The Adam Kalkin 12 Container House in Blue Hill, Maine, ranks among the most impressive & iconic shipping container homes ever built. Owned by Anne and Matthew Adriance, designed by Adam Kalkin architect, and built by Sheridan Corporation—one of Maine’s top commercial builders—this house stuns both inside and out. Completed in 2003, it remains a landmark in cargotecture and architectural reuse.
A Visionary Use of Shipping Containers
Kalkin stacked 12 reclaimed shipping containers in a T-shape. He replaced steel panels with floor-to-ceiling glass, creating transparency and capturing views of Blue Hill Bay. The structure blends industrial form with residential comfort.
Using low-cost, readily available containers, he kept construction costs around $125 per square foot. This approach delivered high-design without a high-end budget.
Playful Interiors and Smart Spatial Design
Kalkin designs homes that feel layered and full of surprises. Inside the Adam Kalkin container house, walkways, courtyards, and small pavilions unfold like a journey. The layout invites exploration.
Glass walls stretch from floor to ceiling at both ends, flooding the space with daylight. The interior connects visually to the coastal landscape. Raw container textures contrast with refined detailing, creating harmony.
Landscaping by Surry Gardens
Local firm Surry Gardens softened the home’s industrial look with a Japanese-inspired landscape. They planted a dramatic Rosa rugosa wall and seasonal orange lilies, adding year-round color.
Set in rocky coastal soil among granite outcrops and evergreens, the garden anchors the home to its environment. It also reflects thoughtful site planning and sustainable design.
Sheridan Corporation: Precision Meets Innovation
Sheridan Corporation brought commercial-grade expertise to a custom residential project. Their team handled container modifications and large custom glazing with precision.
Their experience helped meet Maine’s coastal challenges. Shipping containers resist corrosion and temperature swings, making them ideal for rugged environments.
Adam Kalkin: Architect and Experimental Thinker
A Vassar graduate and winner of the P/A Young Architects Award, Adam Kalkin architect blends design, art, and experimentation. He tests ideas through architecture.
His work includes the Old Lady House, Kalkin House at the Shelburne Museum, Bunny Lane in New Jersey, the “Suburban House Kit” and the Push Button House—a hydraulic, expandable container dwelling shown at the Venice Biennale.
“I’m an artist and an architect and many other things,” he says. “I use architecture to test new ideas.” That spirit runs through the 12 Container House.
Adam Kalkin 12 Container House : Sustainability Meets Design
The Adam Kalkin 12 Container House succeeds both visually and environmentally. Reusing containers cuts the home’s carbon footprint. Large windows support passive solar strategies.
As interest in shipping container homes in Maine grows, this project remains a touchstone for combining sustainability, innovation, and good design. Its durability and adaptability suit Maine’s coastal climate.
This iconic cargotecture project proves that high-design container homes can deliver architectural excellence and environmental responsibility.
Courtesy Of: jetson green
Discover more from Eco Container Home: Shipping Container Homes, Cargo Homes & Sustainable Green Building
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.