense of belonging for residents rebuilding their lives.

Teeny Tiny Haus - This 20-Foot Shipping Container Holds a Complete Home for Two, Stonewall, Texas

Location

Project	Teeny Tiny Haus
Designer and Builder	Backcountry Containers
Containers	1x 20ft HC
Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1
Year	2025
Location	Stonewall, Texas

Set in the Texas Hill Country, Backcountry Containers’ Teeny Tiny Haus transforms a single 20-foot shipping container into a refined retreat for two. With carefully placed windows, a compact kitchen, full bathroom, and an outdoor porch that extends the living space, the project shows how light, proportion, and thoughtful planning can make just 130 square feet feel calm, functional, and unexpectedly spacious. It’s a quiet example of how industrial materials can support warm, intentional living.

Shipp’s Creek - What It’s Like to Spend 48 Hours in a Laurel Highlands Shipping Container Home, Pennsylvania

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.

Wind River Patio Home - 2 Bedrooms 800 sqft H-Shape Shipping Container Home, Boulder, Wyoming

Floor Plan
Video
Location
About Pivot Structures - Designer and Builder

Project	Wind River Patio Home
Designer and Builder	Pivot Structures
Containers	3 containers
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1.5
Estimated property price	$439,500 (2025)
Area	800 sq ft (74 sqm)
Location	Boulder, Wyoming
Year	2023

Pivot Structures is redefining modern living with the Wind River Patio Home, an 800-square-foot modular residence designed for efficiency, durability, and low-maintenance comfort. Built with closed-cell foam insulation, LED lighting, and cove heating, this home balances sustainability with style. Inside, residents enjoy high-end finishes including quartz countertops, alder cabinetry, shiplap accents, luxury vinyl plank flooring, and premium appliances.

Asian-Inspired 4 Bedroom 4,000 sqft Shipping Container Home, Vancouver, Washington

Video
Location

Containers	11 containers
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3.5
Estimated property price	$1,242,000 (2025)
Area	4,000 sq ft (370 sqm)
Location	Vancouver, Washington
Year	2015

Near the Washington–Oregon border, one man’s bold vision has transformed an ordinary idea into a remarkable home. Located on S.E. 164th Avenue in Vancouver, WA, the residence is built from 11 multicolored shipping containers, assembled into a truly unique architectural statement.

“The owner built it himself, and everything is executed perfectly,” says listing agent Louise James. She explains that the owner—who works in the import and export industry—sketched out his concept after friends told him it couldn’t be done. “He put it on paper and said, ‘This is what I want.’ The result is an incredible masterpiece.”

Construction on the 4,000-square-foot home began in 2015 and wrapped up two years later. During the build, HGTV featured the project on the first season of “Container Homes.” The finished property includes four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, with design inspirations from around the world.

4 Bedrooms Shipping Container Home with Two-Story Atrium in the Middle of the Home, Waterloo, New York

How the Shipping Container Home Was Built
Location

Containers	4 containers (4x 40ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
Sold price	$335,000 (2025)
Area	1,760 sq ft (160 sqm)
Location	Waterloo, New York
Year	2020

This 1,760-square-foot residence rests on a five-acre parcel along Caroline Road in the Town of Waterloo, just a mile north of the New York State Thruway and within the Waterloo Central School District.

Completed in 2020, the one-of-a-kind home is built from shipping containers and features a dramatic two-story atrium at its center, a floating staircase, and a striking second-floor bridge. Its vivid blue exterior is complemented by floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, flooding the interior with natural light.

Eikonic Box - Shipping Container Airbnb Home in the Catskills, Smallwood, New York

Location

Project	Eikonic Box
Containers	3 containers (3x 40ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Location	Smallwood, New York

Step into a truly distinctive architectural hideaway—where striking “floating” container boxes frame sweeping views of the surrounding forest.

Break away from the everyday and enjoy the contemporary comforts of this stylish three-bedroom escape. Conceived with sustainability and imagination at its core, the Eikonic Box container home delivers an unforgettable stay for guests seeking both innovation and relaxation.

