Grillagh Water Container House, Northern Ireland

Patrick Bradley – Architect and Farmer – has constructed this striking home known as “The Grillagh Water Container House” on his farm in Woodland, Co Cavan, Northern Ireland.

Bradley’s design is based upon four 45ft shipping containers, merged together to form two cantilever forms – along similar lines to CGARCHITECTES Crossbox. Set in a beautiful rural landscape, overlooking a stream on the family farm, this container house certainly nods its head in the appreciation of the agricultural buildings dotted throughout the county. The dwelling’s layout has been designed to take full advantage of the outstanding views to the surrounding landscape, mountains, historic Drumlamph woodland and nearby Grillagh River

Bradley’s original budget was £100,000, however the architect found that he had expensive tastes and a few costly extras, including a £16,000 bath, pushed his total cost up to £133,000. It is a however a great bath!

This is first container house that has ever been designed and constructed within Northern Ireland. The shipping containers were originally manufactured by Maersk, and purchased at the local port. They were then trucked and fabricated on site.

If this container house looks familiar – it is also known as “The Grand Designs Container House” as it featured on the UK’s Channel 4’s building programme Grand Designs September 2014. (YouTube below)

Grillagh Water Container House was recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 2014 excellence awards.

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