75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (2024)

New Old Stock - Off Grid Shipping Container Dwellings

Storstac Inc.

A look at the two 20' Off Grid Micro Dwellings we built for New Old Stock Inc here at our Toronto, Canada container modification facility. Included here are two 20' High Cube shipping containers, 12'x20' deck and solar/sun canopy. Notable features include Spanish Ceder throughout, custom mill work, Calcutta tiled shower and toilet area, complete off grid solar power and water for both units.

Type-Variant

Yerigan Construction Company

Type-Variant is an award winning home from multi-award winning Minneapolis architect Vincent James, built by Yerigan Construction around 1996. The popular assumption is that it is a shipping container home, but it is actually wood-framed, copper clad volumes, all varying in size, proportion, and natural light. This house includes interior and exterior stairs, ramps, and bridges for travel throughout.Check out its book on Amazon: Type/Variant House: Vincent James

shoup residence + office compound

building Lab, inc.

headquarters of building Lab created with shipping containers.
Inspiration for a contemporary one-storey exterior in San Francisco.

Modern Shipping Container Cabin

Tomecek Studio Architecture

Photography by John GibbonsThis project is designed as a family retreat for a client that has been visiting the southern Colorado area for decades. The cabin consists of two bedrooms and two bathrooms – with guest quarters accessed from exterior deck.Project by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). The project is assembled with the structural and weather tight use of shipping containers. The cabin uses one 40’ container and six 20′ containers. The ends will be structurally reinforced and enclosed with additional site built walls and custom fitted high-performance glazing assemblies.

Japanese Container House

Drummonds Bathrooms

Constructed from specially designed steel containers, this unique container house looks out over the open expanse of the East China Sea.The Drummonds' Spey bath has a rough, raw cast iron finish on its body with polished cast iron legs, perfectly combining a classic look with an industrial edge befitting of the container house.The Eden WC suite, Kinloch basin and Dalby shower can be tucked away behind a canvas and wood screen if required, offering a flexible bathroom space for the family that share it. After all, once you were in that bath you wouldn’t want to get out of it in a hurry, would you?This bathroom was featured in the October 2015 issue of World in Interiors. Photo Credit: Simon Upton

New Old Stock - Off Grid Shipping Container Dwellings

Storstac Inc.

A look at the two 20' Off Grid Micro Dwellings we built for New Old Stock Inc here at our Toronto, Canada container modification facility. Included here are two 20' High Cube shipping containers, 12'x20' deck and solar/sun canopy. Notable features include Spanish Ceder throughout, custom mill work, Calcutta tiled shower and toilet area, complete off grid solar power and water for both units.

Off Grid Mountain Container Home

Tomecek Studio Architecture

Photograhpy by Braden GunemProject by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). This project questions the need for excessive space and challenges occupants to be efficient. Two shipping containers saddlebag a taller common space that connects local rock outcroppings to the expansive mountain ridge views. The containers house sleeping and work functions while the center space provides entry, dining, living and a loft above. The loft deck invites easy camping as the platform bed rolls between interior and exterior. The project is planned to be off-the-grid using solar orientation, passive cooling, green roofs, pellet stove heating and photovoltaics to create electricity.

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Port Ludlow House

FINNE Architects

The Port Ludlow Residence is a compact, 2400 SF modern house located on a wooded waterfront property at the north end of the Hood Canal, a long, fjord-like arm of western Puget Sound. The house creates a simple glazed living space that opens up to become a front porch to the beautiful Hood Canal.The east-facing house is sited along a high bank, with a wonderful view of the water. The main living volume is completely glazed, with 12-ft. high glass walls facing the view and large, 8-ft.x8-ft. sliding glass doors that open to a slightly raised wood deck, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor space. During the warm summer months, the living area feels like a large, open porch. Anchoring the north end of the living space is a two-story building volume containing several bedrooms and separate his/her office spaces.The interior finishes are simple and elegant, with IPE wood flooring, zebrawood cabinet doors with mahogany end panels, quartz and limestone countertops, and Douglas Fir trim and doors. Exterior materials are completely maintenance-free: metal siding and aluminum windows and doors. The metal siding has an alternating pattern using two different siding profiles.The house has a number of sustainable or “green” building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and rain protection; metal siding (recycled steel) for maximum durability, and a heat pump mechanical system for maximum energy efficiency. Sustainable interior finish materials include wood cabinets, linoleum floors, low-VOC paints, and natural wool carpet.

New Old Stock - Off Grid Shipping Container Dwellings

Storstac Inc.

