Skip to content

Projects

Welcome to our curated collection of real-world shipping container home projects from around the globe. Each project tells a unique story—designed by architects, builders, or passionate homeowners who embraced modular, eco-conscious living. From remote off-grid cabins in New Zealand to striking two-storey homes in suburban Australia, these builds showcase the versatility, beauty, and innovation possible with repurposed shipping containers.

Whether you’re an architect looking for case study inspiration, a developer exploring modular construction, or a future homeowner considering a container build of your own, this is where practical design meets sustainable ambition. Every home featured here includes key project details: site location, number of containers used, layout considerations, sustainable features, and insights into construction methods and builder vision.

Dive in to discover how people are rethinking traditional housing by turning steel boxes into warm, functional, and future-forward homes. Use these examples to shape your own ideas, refine your plans, or simply enjoy the creativity of container architecture.

The Hāwea Flat Shipping Container Home in Wānaka, NZ

Hawea Flat Shipping Container Home | Sustainable Living in Wanaka, NZ

    In the picturesque landscape of Hāwea Flat, Wanaka, a remarkable sustainable shipping container home New Zealand project demonstrates the extraordinary potential of repurposed materials. This innovative dwelling comprises six 20ft shipping containers thoughtfully arranged to create a spacious, light-filled residence that exemplifies eco-conscious design principles. Architect Gary Todd has masterfully transformed industrial shipping containers into an elegant eco container home that harmonizes with its stunning alpine surroundings.Read More »Hawea Flat Shipping Container Home | Sustainable Living in Wanaka, NZ

    Escape Den: A Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Escape Den: Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Dhaka, Bangladesh

    On Dhaka’s quiet fringe, Escape Den rises as a bold response to urban chaos. Designed by River & Rain architects—Kazi Fida Islam, Md. Abdul Awyal, Sumaiya Shameem, Mousumi Kabir, Irtefa Iradat, and Abid Khan—this sustainable container home design proves eco-living can be elegant, efficient, and expressive. Built from reused materials, it redefines what sustainable container home design in Bangladesh can look like.Read More »Escape Den: Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Regan Foster's Shipping Container Home, Denver, CO. USA.

    Regan Foster’s Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Denver, CO

      Firefighter Builds Shipping Container Home Denver: A Sustainable Urban Marvel. In the heart of Colorado’s urban landscape, a remarkable shipping container home Denver project stands as testament to innovative architectural vision and sustainable design principles. Former firefighter Regan Foster transformed nine shipping containers into a spacious 3,840-square-foot (356.75 m²) residence that challenges conventional housing paradigms while embracing environmental consciousness.Read More »Regan Foster’s Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Denver, CO

      The Cronulla 2 Storey Shipping Container Home, Sydney, Australia.

      Cronulla 2 Storey Shipping Container Home | Sustainable Living in Sydney

        In the coastal suburb of Cronulla, Sydney, a remarkable sustainable shipping container home Australia project demonstrates the innovative potential of repurposed materials in contemporary residential architecture. This striking 2 storey shipping container home in Australia combines eleven shipping containers—eight 20-foot and three 40-foot units—to create a spacious family residence that balances aesthetic appeal with environmental consciousness. The eco-friendly container home exemplifies how industrial materials can be transformed into sophisticated living spaces while reducing construction waste and environmental impact.Read More »Cronulla 2 Storey Shipping Container Home | Sustainable Living in Sydney

        Holyoke Cabin. An Off Grid Shipping Container Home, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.

        Holyoke Off-Grid Shipping Container Cabin | Sustainable Living in Minnesota

          An Off-Grid Shipping Container Home in Holyoke, Minnesota: A Sustainable Cabin – A Remote, DIY Cabin Built to Last

          Deep in the woods of Holyoke, Minnesota, near Duluth, sits a rugged off grid shipping container home which is built from two sea containers. Designed and constructed by Paul and Scott Stankey of Hive Modular and their partners, this 480-square-foot structure blends sustainability, affordability, and DIY determination. Built in 2008 for just over $15,000, it stands as a functional, resilient example of container home living in northern climates.Read More »Holyoke Off-Grid Shipping Container Cabin | Sustainable Living in Minnesota

          Tim Palen Shipping Container Studio at Shadow Mountain, Mojave Desert, USA.

          Tim Palen Studio: Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Mojave Desert

            On a remote 2.5-acre lot in Joshua Tree, California, a groundbreaking desert shipping container home rises from the sand. Known as the Tim Palen Shipping Container Studio, this hybrid prefab container home in the Mojave Desert merges eco-conscious design with rugged functionality. Designed as a dual-purpose retreat and film studio, it stands as a benchmark for sustainable container architecture in extreme climates.

