This recently constructed shipping container home is another prime example of just how versatile cargotecture really can be. Irish architect and farmer Patrick Bradley built this home using four shipping containers, which he obtained from the Belfast Docks. The home is located in a rural area of Northern Ireland, where his new home is by far the most modern one around.

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Due to being inexpensive and readily available, shipping containers are often used for building affordable housing for the less fortunate. This was recently proven by the Johannesburg, South Africa firm Architecture for a change (A4AC) who used shipping containers to construct a school and community center Malawi. The structure is also capable of operating independent of the grid, since it is equipped with a rainwater harvesting system and a solar power array.

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One of the key characteristics of shipping containers is that they can easily be stacked one on top of another and still retain their structural soundness. After all, when they were still used for their primary purpose i.e. the shipping of goods, they where stacked high into the air. Because of this, these building blocks lend themselves fabulously to building multi story buildings, such as family homes, apartment buildings or student housing. Below you will find a few great examples of creating functional buildings out of shipping containers.

1. Student Housing in Johannesburg, South Africa

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Shipping container architecture is a great way to build a sustainable home, but many architects and homeowners are also going a step further, and using these building blocks to build truly off-the-grid homes. The main advantages of such homes are the ability to place them virtually anywhere, minimizing the footprint and lowering the monthly costs to virtually zero. Below are 5 examples of shipping container homes, which feature a variety of great technologies and methods to make them self-sustaining.

1. Wisconsin Off-The-Grid Home

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A shipping container home is going up in Royal Oak, Michigan. According to the builder, ModEco Development, this is likely the first home made of recycled shipping containers in Michigan. Passersby are showing great interest in the home, some even taking pictures, and so far the community support for the project seems to be a given.
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