Isla Intersections - Modular Shipping Container Affordable Housing, Los Angeles, California

Location

Project	Isla Intersections
Architect	Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA)
Builder	Clifford Beers Housing
Area	35,000 sf
Units	54
Location	Los Angeles, California
Year	2024

In 2018, Los Angeles opened more than 1,700 of its city-owned parcels to affordable housing developers in a bid to address the housing crisis. Much like other infrastructural zones, this particular plot is ringed by high-traffic corridors, freeways, derelict industrial buildings, and a disused railway line—conditions that make it difficult to weave into the surrounding city and raise urgent questions about how to design livable, well-connected communities in such in-between settings.

Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) takes on these challenges with non-profit developer Clifford Beers Housing in a 35,000-square-foot (3,250-square-meter), 54-unit housing complex and accompanying pedestrian paseo known as Isla Intersection. The project, which won the Architizer Jury Prize in the Concepts + Prefab and Modular category, occupies a 19,814-square-foot (1,840-square-meter) triangular site and unfolds along Broadway Street as a procession of sixteen staggered volumes.

Camp Cargo - Artistic Retreat Constructed From Shipping Containers, Tennessee

Location

Project	Camp Cargo
Containers	9 containers (9x 40ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
Estimated property price	$560,000 (2025)
Area	1,600 sq ft (150 sqm)
Location	Sewanee, Tennessee
Year	2020

Welcome to Camp Cargo, a distinctive retreat set on five wooded acres in the mountains near Sewanee, Tennessee.

“As an agent, you usually rely on comparable sales to set a price—but when you find none, you know you’re looking at something truly special,” says Keith Killebrew of Parks Realty. “This property stands out because it’s built from nine full-size shipping containers sourced from around the globe. Designed to transport goods and stay watertight, they make an exceptional starting point for a home.”

The containers have been transformed into three separate residences:

• A two-bedroom main home called A’HO, inspired by a Navajo greeting.

• A one-bedroom guesthouse known as The Whale Song.

• A compact studio dubbed Hummingbird Hut.

Steelhaven - 3 Bedrooms 1000 sqft Shipping Container Home, Mancelona, Michigan

Building Process
Location

Project	Steelhaven
Containers	3 containers (3x 40ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Estimated property price	$580,000 (2025)
Area	1,000 sq ft (93 sqm)
Location	Mancelona, Michigan
Year	2022

A strikingly contemporary woodland retreat crafted entirely from shipping containers has come onto the market in Northern Michigan, offering a stylish and distinctive escape for $580,000.

Situated amid mature trees in the upscale Mancelona community of Lakes of the North, the compact residence includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a bright, open-concept living area designed to bring the outdoors in.

Completed in 2022 and named “Steelhaven,” the home was built using three 40-foot shipping containers. Two containers form the spacious main level, while the third sits above, containing two of the bedrooms.

Mountain Modern - Beautiful 2,400 sq ft Shipping Container Home, Lake Tahoe, California

The second floor of this beautiful shipping container home in Lake Tahoe, California, is built from pre-made modules, five 40 ft shipping containers.

About architect - Mountain Concepts
About builder - In-House Builders

Project	Mountain Modern
Architect	Mountain Concepts
Builder	In-House Builders
Manufacturer	Honomobo
Containers	Five 40 ft
Area	2,400 sq ft
Location	Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Photography	Tahoe Mountain Realty

Nestled among tall pines in the Mountainside at Northstar community, this striking steel-clad mountain retreat reimagines modern alpine living. Built from a series of repurposed shipping containers, the sleek corrugated-metal shell houses a custom residence set just steps from some of Tahoe’s most popular ski slopes.

Inside, warm cedar accents and bright white walls soften the industrial edge. The home features a polished chef’s kitchen, a private office, three bedrooms, and three bathrooms. A dramatic steel I-beam stretches across the spacious media room, adding architectural character, while expansive windows frame the breathtaking mountain views.

