Contained Living Anywhere - Top 7 Shipping Container Houses

Trend Hunter has watched a sharp increase in demand for recycled houses constructed of old shipping containers. We can hardly contain our excitement on this one! Initially thought to be an affordable low-income housing alternative, like a modernized trailer, these houses consist of old freight containers which have been remodeled to include living quarters, complete with electricity and even running water options. They are hauled to location by semi trucks and can be popped up just about anywhere.

After several companies began building these innovative mobile homes, architectural aesthetes recognized them for their unique design and highly modernized functionality. They often house up to eight residents and can get extremely luxurious. Some even choose to stack them to create larger dwellings. A few environmentally aware retail stores have set up shop in these.

Lofts were the “it” abode for a while, but it looks as if a shift is occurring; this eco-friendly architecture may just be the next big thing in home design.

Check out some of the top shipping container homes featured on Trend Hunter:

Contained Living - TempoHousing In Sea Containers (GALLERY)

These funky homes are created out of recycled freight containers and are growing rapidly in popularity. The original idea by Dutch company TempoHousing was for the shelters to function as temporary housing, but the stackable units were quickly recognized for their innovative style and design. Ordina… [More]

Container Houses - Habode (Follow-Up) (GALLERY)

The popularity of building recycled homes out of old shipping containers is evident. Habode is yet another company creating these container houses. “Home can be anywhere.” These ones ship in (as) a container and the walls and ceilings fold out into a two bedroom house complete with lounge, kitchen, … [More]

All Terrain Cabin - Life In A Shipping Container (GALLERY)

Here’s another fantastically clever Canadian invention! The BARK All Terrain Cabins (ATC) are made out of old ISO shipping containers and can comfortably fit up to four people. The ATCs would be a simple addition to that gorgeous property you just bought for that beautiful lakeside property or secon… [More]

Shipping Container Houses (Follow Up) - The Illy House Blooms in 90 Seconds (GALLERY)

At Trend Hunter, we’ve already seen houses made from shipping containers, but the Illy House can open ‘like a flower’ in just 90 seconds.  Okay, that’s innovative. Cool Hunter notes, “With the push of a button, the house opens in 90 seconds like a flower and transforms from a compact container into… [More]

Houses made from Shipping Containers (GALLERY)

Live the life of box-car Willie - but now without those frustrating train noises. A number of companies have started creating low-income housing out of recycled shipping containers. The houses can be created quickly in a number of configurations in sizes ranging from 600 to 3000 square feet. One of … [More]

Shipping Container Architecture - The Freitag Store (GALLERY)

The Freitag Messanger Bag is all about recycling “useless” refuse into a finely built product. Their flagship store is no different in its sensibility. It’s thinness scares me coming from California earthquake country. But there is something about scary architecture that turns me on. [More]

Container Stores - Uniqlo Drops Stores in NYC If you don’t have a store location, why not just drop a big box of cargo and call it a store?  A Japanese store, Uniqlo, will be opening the first ‘Container Stores’ in NYC this Labor Day weekend. “Uniqlo will deliver container stores modeled after a ship’s cargo containers to various locations in … [More]