Affordable, eco-friendly and fast to build, shipping container homes offer no end of architectural possibilities. These extra-tough units can be stacked in almost any layout, not to mentioned customised with every luxury amenity under the sun. From metal mansions to stylish industrial retreats, we’ve rounded up the best container residences that think outside the box. Click or scroll on for more…
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Container mansion, Colorado, USA
The idea of a shipping container home inevitably conjures up images of small, compact residences with little room to stretch out, but this incredible mansion in Colorado has nothing but space. Built by a local firefighter, the stand-out property sprawls over 3,000 square feet, offering five bedrooms, four bathrooms and no end of characterful living areas.
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Container mansion, Colorado, USA
Nine shipping containers were used in the spectacular custom design, with their distinctive corrugated siding proudly displayed across the exterior. We love the bolt of turquoise across the upper storey at the rear of the home, which overlooks the landscaped garden, complete with an upcycled barbecue station.
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Container mansion, Colorado, USA
Inside, 25-foot-high ceilings tower over the impressive open-plan living space. Swathes of industrial metalwork frame the separate zones, while vast sliding glass doors open up the interior to the garden. Two bedrooms are located on this level, while the mezzanine walkway upstairs leads to three further bedrooms, including the plush master.
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Container mansion, Colorado, USA
Available to rent out via Airbnb, the property’s vast floor plan is packed with luxury touches. The master bedroom features elegant dark wood floors, a raised platform bed and a generous private balcony. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a projector screen downstairs that’s ideal for family movie nights. Not bad for a shipping container eh?
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The Boho Box Hop, Ohio, USA
Nestled in the dense woodlands of Ohio’s Hocking Hills State Park, Boho Box Hop is a remarkable rural retreat crafted from two shipping containers. The striking façade is a fusion of corrugated metal and rustic wooden shingles that help soften the structure into its forest surroundings.
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The Boho Box Hop, Ohio, USA
With the lower storey comprising one container, a second unit forms the top storey, cantilevering out at a gravity-defying angle. The jaunty addition offers residents a fresh perspective of the rural vistas and the property’s 18.5 acres of surrounding land. This architectural marvel is the last thing we’d expect to see below the tree canopy!
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The Boho Box Hop, Ohio, USA
Available to rent out, the home’s interior layout puts every inch of the container’s elongated structure to use. In the ground-floor living area, a quaint galley kitchen in forest green packs plenty into a compact space, while the floating staircase allows light to flow freely throughout the property.
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The Boho Box Hop, Ohio, USA
Upstairs, there’s a snug double bedroom with large picture windows that capture the best of the woodlands. Imagine waking up to that view! On the opposite side of the room, sliding glass doors lead out onto a spacious roof deck – the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast in the midst of nature.
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Two-storey container home, Queensland, Australia
From the outside, this suburban home in Brisbane looks like little more than a modern family residence, with its angular lines and stylish black exterior. However, take a stroll around back and it suddenly becomes clear that this contemporary property isn’t quite all it seems…
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Two-storey container home, Queensland, Australia
Previously up for auction via Domain, two vast shipping containers have been beautifully integrated into the structure of the home, creating airy open accommodation with plenty of character. The original openings of the steel units have been put to use, allowing the interior zones to spill out onto the garden.
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Two-storey container home, Queensland, Australia
Inside, the upcycled home’s past life is never far from view. White corrugated metal walls add raw, architectural interest to the contemporary living area, while hairpin bar stools and exposed metal beams complement the industrial fabric of this unusual residence.
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Two-storey container home, Queensland, Australia
While it may be made from an unconventional material, comfort is of the highest priority in this plush two-storey family home. Offering four luxurious bedrooms, three bathrooms and a media room, it’s a far cry from a dark, cramped container. Talk about a transformation!
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Stylish container retreat, Colorado, USA
Having recently sold for the hefty sum of $3.2 million (£2.5m), this captivating container home in Boulder, Colorado looks a little different from your standard corrugated metal box. Clad in weathered, reclaimed wood, it’s a modern mountain cabin unlike any we’ve seen before.
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Stylish container retreat, Colorado, USA
The upper level consists of two 53-foot shipping containers, with their original metal siding and doors artfully incorporated into the structure. Situated at the foot of Flagstaff Mountain, the unique home is orientated to make the most of the breathtaking surrounding peaks, with large, carefully positioned windows framing the priceless picture-postcard vistas.