$250,000 800 sqft 3 Bedrooms Shipping Container Home, Port Charlotte, Florida

Floor Plans
Location

Containers	Two 40 ft, one 20 ft
Area	800 sqft
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
Cost	$250,000 (2025)
Location	Port Charlotte, Florida, United States
Year	2021

Zillow:

Simplistic living in a reliable and strong shipping container home at its finest! This solid metal structure comes equip with a metal roof and all impact windows and doors providing the ultimate hurricane proof protection that you're looking for in Florida. Completely energy efficient with spray insulated walls and ceilings and 3 mini split AC system. No HOA and no DEED restrictions + city water. The property features a detached bungalow (20 ft shipping container) with a kitchenette, bathroom and private entrance. The current owner (2025) uses it as a short-term rental where it rents out consistently.



The property backs up to a beautiful preserve that nobody can ever build on and since the property front faces east, you get a spectacular sunset view in the evening. This 20,000 square foot piece of property features approximately 7000 square feet of gravel parking area for ample space to bring your cars, boats, RVs and much more, graveled area includes two sunshade spots providing covered parking + a concrete driveway out front.

The kitchen features modern-style quartz countertops and soft close cabinetry. The master bathroom features a gorgeous river rock shower. The shipping container home has an open floorplan with a super cute and spacious living area. Home is outfitted with waterproof luxury vinyl flooring with a double water barrier.

Tons of solar light around the property creating a super Zen area to relax. Firepit included. Vinyl fence separates yourself from any neighbors providing pure privacy. The back permiter of the property is outfitted with 140 feet of rip rap that is designed to turn into a creek when it rains. Outdoor shower on the breezeway and enough space to extend the shipping container structure if you ever have ambitions to do so!

Blok Studio Container Resort - 1300 sqft 2 Bedrooms Shipping Container Home, Heated Pool and Spa, Joshua Tree, California

Location and Contact Info
Construction
Video
About Builder - Blok Studio

Project	Blok Studio Container Resort
Designer and Builder	Blok Studio
Containers	4
Area	1300 sqft Living Area + 1400 sqft Deck Area
Year	2024
Location	Joshua Tree, California, United States

Welcome to Blok Studio. This is a new, modern one-of-a-kind container home, which features (4) 40ft high cube shipping containers, DirecTV, large wrap around deck, 20' container heated pool plus hot tub!

Great place to unwind in the serene outdoor living areas, complete with breathtaking views of the Joshua Tree landscape. Property is located on the south side of the 62 Highway. Just 1 mile from the downtown area and four miles minutes to the West entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park.

You will have access to the surrounding area around the property. Includes a hot tub, heated container pool, outdoor furniture, propane fire pit, BBQ grill, sun chairs on the deck plus more!

Shipping Container Home on Narrow Lot - Conventionally-Built Main Level and Two 53’ Shipping Containers on Upper Level, Boulder, Colorado

Construction Process
Drawings
Location
About M. Gerwing Architects
About Gebau - Structural Engineer

Architect	Mark Gerwing, M. Gerwing Architects
Contractor	Owner
Structural Engineer	Gebau, Boulder
Interior Cabinetry	Laak Woodworks
Containers	Two 53 ft
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
Area	4000 sqft
Price	$3,250,000 (2020)
Location	Boulder, Colorado
Year	2020

This shipping container home on narrow lot in Boulder, Colorado, is one-of-a-kind inside and out—just like its former owners. Comprised of two shipping containers, reclaimed materials, and other handcrafted details, the rectilinear structure occupies a narrow lot at the base of Flagstaff Mountain. The homeowners and designers, Mark Gelband and Courtney Loveman, spent years battling zoning ordinances to build the home in a way that reflected their blended families and world view.

20 ft Off-Grid Shipping Container Home on Wheels, Hawaii

Video
About Alternative Living Spaces

Project	The Green Box
Builder	Alternative Living Spaces
Containers	One 20 ft
Location	The Big Island, Hawaii
Year	2024

Some of those who choose to downsize and move into a tiny house do so out of conviction, because they want to adopt minimalism and turn to more sustainable living practices to minimize their environmental footprint. Others are simply trying to survive and make ends meet in an era of lack of affordable housing solutions.