A look at the most luxurious shower ever to be installed inside of a Shipping Container. Notable features include: Calcutta Tile "walk out shower" open shower and bathroom area, wall to wall stainless steel floor drain, off grid water and solar power. All work was done in-house at our Toronto, Canada container modification facility.

Our Shipping Container House

Our Shipping Container House

This is the front of our shipping container house exterior at night with lights on under the huge verandah.Our container house was based on the style of a 'Queenslander style' home which we have always admired. We plan to add a huge deck around the house in the future.

New Old Stock - Off Grid Shipping Container Dwellings

Storstac Inc.

A look at the most luxurious shower ever to be installed inside of a Shipping Container. Notable features include: Calcutta Tile "walk out shower" and washroom area, wall to wall stainless steel floor drain, off grid water and solar power. All work was done in-house at our Toronto, Canada container modification facility.

Kitchen

Fredman Design Group

Designers gave the house a wood-and-steel façade that blends traditional and industrial elements.Photography by Eric HausmanDesigners gave the house a wood-and-steel façade that blends traditional and industrial elements. This home’s noteworthy steel shipping container construction material, offers a streamlined aesthetic and industrial vibe, with sustainable attributes and strength. Recycled shipping containers are fireproof, impervious to water and stronger than traditional building materials. Inside, muscular concrete walls, burnished cedar beams and custom oak cabinetry give the living spaces definition, decorative might, and storage and seating options.For more than 40 years, Fredman Design Group has been in the business of Interior Design. Throughout the years, we’ve built long-lasting relationships with our clients through our client-centric approach. When creating designs, our decisions depend on the personality of our clients—their dreams and their aspirations. We manifest their lifestyle by incorporating elements of design with those of our clients to create a unique environment, down to the details of the upholstery and accessories. We love it when a home feels finished and lived in, with various layers and textures.While each of our clients and their stories has varied over the years, they’ve come to trust us with their projects—whether it’s a single room to the larger complete renovation, addition, or new construction. They value the collaborative team that is behind each project, embracing the diversity that each designer is able to bring to their project through their love of art, travel, fashion, nature, history, architecture or film—ultimately falling in love with the nurturing environments we create for them. We are grateful for the opportunity to tell each of clients’ stories through design. What story can we help you tell?Call us today to schedule your complimentary consultation - 312-587-9184

Pool House

Janine Lamontagne Photography LLC

Pool House in a box. This custom made pool house is a converted shipping container turned into a pool house. Look up www.elbarpoolhouses.com for more information.

75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (28)

Sponsored

Milano

VINCITORE BEST OF HOUZZ 20, 21, 22, 23

Architetto Marco FinardiAverage rating: 5 out of 5 stars133 ReviewsStudio specializzato in progettazione architettonica ed interni

75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (29)75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (30)

Off Grid Mountain Container Home

Tomecek Studio Architecture

Photography by Braden GunemProject by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). This project questions the need for excessive space and challenges occupants to be efficient. Two shipping containers saddlebag a taller common space that connects local rock outcroppings to the expansive mountain ridge views. The containers house sleeping and work functions while the center space provides entry, dining, living and a loft above. The loft deck invites easy camping as the platform bed rolls between interior and exterior. The project is planned to be off-the-grid using solar orientation, passive cooling, green roofs, pellet stove heating and photovoltaics to create electricity.

Off Grid Mountain Container Home

Tomecek Studio Architecture

Photography by Braden GunemProject by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). This project questions the need for excessive space and challenges occupants to be efficient. Two shipping containers saddlebag a taller common space that connects local rock outcroppings to the expansive mountain ridge views. The containers house sleeping and work functions while the center space provides entry, dining, living and a loft above. The loft deck invites easy camping as the platform bed rolls between interior and exterior. The project is planned to be off-the-grid using solar orientation, passive cooling, green roofs, pellet stove heating and photovoltaics to create electricity.

Off Grid Mountain Container Home

Tomecek Studio Architecture

Photography by Braden GunemProject by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). This project questions the need for excessive space and challenges occupants to be efficient. Two shipping containers saddlebag a taller common space that connects local rock outcroppings to the expansive mountain ridge views. The containers house sleeping and work functions while the center space provides entry, dining, living and a loft above. The loft deck invites easy camping as the platform bed rolls between interior and exterior. The project is planned to be off-the-grid using solar orientation, passive cooling, green roofs, pellet stove heating and photovoltaics to create electricity.

