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A Shipping Container House With A Surprisingly Lightweight Appearance

By Simona Ganea | Published on

As more and more architects are embracing the reclaimed shipping container trend, houses such as this one are starting to appear all over the world. This particular residence is the finished product of studio River & Rain. It’s located in Dhaka, Bangladesh and was completed in 2017. The entire project was done using parts from four shipping containers. The result was a three-story residence with a surprisingly lightweight appearance.

The landscaping around the house was kept minimal to allow the building to remain the focal point of the site
The landscaping around the house was kept minimal to allow the building to remain the focal point of the site
In total, four shipping containers have been repurposed and transformed into cozy spaces
In total, four shipping containers have been repurposed and transformed into cozy spaces
The ground floor holds the common and social areas which welcome the views and the outdoors in
The ground floor holds the common and social areas which welcome the views and the outdoors in
The residence has unusually large decks and terraces connected with wood and steel staircases
The residence has unusually large decks and terraces connected with wood and steel staircases
In total, the residence offers 134 square meters of cozy living spaces spread across three floors
In total, the residence offers 134 square meters of cozy living spaces spread across three floors

The residence has a steel frame and an unusual amount of large openings and reflective surfaces which combined give it the lightweight look we just mentioned. The ground floor contains the social areas while the two upper levels house the private spaces. Sets of stairs connects the internal spaces as well as all the decks and terraces spread throughout the floor plan. Overall, the house has an industrial–rustic appearance, a big emphasis being placed on the use of reclaimed materials and on the transformation of the shipping containers from cold, austere volumes into a cozy and welcoming home.

The architects emphasized the use of reclaimed materials throughout the interior and exterior design of the house
The architects emphasized the use of reclaimed materials throughout the interior and exterior design of the house
In spite of its robust frame and industrial appearance, the residence looks surprisingly lightweight
In spite of its robust frame and industrial appearance, the residence looks surprisingly lightweight
The two floors house the bedrooms and bathrooms with simple and welcoming interior designs
The two floors house the bedrooms and bathrooms with simple and welcoming interior designs
The bedrooms are connected to open terraces which bring in natural light and panoramic views
The bedrooms are connected to open terraces which bring in natural light and panoramic views
At night the residence has a soft glow and blends in with its surroundings in a seamless manner
At night the residence has a soft glow and blends into its surroundings in a seamless manner
A large yard provides an ample outdoor space for various activities
A large yard provides an ample outdoor space for various activities
A special relationship developed between the house and all the greenery embedded in its design
A special relationship developed between the house and all the greenery embedded in its design
The industrial style is definitely the dominant one but there are also noticeable rustic details spread throughout the design
The industrial style is definitely the dominant one but there are also noticeable rustic details spread throughout the design
Full-height windows and large openings allow an abundance of natural light and the beautiful views to penetrate the rooms
Full-height windows and large openings allow an abundance of natural light and the beautiful views to penetrate the rooms
The views are emphasized in subtle ways through the carefully chosen internal layout of the rooms
The views are emphasized in subtle ways through the carefully chosen internal layout of the rooms
The numerous decks and terraces serve as buffer spaces between the four container volumes
The numerous decks and terraces serve as buffer spaces between the four container volumes
The fact that the exterior of the containers was kept as such is barely noticeable
The fact that the exterior of the containers was kept as such is barely noticeable
This residence was designed to serve as a peaceful and welcoming retreat, away from the city
This residence was designed to serve as a peaceful and welcoming retreat, away from the city
The pergola roof filters the light and maintains an open and lightweight appearance
The pergola roof filters the light and maintains an open and lightweight appearance
The ground floor has a particularly close connection with the outdoors and this is reflected in the floor plan
The ground floor has a particularly close connection with the outdoors and this is reflected in the floor plan
The four shipping containers are connected by a series of open spaces
The four shipping containers are connected by a series of open spaces
The landscape influences the design of the residence in subtle and harmonious ways
The landscape influences the design of the residence in subtle and harmonious ways