Brandie is one of those people who chose to live alternatively out of necessity. Her family has been living on the beautiful island of Hawaii for generations, and she wanted to be able to come back to her roots and live on the island whenever she felt like it. Unfortunately, with the exorbitant prices on the Hawaiian housing market, after selling her family's home in Hilo, she couldn't afford to build a new house or buy a pre-existing one.

However, she couldn't let herself be "priced out of paradise," so she decided to take a different approach to fulfilling her dream of homeownership on the Big Island. He bought a shipping container and turned it into a beautiful off-grid tiny home that offers her an affordable living option in Hawaii. It’s not her permanent residence, but it is equipped with all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay.

4 Bedrooms 4 Containers Shipping Container Home + Roof Terrace, Houston, Texas

Location

Containers	Four 40 ft
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
Area	1,280 sqft
Price	$414,600 (2024)
Location	Houston, Texas
Year	2019

This is a one-of-a-kind shipping container home. In addition to luxury modern exterior & interior finishes, this home boasts over 1,000 sf of deck and terrace living! Offers stunning panoramic views (including downtown) from the 3rd story roof terrace. Total inside living area is 1280 sf in downstairs and upstairs units. In addition there are 640 sf roof terrace and 500 sf of spacious decking complete with chairs/seating and outdoor ceiling fan/lighting.

Heating	Heat pump, Electric
Cooling	Central

Two Bedrooms Affordable Shipping Container Homes with Energy-Efficient Appliances, Evansville, Indiana

Video
Location
About Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE)

Initiative	Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE) and Department of Metropolitan Development
Bedrooms	2
Area	640 square foot
Containers	Two 40 ft
Location	Evansville, Indiana
Year	2024

The 640-square-foot shipping container homes − one at 1108 Cody St. and another at 1107 Cody St. − are fully furnished, with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a porch and small yard. The project, a joint effort with the Community Action Program of Evansville and the city's Department of Metropolitan Development, is part of a long-range feasibility study to see if this design works for the city.

CAPE CEO Gary Roan presented the homes during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in November 2024:

"It's always been my philosophy affordable housing doesn't mean sacrificing quality or having fewer amenities," he said. "To me it means providing the type of housing I would want to live in."

Roan said builders invested in energy-efficient appliances, solar energy and landscaping.

Shipping Container Lookout Tower, Epworth (Blue Ridge), Georgia, United States

Tour Video
Construction Process
Early Build Concept and Construction Video
Plans
Location
About Bill Seeber - Structural Engineer

Project	River Forest Lookout
Designer and Owner	Mark Derenthal
Structural Engineer	Bill Seeber
Containers	Two 20 ft
Location	Epworth (Blue Ridge), Georgia, United States
Year	2023

The River Forest Lookout is an interesting project that puts shipping container-based architecture on a pedestal – literally. The tiny retreat takes the form of a fire lookout tower-style design that consists of two containers raised 60 ft (18 m) above the forest floor in Whitfield County, Georgia.

The River Forest Lookout is situated on 14 acres (5.6 hectares) of rural land and was constructed by owner Mark Derenthal and his family. It was a painstaking job that involved transporting everything to the rural site and assembling the base and stairs, then craning the heavily modified shipping containers into position.

Visitors access the dwelling by staircase. One of the shipping containers serves as an open plan living area. This hosts a some chairs and a dining table, plus a basic kitchen with a mini-fridge, a two-burner propane-powered stove and a microwave. The bedroom area is adjacent and has a double bed. There's plenty of shelving and some storage nooks, and the container has floor-to-ceiling windows and a skylight to maximize natural light inside. The second container, meanwhile, is totally taken up by a spacious bathroom which features a walk-in shower, a flushing toilet, and a sink.

Elsewhere lies a small balcony area with a table and seating for two, plus a BBQ. There's also a rooftop terrace, which is reached by a spiral staircase and contains a fire pit and some more seating.

Naturally there isn't a power grid in such a remote location so the River Forest Lookout runs fully off-the-grid with a rooftop solar panel array. Water comes from a nearby well and it has propane-powered heating, plus a small wood-burning stove, to keep the chill at bay.