30 Container Homes from around the World
Welcome to The 30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes ever Built !
It is made available for free as an electronic download and we are planning a small run of printed copies that will be available for $19.95 + shipping . If you are interested in purchasing a printed copy please contact us at admin@containerhome.info and ask us to reserve your copy. Why create such a resource? As ISBU based construction techniques continue to gain momentum around the World and edge their way into more mainstream awareness we felt it was important to showcase and celebrate some of the projects that have been competed over the past 10 years that have had a profound impact and influence on this stream of Architecture and Design. As the market continues to grow and expand we are starting to see new businesses and young Designers enter the market bringing with them new ideas and enthusiasm, reinvigorating the Shipping Container Home concept more than 20 years after its foundation. It’s fitting therefore that this new generation have a resource that showcases the work of some of the early leaders and risk takers, the owners and builders and designers that broke the ground and influenced literally 1000’s to “think inside the box” as well as some of the more recent high profile projects. As the World’s leading resource on the “How To” of Constructing Container Homes, we are in the unique position of being able to not only bring together this material, but also to promote it to the widest possible Global audience. I felt that creating this book would make an appropriate and valuable additional resource for our readers, complementing our ever expanding training materials and software. If you have any questions about this book email us at admin@containerhome.info Regards Victor Wallace www.containerhome.info
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
This resource has been designed to showcase and celebrate the momentum of the ISO Shipping Container Home Movement around the World.
In our Members Area we have the following Owner Builder resources: 1, Additional Container Construction Projects like the 30 showcased here. 2, 15 Video’s that discuss the fundamentals of How to Build a Container Home. - This free video on stacking and modification is a good example of what to expect. Video 13 of 15 – Stacking and Modification Video.
3, Over 10,000 pages of valuable 3rd party resources on the subject of Container and Self Building 4, A free copy of our 3D ContainerHome Design Software .
All of this is just $47 for lifetime Membership. Check out the Membership Offer Here.
If you have any questions please drop us an email at admin@containerhome.info Regards Victor www.containerhome.info
Container Construction Project s around the World
If you enjoy this free e-book showcasing the 30 Most Influential Container Homes ever Built then you are going to love our exclusive Members Only Area.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
Los Angles, California USA
Architect / Designer
Peter De Maria – De Maria Design Ass.
Year Completed
2006
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
There are some that might argue it’s design merits, but that is not what this list is about. This list is dedicated to the 30 Projects that have most influenced the Container Home market, moving container based construction closer towards mainstream acceptance and in that respect this project simply has no peers. Completed in 2006 in notoriously difficult to permit Redondo Beach California this was not the first container home built in the US by any stretch but it was the first container home to gain mainstream awareness and acceptance by the majority that saw it. De Maria’s professional approach to issues like the building approval process showed many of the old guard of the alternative housing movement that historical issues associated with Container Homes like gaining permitting approval where often created as much by the attitudes of the applicants as by the approval authorities themselves.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
It would be impossible to create a showcase of the 30 Most Influential Container Homes of the last decade and not have the Redondo Beach House by Peter De Maria at the Top of that list.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
New Jersey, United States
Architect / Designer
Adam Kalkin
Year Completed
2008
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Adam Kalkin has designed and built a number of high profile container homes that have caught the imagination of Architects, Designers and Owner Builders around the World. My favorite of Adam’s projects is the project referred to as the “Quick House Project” We reference several more of Adam Kalkin’s work in the Members Area portfolio.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
If Peter De Maria has any serious competition for the Title of Most Influential Container Home Designer of the last decade it could only come from one man – the larger than life designer and Architect Adam Kalkin.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Boucher Grygier
Country
East Bay, California United States
Architect / Designer
Leger Wanaselja
Year Completed
2007
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
I think this is because the Houses are very loosely similar from outward appearances and both where under construction at almost exactly the same time, as such they both got swept up together in the online press.
The Leger Wanaselja designed home is an airy yet compact 1350 square foot comprising three bedrooms the main feature of note is the use of insulated containers into the design. Two forty-foot containers are stacked on one side and a third is cut in half and stacked on the other creating protective walls for a two story atrium living room in the middle. Bedrooms in the upper containers where given added width with bay windows. A stair and a bridge through the atrium connect the two upper containers to the space below.
