Pros and Cons
Houses made from shipping containers were popularized by the American architect Adam Kalkin. He created his first experimental home by connecting three shipping containers together. Now he designs modular homes for people who value eco-friendliness, convenience and a relatively low price.
The photo shows one of the cottages of the creative architect Adam Kalkin.
In Europe, the service of building houses from containers “turnkey” is widespread, they are also called semi-finished products. The modern design is produced with a rough floor and walls, and also includes windows, doors, electrical wiring and a heating system. They are combined into one building already at the construction site.
Naturally, unusual houses made of containers have both pros and cons:
Selection of TOP-10 projects
Houses made of 40-foot containers are more common on the construction market. To create them, structures with the following parameters are used: length 12 m, width 2.3 m, height 2.4 m. A house made of a 20-foot container differs only in length (6 m).
Let’s take a look at some amazing and inspiring projects made from shipping containers.
Country cottage by architect Benjamin Garcia Sax, Costa Rica
This one-story house with an area of 90 sq. m. consists of two containers. It costs about $40,000 and was built for a young couple who always dreamed of living in nature, but had a limited budget.
The photo shows a designer interior. Part of the paneling was replaced with glass, so it looks light, spacious and stylish.
More photos and drawings of a cottage made of sea containers by architect Benjamin Garcia Sachs in this video:
Guest house from a shipping container by Poteet Architects, San Antonio
This compact summer house was created from an ordinary 40-foot container. It is painted blue, has a veranda, and the paneling includes panoramic windows and sliding doors. There is independent heating and air conditioning.
The photo shows a room paneled with wood. The decor is very laconic due to the small area of the room, but everything necessary is present.
Guest cottage from the program “Fazenda”, Russia
Designers of Channel One worked on this cottage on a summer cottage. Two 6 m long containers are installed on concrete piles, and the third one functions as an attic. The walls and floor are insulated, and a compact spiral staircase leads upstairs. The facades are finished with larch lathing.
The photo shows large panoramic windows that make the 30 sq.m. room brighter and more spacious.
“Casa Incubo”, architect Maria Jose Trejos, Costa Rica
This delightful mansion “Incubo” with high ceilings is built from eight shipping container units. The ground floor consists of a kitchen, a spacious living room and a studio for the photographer – the owner of this house. There is a bedroom on the second floor.
The photo shows a terrace on the top floor, covered with grass, which protects the container house from overheating in hot weather.
Eco-house in the desert by Ecotech Design, Mojave
The two-story cottage with an area of 210 sq. m was made from six 20-foot containers. The foundation and utilities were installed in advance, all that was left was to deliver the structures to the site and assemble them. The organization of ventilation and cooling systems became a special challenge for the architects, since in the summer the temperature in the desert rises to 50 degrees.
The photo shows the exterior of a house made of shipping containers and a courtyard that creates a cozy shade.
A residential house made of shipping containers for the whole family by Patrick Patroush, France
The basis for this 208 sq.m. building is eight shipping blocks, which were assembled in three days. Large windows on the facade side have functional shutter doors. The house looks light and spacious, as there are no internal walls left between the containers – they were cut away, thus creating a large living room and dining room.
The photo shows a spiral staircase and bridges connecting two floors of containers.
A private home for an elderly woman in picturesque La Primavera, Jalisco
This colorful structure is constructed from four marine blocks and has an area of 120 square meters. The main features of the building are huge panoramic windows and two open terraces, one on each floor. Downstairs there is a kitchen-living room, a bedroom, two bathrooms and a laundry room. On the second floor there is another bedroom, a bathroom, a dressing room and a studio.
The photo shows a stylish living room with a dining area and a kitchen. The central room has high ceilings, so it seems more spacious than it actually is.
Luxury beach house by Aamodt plumb architects, New York
Surprisingly, this luxurious mansion in an elite location on the Atlantic Ocean is also built from dry cargo containers. The main feature of the interior is the openwork panels, which add sophistication to the modern design.
The photo shows the interior of the house, which matches the magnificent external surroundings. The interior decoration consists of natural materials and fits harmoniously into the seascape, but at the same time is not devoid of elegance.
A colorful house made of shipping containers by Marcio Kogan, Brazil
Six shipping containers, stacked on top of each other, turned into a narrow and tall building, which became the basis of the home. As a result of the unusual design, the living room became the central part of the house. “Smart” sliding doors act as walls when closed, and when open, they connect the interior with the street. The house is equipped with ecological drainage and water supply systems.
The photo shows an impressive youthful design of the living room, which will lift your spirits in any weather.
Casa El Tiamblo shipping container home by James & Mau Arquitectura, Spain
This cottage, made of four 40-foot units, may not be the most elegant on the outside, but its industrial appearance belies its interior. It features a spacious kitchen, open living room, and comfortable bedrooms. There is a cozy courtyard, a balcony and a terrace.
The photo shows a bright modern living room. Looking at this interior, it is hard to guess that the house was built from shipping containers.
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