Home Design Ideas For Modern Living

Home Architecture

Gaia – An Off-Grid Shipping Container House Full Of Surprises

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Meet, a clever little house concept created by studio Pin-Up Houses. As you can immediately tell just by briefly looking at it, this is no ordinary little house. It’s made out of a reclaimed shipping container and it’s not only compact but also really well-optimized to include a variety of features in a very small amount of space. Also, Gaia is designed to be an off-grid sustainable house which can be placed in just about any location. It doesn’t require any external sources of energy and water and it’s entirely self-sufficient. 

Gaia is a small shipping container house for off-grid locations
Gaia is a small shipping container house for off-grid locations
The house is built from a single repurposed shipping container
The house is built from a single repurposed shipping container
The interior is open without dividing walls or unnecessary features
The interior is open without dividing walls or unnecessary features
The sliding glass doors that mark the entrance also provide easy access outside
The sliding glass doors that mark the entrance also provide easy access outside

As mentioned before, the house is made from a discarded container, a 20’/ 6m one to be more precise. It opens up completely on one side and has double glass doors as well as a small terrace that mark the entrance. This little terrace has a really cool feature which allows it to be folded up in order to make the house completely closed off, private and secure. There’s nothing to worry about when you leave the house or when the weather gets harsh. 

A lot of the furniture included in the interior design is multifunctional
A lot of the furniture included in the interior design is multifunctional
The section of the wall which was cut out to create the entrance is reintroduced in the design as a small terrace
The section of the wall which was cut out to create the entrance is reintroduced in the design as a small terrace
On one of the sides the house can open up to the exterior through the original container doors
On one of the sides the house can open up to the exterior through the original container doors
A small bathroom is nicely hidden in one of the corners, behind a custom storage unit
A small bathroom is nicely hidden in one of the corners, behind a custom storage unit
The roof is flat and made of corrugated metal sheets that match the exterior of the house
The roof is flat and made of corrugated metal sheets that match the exterior of the house

Since this is not designed to use any external energy sources, you might be wondering what the alternative is. Gaia is designed to work with self-produces solar and wind energy. It features solar panels on top of the roof and a wind turbine. There’s also a rainwater filtration system in place which takes care of that issue. And speaking of the roof, it’s made of corrugated metal sheets in order to match the exterior walls and it extends out creating overhangs and a cover for the terrace at the front. 

The small terrace at the front can be folded up, creating a completely enclosed box with added security
The small terrace at the front can be folded up, creating a completely enclosed box with added security
The sofa can be converted into a bed and vice versa as needed
The sofa can be converted into a bed and vice versa as needed
The sofa bed can also be folded up and stored against the wall to save even more space inside
The sofa bed can also be folded up and stored against the wall to save even more space inside
In the main indoor area there's room for a small wood-burning stove which adds a cozy touch to the design
In the main indoor area there’s room for a small wood-burning stove which adds a cozy touch to the design
When the terrace is folded down this allows the interior living area to be expanded outdoors
When the terrace is folded down this allows the interior living area to be expanded outdoors
This is an off-grid house which produces its own solar and wind energy
This is an off-grid house which produces its own solar and wind energy

This was also designed to be a sustainable and affordable alternative housing solution. As a result, it’s created using the most commonly available and cost-efficient materials which apart from the container itself include wood and spruce plywood for the interior and corrugated metal sheets for the roof. All the characteristics mentioned so far combined help Gaia to have minimal impact on the environment compared to regular houses and to function as a unique and independent sort of home which can potentially be customized in lots of different ways. 

Related: The Coolest Shipping Container Homes For Sale Right Now

The interior walls are optimized to hold as much storage as possible and the design is both simple and clever
The interior walls are optimized to hold as much storage as possible and the design is both simple and clever
There's a small kitchen with a sink and generous storage
There’s a small kitchen with a sink and generous storage
This wall features a custom-built unit with open and closed storage modules which wrap around the sofa bed and the stove
This wall features a custom-built unit with open and closed storage modules which wrap around the sofa bed and the stove
The roof extends out and forms protective overhangs for the terrace and the side doors
The roof extends out and forms protective overhangs for the terrace and the side doors
The bathroom is small but manages to include a shower, toilet, sink and a storage unit
The bathroom is small but manages to include a shower, toilet, sink and a storage unit

It only takes three months to construct one of these houses and as far as the interior is concerned, there are many ways in which the design can be customized. The standard design includes a variety of very clever storage solutions which take up as little space as possible and are both convenient and attractive. There’s a lot to discover inside this tiny house. 

A small table and a couple of folding chairs are a perfect way to fill out the space at the center and can also be moved outside
A small table and a couple of folding chairs are a perfect way to fill out the space at the center and can also be moved outside
The original industrial aesthetic of the shipping container was preserved and adds authenticity to the design
The original industrial aesthetic of the shipping container was preserved and adds authenticity to the design
A series of solar panels on the roof provide the energy for the appliances and everything else
A series of solar panels on the roof provide the energy for the appliances and everything else
The simple palette of materials used for the interior helps to create a warm and welcoming decor
The simple palette of materials used for the interior helps to create a warm and welcoming decor
This self-sufficient tiny house is perfect for various beautiful but secluded locations which are worth preserving
This self-sufficient tiny house is perfect for various beautiful but secluded locations which are worth preserving

Features like the convertible sofa bed or the drop-leaf wall-mounted table allow this to be a multifunctional tiny home. There’s even space inside for a little kitchen with a fridge and some appliances and the bathroom has a shower and all the other main features. It may not be very spacious but it makes up for that with a very clever interior design and lots of multifunctional features. 

Its small size and sustainable nature allow this house to make very limited impact on the environment and the space around it
Its small size and sustainable nature allow this house to make very limited impact on the environment and the space around it
This could be a lovely little retreat or vacation house but also an addition to an existing home
This could be a lovely little retreat or vacation house but also an addition to an existing home
The insulated interior allows the house to be comfortable all year round and to adapt to a variety of climates
The insulated interior allows the house to be comfortable all year round and to adapt to a variety of climates
You can check out here all of the features and materials included in the design
You can check out here all of the features and materials included in the design
Although small in size, Gaia is a really cool house with a ton of character
Although small in size, Gaia is a really cool house with a ton of character

Whether you’re looking to downsize and to try a different sort of lifestyle for a while or if you want this tiny house to become a lovely little vacation retreat that you can bring to a wonderful location in the middle of nature, Gaia is a really great option.