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Stylish container retreat, Colorado, USA
Sprawling across a sizeable footprint of just over 4,000 square feet, industrial concrete floors and ceilings clad in 100-year-old barn wood extend throughout the residence. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, minimalist, Scandi-inspired cabinetry, a long breakfast bar and a glass-fronted refrigerator take centre stage.
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Stylish container retreat, Colorado, USA
Elsewhere, there’s a laundry room, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, however, our favourite feature has to be the incredible outdoor kitchen. Connected to the living room via a glass-and-steel garage door, which creates a seamless indoor-outdoor space when raised, it features everything you could need to whip up an alfresco feast.
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Copia Cabin, Western Cape, South Africa
Situated between expanses of greenery in the picturesque Bot River valley in South Africa’s Western Cape, the Copia Cabin is made from two shipping container units. Perched on a hillside, the industrial-style retreat benefits from breathtaking 360-degree views of the site’s rural landscapes.
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Copia Cabin, Western Cape, South Africa
Available to rent out, the container’s corrugated metal has been left exposed across the exterior for a rustic feel, while stacked bamboo detailing offers an organic contrast, helping the home to blend into the surrounding terrain.
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Copia Cabin, Western Cape, South Africa
Expansive glass doors that span the living spaces retract back, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors. The covered raised deck features a built-in fireplace and log store – the ideal spot to dine alfresco on a chilly evening.
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Copia Cabin, Western Cape, South Africa
Inside, the floor plan is split into three spaces; the open-plan kitchen and living room, the bedroom and the bathroom, which all overlook the rolling hills. Running completely off-grid, the residence is fuelled by solar power but that doesn’t mean it scrimps on indulgent amenities – there’s even a luxurious wood-fired hot tub on the deck.
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Manifesto House, Curacaví, Chile
One of the most sustainable homes in our round-up, Manifesto House by Spanish architecture firm James & Mau is almost entirely made from recycled materials. Its unique design utilises a system of palette shutters across the façade that open or close to filter light flow and shade the interior spaces when needed.
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Manifesto House, Curacaví, Chile
Located in Chile, the two-storey dwelling is made of three repurposed maritime shipping containers, which offer 1,722 square feet of living space. Architecturally daring, the top level cantilevers out over the lower storey, creating an unusual enclosed balcony that offers far-reaching views of the undulating countryside.
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Manifesto House, Curacaví, Chile
Bright and airy, the main living space features a spectacular floating staircase and sliding glass doors that run the entire length of the room. When retracted, the exterior terraces and rugged landscapes seemingly bleed into the interior, creating a flexible indoor-outdoor layout.
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Manifesto House, Curacaví, Chile
The rippling skin of the shipping containers has been utilised throughout the contemporary home, with interior walls made from the repurposed metal sheeting. Divided up into smaller zones, the vast structure feels intimate and welcoming, despite the stark lines of its industrial fabric.
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Container House, Colorado, USA
Perched on the edge of a rocky outcrop in the rugged wilds of Colorado, this modern masterpiece was designed by Tomecek Studio. Employing recycled materials and eco-friendly technology in its design, the innovative residence’s space-efficient floor plan puts every inch of square footage to use.
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Container House, Colorado, USA
The incredible cliffhanging home comprises two shipping containers that flank a wedge-shaped structure at the centre of the property. The containers either side are designated as sleeping or working zones, while the tall volume in the middle houses the main living zones, with a handy loft located above.
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Container House, Colorado, USA
Accommodation is spread across 1,500 square feet, with the heart of the home featuring a vast open-plan living area, complete with a cosy wood-burning fireplace. Industrial metalwork has been left exposed throughout, while bursts of colour punctuate the interior walls, zoning the different functional spaces.
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Container House, Colorado, USA
Solar photovoltaic panels help to power the off-grid retreat, keeping it warm and welcoming even in the bitter winter months. What’s more, the majestic mountain landscapes outside are never far from sight thanks to carefully situated windows and glazing.
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Beach Box, New York, USA
Located on the sand dunes of the Hamptons, the summer playground of New York’s elite, this spectacular beach house consists of six shipping containers kitted out with the latest eco-technology, from energy-efficient appliances to state-of-the-art insulation.