Oxford Shipping Container

Shane Cook

Award winning project by Shane Cook Designs. The Oxford Shipping container won first place by Paper City Magazine in 2013 for Best Use of Green/Sustainable Design.The pair or reclaimed shipping containers were set in the beautiful Heights historic district bungalow home. with a total size of 496 sqft the Oxford Shipping Container Home is another win for Shane Cook designs in the fields of interior architecture, adaptive reuse, and sustainability. Image by: Aker Imaging

75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (39)

Sponsored

Milano

VINCITORE BEST OF HOUZZ 20, 21, 22, 23

Architetto Marco FinardiAverage rating: 5 out of 5 stars133 ReviewsStudio specializzato in progettazione architettonica ed interni

75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (40)75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (41)

shoup residence + office compound

building Lab, inc.

Located adjacent to Linden Park at 999 43rd street in Oakland, the property can be described as transitional on many levels. In the urban sense, the neighborhood remains somewhat edgy but is slowly absorbing some of the calming effects of gentrification. Although momentum has stalled somewhat since the economic downturn, recent re-occupation of two nearby warehouses, one as housing and one as a charter school, has contributed significantly to establishing a more hospitable and engaging character to the neighborhood. Living here remains a dynamic balance between embracing the community and maintaining privacy. Since this was intended as a live/work compound, the building needed to accommodate an office, a residence, as well as retain its workshop. It was a tight fit even for a bachelor—the living and dining room doubled as a meeting space and lounge for bL’s crew. Growth in the business and a diminishing enchantment with the 24hr comingling of my personal and professional lives compelled phase one of expansion. This took the form of a retired freezer shipping container which we transformed into an office located in the back lot. My personal office remained in the main building while other work stations migrated out back. A year later, marriage and imminent parenthood prompted a second, contiguous shipping container conversion. Practically speaking, this allowed adequate and varied space to compactly accommodate both family and business. Architecturally, the second container allowed the formation of layered inner courtyard that provides privacy without hermetically sealing us off from our neighbors. The container conversions are a significant part of extensive green building credentials. These include myriad reclaimed, non-toxic and sustainably sourced materials and a solar thermal system servicing both domestic hot water and hydronic heating. In 2008, Build It Green featured the property on a green home tour. Aside from the container additions, we have stayed within the bounds of the existing building envelope. The process has been and continues to be one of discovery and dialogue; the proverbial Khanian brick in the form of a north Oakland warehouse.

Entry

Fredman Design Group

Designers gave the house a wood-and-steel façade that blends traditional and industrial elements.Photography by Eric HausmanDesigners gave the house a wood-and-steel façade that blends traditional and industrial elements. This home’s noteworthy steel shipping container construction material, offers a streamlined aesthetic and industrial vibe, with sustainable attributes and strength. Recycled shipping containers are fireproof, impervious to water and stronger than traditional building materials. Inside, muscular concrete walls, burnished cedar beams and custom oak cabinetry give the living spaces definition, decorative might, and storage and seating options.For more than 40 years, Fredman Design Group has been in the business of Interior Design. Throughout the years, we’ve built long-lasting relationships with our clients through our client-centric approach. When creating designs, our decisions depend on the personality of our clients—their dreams and their aspirations. We manifest their lifestyle by incorporating elements of design with those of our clients to create a unique environment, down to the details of the upholstery and accessories. We love it when a home feels finished and lived in, with various layers and textures.While each of our clients and their stories has varied over the years, they’ve come to trust us with their projects—whether it’s a single room to the larger complete renovation, addition, or new construction. They value the collaborative team that is behind each project, embracing the diversity that each designer is able to bring to their project through their love of art, travel, fashion, nature, history, architecture or film—ultimately falling in love with the nurturing environments we create for them. We are grateful for the opportunity to tell each of clients’ stories through design. What story can we help you tell?Call us today to schedule your complimentary consultation - 312-587-9184

Shipping Container Residence

AB design studio, inc.

Design ideas for an industrial master bedroom in Santa Barbara with beige walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

75 Beautiful Shipping Container Houses Home Design Ideas & Designs (2024)

FAQs

Is it really cheaper to build a shipping container home? ›

According to HomeGuide, the average cost to build and install a container home is $25,000 to $250,000. While that's no small chunk of change, it's significantly less than you'd expect to pay for a traditional house in most parts of the country.