            Read More »Tim Palen Studio: Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Mojave Desert

            The New Jerusalem Shipping Container Children's Home. Midrand, South Africa.

            The New Jerusalem Shipping Container Children’s Home. Midrand, South Africa.

            New Jerusalem Children’s Home Midrand: A Sustainable Shipping Container Children’s Home in South Africa. The New Jerusalem Children’s Home Midrand stands as a powerful example of how innovative architecture can support vulnerable communities. Located in Gauteng, South Africa, this shipping container children’s home provides a nurturing, eco-friendly environment for abandoned, abused, orphaned, and HIV-positive children. With its use of repurposed materials and thoughtful design, the home has become a pioneering model of sustainable shipping container homes for orphans and one of the most innovative orphanage designs South Africa has seen.Read More »The New Jerusalem Shipping Container Children’s Home. Midrand, South Africa.

            The Atlanta Shipping Container House 2.0 USA.

            Atlanta Shipping Container House 2.0 | Sustainable Living in Georgia

              Atlanta Shipping Container House 2.0: A Modern Sustainable Home -Urban Innovation with Recycled Materials. Architect Francis Kirkpatrick and engineer George Runkle designed the Atlanta Shipping Container House 2.0 to challenge conventional urban housing norms. Built on narrow infill lots in Atlanta, Georgia, these homes reuse standard shipping containers to create bold, efficient, and eco-friendly residences. As interest in green architecture continues to grow, these homes demonstrate how sustainable living can thrive—even in dense city environments.

              Read More »Atlanta Shipping Container House 2.0 | Sustainable Living in Georgia

              The Daiken-Met Architects Shipping Container Office, Gifu City, Japan.

              Daiken-Met Architects: Sustainable Shipping Container Office in Gifu, Japan

                Sugoroku Office: Revolutionary Shipping Container Architecture Transforms Japan’s Mobile Workspace Concept. In Gifu, Japan, a remarkable example of container architecture showcases innovative spatial problem-solving. The Sugoroku Office, created by Daiken-Met Architects, offers a groundbreaking approach to mobile container office design. Furthermore, it addresses urban space challenges while embracing sustainability.

                Read More »Daiken-Met Architects: Sustainable Shipping Container Office in Gifu, Japan

                The Shipping Container Home by Studio:HT, Colorado, USA.

                Off-Grid Shipping Container Home in Colorado by Studio:HT | Sustainable Design

                  Studio HT’s Off-Grid Shipping Container Home in Colorado: Pioneering Sustainable Mountain Living. Nestled among rocky outcroppings in the mountains near Nederland, Colorado, a distinctive off-grid container home challenges conventional residential design. This innovative project by Studio HT (now Tomecek Studio Architecture) demonstrates how shipping container homes in Colorado can harmonize with challenging mountain landscapes. Moreover, it showcases how sustainable design principles can create comfortable living spaces with minimal environmental impact.

                  Read More »Off-Grid Shipping Container Home in Colorado by Studio:HT | Sustainable Design

                  Dabba Mane "Box House". A Shipping Eco Container Home, Bangalore, India.

                  Dabba Mane Box House: Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Bangalore

                    “Dabba Mane”: Pioneering Affordable Shipping Container Home in Bangalore Transforms India’s Sustainable Housing Landscape. In the bustling neighborhood of Ramamurthynagar, Bangalore, an unconventional dwelling stands apart from traditional Indian homes. This unique shipping container home in Bangalore belongs to Kameshwar Rao, a 33-year-old adventure sports coach. Unlike conventional brick-and-mortar structures, Rao’s residence—aptly named “Dabba Mane” (box house)—repurposes four shipping containers into a functional family home. Moreover, this innovative project showcases how sustainable container home design in India can combine practicality, affordability, and environmental consciousness.

                    Read More »Dabba Mane Box House: Sustainable Shipping Container Home in Bangalore

                    The Periscope Project: San Diego's Innovative Shipping Container Art Space

                    The Periscope Project: Innovative Shipping Container Art Space in San Diego

                      The Periscope Project: Revolutionary Shipping Container Art Gallery in San Diego Redefines Urban Creative Spaces. In the vibrant East Village district of San Diego, an innovative cargotecture community project has transformed a narrow urban lot into a thriving creative hub. The Periscope Project, completed in 2011 by ENS_Projects, represents a pioneering approach to modular shipping container building design. This multidisciplinary cooperative space provides essential amenities for artists, designers, students, and activists. Furthermore, it demonstrates how shipping container art spaces can create sustainable, accessible environments for creative collaboration.

                      Read More »The Periscope Project: Innovative Shipping Container Art Space in San Diego