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Beach Box, New York, USA
The Amagansett retreat was built back in 2011 and features a beautiful 1,300-square-foot cedar deck, complete with a swimming pool – the perfect spot to cool off in the hot summer months. The container home’s second storey also features a wraparound deck where the oceanfront views can be admired.
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Beach Box, New York, USA
Designed by real estate broker Andrew Anderson, the interior stretches almost 2,000 square feet, encompassing four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. With the corrugated metal ceiling left exposed, the calm, neutral living areas offer the ideal balance of coastal charm and industrial chic.
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Beach Box, New York, USA
The custom chef’s kitchen is the home’s pièce de résistance, featuring a long breakfast bar, sleek cabinetry and state-of-the-art appliances. With the house just 600 feet from the ocean, it’s a wonderful place to kick back and relax after a long day on the beach.
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Containers of Hope, San Jose, Costa Rica
Situated just outside of San Jose in Costa Rica, this shipping container home, devised by architecture firm Studio Saxe, was designed for a family in search of a rural bolthole. Remarkably, the stylish structure was created on a tiny budget…
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Containers of Hope, San Jose, Costa Rica
Built at a cost of just $40,000 (£31k), staggered orange containers form a contemporary home with industrial undertones. The price of the construction is lower than that of social housing in Costa Rica, making it a cost-effective way to address the demand for affordable housing.
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Containers of Hope, San Jose, Costa Rica
Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the home’s clever slanted roof and floor-to-ceiling windows allow cool air to circulate. Ideal for such a humid climate, this natural cross-ventilation system means there’s no need for air-conditioning.
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Containers of Hope, San Jose, Costa Rica
In this bright bedroom, sliding glass doors draw plenty of natural light inside, while framing picturesque vistas of the breathtaking Cost Rican countryside. Thanks to recycled building materials and a little creative thinking, this frugal build has allowed its owners to live debt-free in a tranquil beauty spot.
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Suburban container home, Queensland, Australia
This breathtaking 6,000-square-foot mansion on the outskirts of Brisbane, Australia is made from 31 boxes, making it one of the largest shipping container homes in the country. Designed by Ziegler Build, it features four massive bedrooms, four bathrooms, a gym and a saltwater pool.
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Suburban container home, Queensland, Australia
The flood-proof structure was commissioned by Todd and Diana Miller, whose previous home was severely damaged in the Queensland floods in 2011. The entire project took six months to build – not bad for a home this size – with their journey featured on Grand Designs Australia.
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Suburban container home, Queensland, Australia
Encompassing three floors, the stunning Australian home’s design includes an array of other recycled materials alongside the shipping containers, from railway sleepers and salvaged wood to old industrial equipment. One of the main reasons for utilising the containers was cost, as they offered much better value for money than conventional home-building methods.
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Suburban container home, Queensland, Australia
Sold back in June 2014 for $1 million (£780k), the container mansion still contains playful references to its industrial roots. In this corridor, exposed corrugated sheeting and metal fixtures line the walls, while wood across the floor, ceiling and staircase adds warmth to this unusual family home.
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Joshua Tree Residence, California, USA
Conceived by London designer James Whitaker of Whitaker Studio, work on this futuristic shipping container home is set to begin later this year. Nestled in the arid desert of California’s Joshua Tree National Park, the realistic renderings of the residence are almost otherworldly, depicting a sprawling white structure comprised of a number of carefully angled container units.
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Joshua Tree Residence, California, USA
Encompassing 2,000 square feet, the interior will feature unusual geometries and jutting angles that will carve out unconventional living areas. Thoughtfully positioned picture windows will allow light to pour inside the property, drawing the desert landscape inside the minimalistic spaces.
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Joshua Tree Residence, California, USA
The floor plan will include three ensuite bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. Much thought has been put into the orientation of the shipping units in order to protect the residents’ privacy and maximise the light flow throughout the contemporary home.
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Joshua Tree Residence, California, USA
Adjacent to the main structure will be a garage with a canopy of solar panels that will generate the home’s electricity. Once complete, the unique residence will be the home of a film producer – we can’t imagine a more inspiring setting for them to hone their artistic vision.
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