We have been arguing for years whether it makes sense to build a house from shipping containers. After all, containers are stackable, durable, plentiful, inexpensive, and designed to be shipped almost anywhere in the world. On the other hand, used shipping containers require major repairs to make them habitable, which is a labor intensive process in itself. Of course, these obstacles haven’t stopped people and companies from turning these metal boxes into impressive units that look just like any ordinary home.
Plunk Pod is a great example of how to build a house out of shipping containers. Created by Ontario-based Canadian company Northern Shield, the installation uses an original layout that solves some of the problems associated with long and narrow spaces inside shipping containers. We took a closer look at the finished version of this device in Exploring Alternatives:
This 42 square meter (450 sq ft) pod, 8.5 ft wide and 53 ft long, has been completely redone inside and out, insulated and clad on the outside with a rugged Hardie panel system. The device is designed for temporary or permanent installation and can even be placed on wheels if desired.
The interior of this one bedroom capsule is very much like any traditional home with all the usual amenities you would expect. Here we see an open plan kitchen and a living room next to it. The living room has plenty of seating, wall mounted TV, coffee table and electric fireplace. Here the counter is an extension of the kitchen area and, with the addition of stools, can also serve as a place to eat or work.
The house is primarily heated and cooled with a ductless mini-split system, but there is also auxiliary heating with baseboard heaters in enclosed areas such as bathrooms and bedrooms.
The kitchen offers a relatively more streamlined configuration than other container homes we’ve seen, thanks to a “mini-L” shaped layout complete with waterfall-style countertops. This provides more space for cabinets and worktops for storage and food preparation, and neatly separates the kitchen from the living room.
Here’s a corrugated steel accent wall with open shelves instead of bulky top cabinets. There is also a stove, oven and refrigerator, as well as space for a microwave if needed.
With a set of sliding patio doors, the kitchen is positioned to make the most of the sunlight and air. This means that they can be opened – perhaps to a terrace – so that the interior spaces expand, giving the impression that the house is larger than it actually is. In addition, these openings can be converted to connect to other additional cabins, so the house can be expanded as needed.
In addition to the kitchen, there is another door that can be used as an entrance or opened as an additional door to increase cross ventilation.
The design of the bathroom was interesting: the bathroom was divided into two smaller rooms instead of one bath, and there was a fight over who showered when.
One room had a toilet and a small vanity, and the next “shower room” had just that, plus another vanity and a sink. One might wonder if it would be better to have a sliding door between the two rooms, but the general idea here makes sense. To save space, both rooms have sliding pocket doors that take up less space than conventional swing doors.
There is a pantry built into the hallway above the toilets and showers, as well as several wall-mounted pantries.
At the end of the shipping container is the bedroom, which is large enough for a queen bed and has space for a built-in wardrobe. The room as a whole feels very airy and bright thanks to two windows that can be opened for natural ventilation.
Plunk Pod is one of the most livable shipping containers we’ve seen, and the company also says it can offer other custom turnkey solutions, such as installing “solar trailers” to generate electricity or installing water tanks to store water. . grid installations.
For those interested, this particular Plunk Pod is currently on sale for $123,500. For more information, visit the North Shield.
Post time: Jan-03-2023