What are the cons of building a shipping container home? ›

The Cons of Living in a Shipping Container Home
  • Appliances Don't Always Fit. ...
  • Building Permits Can Be Difficult to Get. ...
  • Contractors Are Hard to Come By. ...
  • Issues With Insulation. ...
  • Need to Consider the Climate. ...
  • Safety Concerns for Used Containers. ...
  • Shape & Size Limitations. ...
  • Reinforcing Sometimes Needed.
Aug 22, 2022

What foundation for a container home? ›

Concrete slab foundations make the best foundation for container homes. This is the most expensive option, but if you are looking to keep your home in the same location long-term it is a viable option.

What size shipping container is best for a house? ›

What Size Shipping Containers Should You Choose for Moving?
Shipping Container DimensionsHome Size
10'x8'x8.5'Apartment, condo, or 1-bedroom home
20'x8'x8.5'2-to-3-bedroom home
40'x8'x8.5'4-bedroom home or larger
Jul 26, 2023

What is the lifespan of a container home? ›

Because they were built to safely transport goods over long distances and often-harsh conditions, shipping containers are extremely durable, making them an ideal choice for homes. With proper care and maintenance, these homes can last decades - an average lifespan of 25-30 years.

Do container homes get hot? ›

If you are fortunate enough to live in a warm climate then during the summer months you may find your shipping container home gets a little too warm, just like any other home.

Are container homes safe from lightning? ›

Because shipping containers are made of steel, they will become conductors if hit by lightning. However, if a container is grounded, the shell will act as a Faraday shield and the electricity will be conducted around the outside without affecting its contents.

Is it safe to live in a container home? ›

Despite the challenges, container homes can be safe if built correctly. Professionals in architecture and engineering have developed ways to reinforce the containers' structure and make them habitable, targeting concerns such as extreme weather conditions and seismic activity.

Is a container home a good investment? ›

Shipping container homes offer unique financial benefits. These homes are often more affordable than traditional housing options. The cost of a shipping container can be significantly lower than the materials for a standard home, including a garden shed, house, cob, and space. Building with containers saves money.

What is the best state to build a container home? ›

  • Texas. Texas is one of the best states for building alternative dwellings like tiny homes and shipping container houses. ...
  • California. California is another state that is accommodating to alternative dwellings. ...
  • Oregon. Shipping container homes are legal in the state of Oregon.
Dec 6, 2022

What is the cheapest foundation for a container house? ›

Pier Foundation:

They are relatively inexpensive, and quick to construct, a pier foundation is comprised of concrete blocks. Each concrete block, or pier, is generally 50 cm X 50 cm X 50 cm and containers reinforcing steel inside to improve the concretes strength in tension.

How to anchor a container home? ›

Ground plates with twist-locks are a fast and easy way to secure a shipping container to a foundation. Simply bolt the ground plates into the concrete and carefully lower the container so that the corner castings line up with the twist locks. Pull the levers on the twist locks and the container is secured.

How many containers do I need for a 4 bedroom house? ›

The contents of a typically furnished 2 to 4-bedroom home will usually fit into a 20-foot BigSteelBox, however, if you have a heavily furnished 4-bedroom home, chances are good that you'll need an additional 10′ or 20′ container. For a fully furnished 5 to 6 bedroom home, you will probably need two 20′ containers.

Is it cheaper to build a house out of shipping containers? ›

Are Container Homes Cheaper to Build? Yes, shipping container homes are cheaper to build than a regular home. While a single container home might cost around $30,000 to build, a house of similar size would cost you around $90,000 to build, more than 3 times more than the shipping container home.

Do you need to put a roof on a shipping container home? ›

While you don't technically have to put a roof on your shipping container home because it already has one, most architects recommend you do. There are four common roof styles to choose from. Traditional pitched roofs are usually best for places with varying climates, especially if there's lots of rain or snow.

What are the disadvantages of shipping containers? ›

One major drawback of shipping containers is their lack of temperature control or insulation. While these containers excel at providing a secure and weatherproof environment, they do not regulate temperature.

How hard is it to build your own shipping container home? ›

While the process of constructing a shipping container house may seem daunting, it doesn't have to be. In fact, with the right tools and a little bit of guidance, it is possible to build a shipping container house in just seven steps. Before beginning your project, it is important to do your research.

How durable is a shipping container for a house? ›

Durability and Strength

As mentioned above, shipping containers are made of tough, corrugated Corten steel, which can withstand extreme weather conditions and constant movement. Thanks to its strong steel frame, walls, ceiling and floor, it won't bend or shift under the weight of its contents.

Are container homes safe? ›

Despite the challenges, container homes can be safe if built correctly. Professionals in architecture and engineering have developed ways to reinforce the containers' structure and make them habitable, targeting concerns such as extreme weather conditions and seismic activity.

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