The house was also designed to minimize energy use through passive solar design. Deep eaves minimize summer solar gain, while allowing winter solar heating. Well placed windows supply excellent daylighting and summer ventilation. Additional energy and water saving features such as stacked plumbing, roof rainwater collection, high efficacy lighting, and solatubes further reduce ecological impacts.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Photographs of Jan Grygier’s Container House are sometimes incorrectly labeled as Peter De Maria’s Redondo Beach Home – featured as Project 1.
Shipping Container Home(s)
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
Atlanta, Georgia USA
Architect / Designer
Francis Kirkpatrick / George Runkle
Year Completed
2006 / 2010 – Two Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Owner/Builder: g a d design + construction Architect: Francis Kirkpatrick Structural Engineer: George W. Runkle, P.E., Runkle Consulting, Inc.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
There can be few better testimonials to customer satisfaction than completing a Container Home and then going ahead and retaining the same Design and Engineering team to build a almost identical home right next door.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
France
Architect / Designer
CG Architects
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
There was significant discussion online about whether or not this stunning home was really built using Shipping Containers or was simply a modular home. The Cross Box uses 4 x 40 ft HC containers in a complex cross stacked configuration. For those seeking inspiration from these projects please take note that significant ( and expensive ) engineering and modification is required to do this safely. Its not just a case of dropping the containers down like Lego blocks. For those interested in off axis stacking we have a free video tutorial you can watch online. This type of project although visually stunning is best considered “statement architecture” rather than affordable housing.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
The French Design Team behind Project 5, CG Architects caused quite a stir in 2010 when the launched the “Cross Box”
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Keith Dewey
Country
British Columia, Canada
Architect / Designer
Self Designed Zigloo – Keith Dewey
Year Completed
2006
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
Santiago Chile
Architect / Designer
Ruben Rivera Peede
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
25 Container Home Construction Project s
An often quoted benefit of Container based construction is the ability to easily move the house at a later date, however there are in reality few houses ( even in this line up ) that could be relocated practically, this house is as close as it gets to relocation capability and remain a “real� house. Designed and constructed by Proyecto ARQtainer and Architect Ruben Rivera Peede the design brief was to design and construct a house quickly, that was earthquake resistant, at low cost and be to be no more than 115m2 in size.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Constructed from five repurposed containers the Liray House in Santiago Chile makes the cut of our Top 30 because it is one of the very few houses that can truly claim the potential for easy relocation.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Katie Nichols and John Walker
Country
Houston Texas, United States
Architect / Designer
Numen Development
Year Completed
2009
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Some of the “green elements� include SIPs incorporated in roof and floors, on-demand hot water heater a high efficiency AC system and energy recovery ventilation system. Bamboo flooring and low-VOC paints and the use of fiberboard products.
Energy efficient appliances Includes dual-flush toilets and efficient plumbing/fixtures In addition, the most expensive elements of the home, the structural elements and mechanical core, were partially prefabricated in a shop for efficiency. Overall the house is a fascinating display of containers, SIPs, energy efficiency, and green materials.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Numen Development created this three bedroom, three bathroom1860 sqft house in Houston Texas as an exercise in high efficiency building.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Gabriela Calvo & Marco Peralta
Country
Costa Rica
Architect / Designer
Benjamin Garcia Saxe
Year Completed
2011
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Specifically:
1, The reuse and repurposing of 2nd hand materials. 2, The creation of affordable housing solutions. A number of high profile container construction builds over the last 2-3 years have caused many early leaders in this space grave concern that we are simply heading down a path of repeating the mistakes of the past. Several designers have been creating huge low density homes, some have even resorted to “getting around� the restrictions of standardized containers by having brand new custom made over sized containers made in China for their projects !
Gabriela Calvo and Marco Peralta have built this wonderful container home on their property outside of San Jose Costa Rica. By utilizing recycled shipping containers and doing some of the work themselves, they were able to keep the ultimate cost of the home down to an extremely affordable level. The house consists of two 40′ containers installed on pier foundations, slightly set apart to create a wider cross section, larger window sections and great views of both the east and the west.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
In my opinion this wonderful example of a Shipping Container Home deserves inclusion in this showcase because it heralds a return to the core principals of the Container Home movement, something I think some new designers have forgotten.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
Costa Rica
Architect / Designer
Bamboo Grove
Year Completed
2009
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Erwin Schuster started Bamboo Groove in 2005.
