Drafting Quotes from local draftsmen Get Quotes »

Shipping Containers aren't just for the docks. A growing trend is seeing shipping containers transformed into beautiful, modern homes (for less than a new car)!



Here's a regular shipping container. Habitat: Busy docks, container ships and the back of delivery trucks. Pretty boring. Pretty ugly.









But using just that 'boring' building block, architects and designers have been putting their imaginations to work and they've been creating stunning, modern homes. From tiny one person studios to multistory mansions - all using the humble shipping container. Like these 10 stylish pads:

1. A Stylish Guest House





No need to clean out your junk from the spare bedroom if you have one of these amazing shipping container guest houses. You can tell the owners have style - the classic car in the driveway, the industrial chic outdoor lights, the wood-lined interior and the designer egg chair.

The only issue is trying to get the guests to leave once they've settled into this stylish and cozy shipping container guest house.

2. Surprisingly Classy





At first glance, it's hard to beleive that this could possibly be a shipping container home, right? Well the giveaway are those rippled walls. And isn't that peg board on the walls and ceiling? Who would have thought that shipping containers and peg board could combine to create such a stunning home?

3. Barbie's Dream (Shipping Container) Home





If Barbie lived in a home made of shipping containers it would be this shabby chic, egg-shell blue wonder.

4. Self-contatined Studio





This self-contained studio is appropriately contained in a shipping container. Perfect for back-to-basics living, or even for a teenager's pad in the backyard. Plus, you can close it up when no in use - or to transport cross-country! That's pretty convenient.

5. Warehouse Apartment









Always wanted a warehouse apartment, but can't afford the historical brick one you've always dreamed of? Why not build your own warehouse and fill it with bright orange shipping container rooms? It'll be lighter and brighter than that expensive old one as well!

6. Deconstructed Shipping Contatiner





This shipping container project has reused every element of the container to create stairs, awnings and balustrades. It also makes good use of the branding on the original containers. Pretty creative!

7. Water View





Your new shipping container can even have waterfront views. Here the designer has used the structural strength of the container to cantilever the units over the water, making for the perfect waterfront pad. What's more, the roof is planted with grasses to blend the whole building into the surrounds.

8. Timber Clad





If you didn't know better, you'd probably assume this was a conventional house. The slanting roof and timber cladding hide the fact it's built from shipping containers. But I have a picture that proves this is a shipping container house...





9. Cliffhanger





This house is a real cliffhanger. Clinging to the edge of a mountain in New Zealand, this shipping container house might not look like much from this angle...





But from the other side you see how the architect has used the space between the mountain and the containers to create additional space.





And create a modern, stylish home.

10. Light and Airy





The slanted roof on this shipping container home lets sun and breezes into the house.





It has some pretty stellar views too.





And guess how much it cost? $40,000. What a bargain!

Get You Shipping Container Home Built

So shipping container houses are an affordable and stylish option for any residential project. Get yourself a shipping container (or four) for your next project and have Service Central's qualified tradespeople take care of the rest.

About the Author

Brodie Norris runs Lunchbox Architect, featuring one architecturally designed home each weekday. Check out what's in the lunchbox today!

Which is your favourite shipping container home? Seen another one that you love? Share it with us!