MODBOX 2880
MODBOX 2880 is a three story, Luxury Shipping Container House designed using nine, 40 foot Shipping Containers. This design uses nine, 40 foot shipping containers to create a 3000+ square feet “MODBOX”. Three sets of 40 foot containers are stacked to create a 3 storied house with a dynamic form. The set containers in the middle and top levels are sheared horizontally in opposite direction to create cantilevers over 3 magnificent outdoor spaces. A private rooftop terrace on the top-level for the master bedroom, a covered balcony to the living space on the middle level and a covered carport on the ground level.
Foundation Design
The containers sit on a 250mm reinforced concrete-raft foundation. This allows to elevate the containers off the ground away moisture. You are encouraged to observe construction good practices on; concrete ratio mix, climate and concrete curing, when casting your foundation slab. To fit the elevated steel frame, consult a structural engineer on the correct foundation type and steel member sizes to use. For more information, you are encouraged to go through our previous presentation on The Top 5 Foundation Types used in Shipping Container Homes and Buildings to understand more on foundation design.
Structure and Modifications.
The roof and walls of shipping containers are structural and load bearing. Containers are designed to be loaded at the corners. Any intermediary loading, must be reinforced. Cutting out too much steel from the walls for doors and windows interferes with the structural integrity of shipping containers. Our design principle as ShelterMODE Homes, we do not tamper with the roof and the floor of our shipping container modules. This design retains the original container cargo doors on the container ends to create Juliet balconies to the master bedroom, the study, family room and the kitchen yard on the ground floor to compliment the functionality of this family home.
In this design, we do not have any specialized modifications. The containers on the left wing of the house are stacked at the corners without any intermediary loading linked with the staircase vertically for access. The left wing of the house has only a single par of containers elevated on the first floor level with an elegant steel frame painted in elegant red to create the lightness feel of using shipping containers. The design has used optimal sized windows and doors which require no specialized modification to the walls of the shipping container. For the study and family room respectively, the end panels have been fitted with full glazing to create uninterrupted outdoor connection to the spaces.
The entire frontage width of the living room to the rear of the building is fronted by an open deck for outdoor living. The stack of containers is covered with a butterfly roof oriented inwards towards the center spine. This iconic roof is also a design statement that gives character to this family home. For ShelterMODE Homes we do not drive cars into a shipping container for a garage. We find it not economical and also space constricting. In this regard, we opt to elevate containers above and cover the residual space below it with appropriate siding to enclose the garage.
Outdoors and Exterior Design
As a sustainable design statement, the exterior of all the shipping containers are left as they are, including its original yellow, grey and blue color and markings. This helps to preserve the charm and the history of the containers in addition to reducing costs on painting the exterior.
The rear side to the Open plan Living room is fitted with full height folding glass doors to connect the indoor living space to the outdoors. Folding doors are good space savers and ideal to use in a container house. The full height sliding glass doors provide access to the cargo door Juliet balconies with maximum daylighting, to enhance an industrial yet warm and cozy effect connecting the house to the surrounding landscape.
OPEN LIVING SPACE | MODBOX 2880 by SHELTERMODEFurniture and Interior Design.
Fitting furniture into a shipping container home can be a challenge since most standard furniture hasn’t been designed for such small spaces. Incorporate Multifunctional transforming furniture and other space saving furniture ideas like sofa beds to effortlessly allow a single space to perform more than one function. For more information, you are encouraged to go through our previous presentation on the Top 10 Modern Space Saving Furniture Design Ideas for Shipping Container Homes.
To minimize the claustrophobic feel of living in a shipping container, the walls of the living area can be finished in monochrome light colored paint to make the spaces appear bigger. Since this is a container house, consider using similar materials to finish the kitchen backsplash and the bathroom walls. This repetitive theme creates harmony therefore making the house appear bigger. Consider using Flat-pack cabinets for the kitchen cabinets and the wardrobes to cut on costs.
Insulation and temperature control.
Shipping containers are made of Corten steel. Steel is a good conductor of heat, therefore; to live in a shipping container home, Insulation and temperature control is essential in turning a container into a comfortable home, without which a container home would be like an oven in summer and freezing in winter. The climate of your location is the biggest determinant of the type of insulation or temperature control strategies to use in your shipping container house.
If you are building in the cold climate, use Insulation material that will keep away the cold and moisture from the containers. Closed-Cell Spray foam insulation provides an airtight water barrier and also prevent condensation. For the tropical climate, Keeping out heat from your container house is of paramount importance. A layer of earth wool insulation blanket lined with plasterboard will offer adequate temperature control for hot and dry climates. For more information, you are encouraged to go through our previous presentation on the Top 8 Insulation and Temperature Control Strategies for Shipping Container Homes.
The containers are covered with suspended elevated corrugated steel roof to guard it from rain and direct sunlight. The corrugated steel roof is elevated above the container roof to allow for air flow to keep the container interior cool in summer. For more information, you are encouraged to go through our previous presentation on the 25+ Green Building Design Ideas for Shipping Container Homes
What do you like about our new luxury container home design? Do you have any question? Feel free to ask by posting in the comments below. For additional design details, and interior views; View a complete house tour HERE. If you have any question, feel free to ask by posting in the comments below.For more details on the house design, visit our website sheltermode.com. If you like this design you can buy blue prints of this design here. The blueprints come as a full set of drawings comprising of Plans, Elevations and Section Details. If you need further inspiration; check out our OTHER CONTAINER HOMES designs. You can check out the FLOOR PLANS of the house HERE:
You can watch the VIDEO of the House Below.