Container Homes of the World - Costa Rica
Bamboo Groove Housing is a Costa Rican based design & construction company, developing sustainable affordable houses with the use of plantation bamboo and the re-use of insulated shipping containers.
Shipping Container Home Studio
Owners
Andrea Shapiro
Country
Amagansett, New York USA
Architect / Designer
Maziar Behrooz
Year Completed
2009
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
The containers were placed on top of 9' foundation walls, and most of the steel flooring was removed to open up and provide access to the lower level. With the stairs connecting both levels, the studio ended up with expansive 18' floor to ceiling walls and abundant natural lighting. Shapiro now has about 850 square feet and plenty of wall space to hang future pieces.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shapiro's project is built with two 9'6" x 40' x 8' shipping containers — obtained for $2,500 each (including delivery)
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Anand Bungalows
Country
Malaysia
Architect / Designer
Ken Kwok
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
Shipping Container Home / Shop
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
Krabi - Thailand
Architect / Designer 2010
Container Homes of the World – Thailand
Year Completed
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Todd and Gae Hoffman
Country
Lexington Kentucky, United States
Architect / Designer
Tom Cheek
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Click here to Watch Video 2 of 15
Louisville Container Homes of the World – Video Tutorials
Video 2 in our series of 15 “How to Build a Container Home” Video Tutorials looks at How a Shipping Container is manufactured – Vital information if you want to re-engineer them.
Shipping Container Homes
Owners
Steve Ross
Country
New Zealand
Architect / Designer
Self Designed – Steve Ross
Year Completed
2008
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home Extension
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
Nantes, France
Architect / Designer
Christophe Nogry
Year Completed
2009
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Christophe Nogry’s house extension in the suburb of Nantes Framce was constructed using one 40-foot and one 20-foot shipping containers. Due to the narrowness of the site, shipping container was a perfect solution for the addition. To cope with shipping container proportion, a storage wall system was designed for one side while the connecting bridge enlarge the living areas makes it a more comfortable living area. The second floor contains a new master bedroom with en-suite bathroom.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Simple yet beautiful.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Bernard Morin and Joyce Labelle
Country
St. Adele, Quebec
Architect / Designer
Maison IDEKIT
Year Completed
2009
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
DEKIT’s first home is 3,000 square feet with four-bedrooms. It cost about $175,000 to build and turns container design on its head. Rather than feature the exposed containers on the exterior, the containers are exposed on the inside — you can even see serial numbers, dents, and corrugated detail in several places throughout the home. On the outside, the home has five inches of insulation that is topped by brown wood siding. You can see more in these videos:
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Using seven recycled shipping containers, architect Bernard Morin and wife Joyce Labelle built this contemporary residence in St. Adele, Quebec. The home is the first of many to come for their new company, Maison Idekit, which will help homeowners turn containers into architecturally unique, and inexpensive, homes. The company has two more residential projects set to break ground in the next couple months using a total of twelve container modules.
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Tim Palen
Country
Joshua Tree, California
Architect / Designer
EcoTech Design
Year Completed
2011
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home
Owners
8747 House
Country
Arkansas United States
Architect / Designer
theworkshop 308
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Debbie Glassberg
Country
Kansas City Missouri USA
Architect / Designer
Home Contained
Year Completed
2011
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
CuracavĂ, Chile
Architect / Designer
James and Mau
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
New South Wales, Australia
Architect / Designer
AAD Build Homes
Year Completed
2010
Container Homes of the World – Thailand
Project Type
Container Homes of the World – Thailand
Container Homes of the World – New Zealand
Container Homes of the World – France
Click here to Watch Video 3 of 15
Louisville Container Homes of the World – Video Tutorials
Video 3 in our series of 15 “How to Build a Container Home” Video Tutorials looks at Purchasing Second Hand Containers. What to look for and what to look out for !
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Paul Stankey
Country
Untied States
Architect / Designer
Paul Stankey – Self Designed
Year Completed
2006
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Home
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
France
Architect / Designer
D3 Architects.
Year Completed
2006
Container Homes of the World – Thailand
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Shipping Container Studio
Owners
Undisclosed
Country
Made in China
Architect / Designer
Meka
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
The reason this studio from Meka Homes is included in this list not because of the design team because of the genius of the Meka Marketing Team. Not since Peter De Maria Redondo Beach House was launched back in 2006 has a Container Home had so much press and publicity and interest from those outside the movement. The reason behind all that press ? A large part at least was the location West Village - New York City. The downside of the Meka Project for me was that the business model of Meka Homes is to manufacture in China and import completed homes into the US something I don’t support - the only benefit is some cost savings at the expense of local businesses and the environment. These great designs could easily be executed locally and still be affordable.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
An honest review of this Container Home Studio would need to say that there wasn’t anything outstanding about it that would entitle it to a position in the 30 Most Influential Container Homes Ever Built.
Shipping Container Cabins
Owners
Cove Park
Country
Peaton Hill, Scotland
Architect / Designer
Urban Space Management
Year Completed
2002
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
In order to blend into the beautiful rural the exterior was painted dark green and a green roof was constructed to grow out of the landscape due to the slope of the terrain, sliding glass doors lead out onto the decked balcony. Each units is constructed from 2 - 8’ x 20’ containers providing kitchen, sitting, bedroom and bathroom (with shower) spaces. The 960 sqft green roof was planted This project deserves inclusion in this book for the simple fact that in 2002 there where just a handful of people building with containers most projects where private and tucked away, this was a very public and high profile project at the time. Due to the success of the first three units, six more were commissioned and completed in 2006.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
In 2002, the team that would eventually go on to create the famous Container City project USM Ltd created three en-suite accommodation units to act as artist retreats at Peaton Hill, Scotland.
Click here to Watch Video 4 of 15
Louisville Container Homes of the World – Video Tutorials
Video 4 in our series of 15 “How to Build a Container Home” Video Tutorials looks the 10 biggest mistakes people make when building a Container Home.
Shipping Container Cabin
Owners
Lieutenant Colonel Chandimal Peiris
Country
Sri Lanka
Architect / Designer
Damith Premathilake
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
The cabin was constructed in about a month without skilled construction labor under the architect’s instruction. The Architect considered all the natural and man made elements already available in the setting and advised the owner to find the reclaimed material to be used in the project. Materials used included timber strips from old bunkers and weapon boxes, and used railway sleepers. The overall intent of the designer was to create a relaxing and enjoyable space by using already available resources and the surrounding environment. Principal Architect: Damith Prematikake Associate: Anil Arumpura Photography by Logan MacDougall Pope. The total Project area: 700 SQFT Client: Lieutenant Colonel Chandimal Peiris
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
This Shipping Container Holiday Cabin located on an Special Forces army training base in Sri Lanka was built entirely from reclaimed materials. It is surrounded by jungle and sits on the shore of a beautiful lake with views to the mountains beyond.
Shipping Container Studio – Guest House
Owners
Stacey Hill
Country
San Antonio Texas, USA
Architect / Designer
Jim Poteet
Year Completed
2010
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Project Type
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
The reclaimed 40 ft Shipping Container features a green roof and composing toilet and bamboo floors and wall paneling. The guest house won a 2010 AIA Award.
30 Most Influential Shipping Container Homes
Jim Poteet created this guest house / garden retreat for San Antonio Artist Stacy Hill in 2010.
In our Members Area we have the following Owner Builder resources: 1, Additional Container Construction Projects like the 30 showcased here. 2, 15 Video’s that discuss the fundamentals of How to Build a Container Home. - This free video on stacking and modification is a good example of what to expect. Video 13 of 15 – Stacking and Modification Video.
3, Over 10,000 pages of valuable 3rd party resources on the subject of Container and Self Building 4, A free copy of our 3D ContainerHome Design Software .
All of this is just $47 for lifetime Membership. Check out the Membership Offer Here.
If you have any questions please drop us an email at admin@containerhome.info Regards Victor www.containerhome.info
Container Construction Project s around the World
If you enjoy this free e-book showcasing the 30 Most Influential Container Homes ever Built then you are going to love our exclusive Members Only Area.