Auckland, New Zealand
Design: IQ Containers with Brenda Kelly
I’m a fan boy when it comes to shipping container houses. They’re cost-effective and they’re watertight from the get-go, ready to be retrofitted with insulation and other elements. Of course, step one is to ensure you buy a good, waterproof, used shipping container. Take your time looking around, as these boxes have risen in popularity, along with their prices. Container houses are not for everyone — some people absolutely hate the plain, industrial, modern look of these Conex boxes. But it’s important to note that the exteriors can be altered, decorated, or hidden behind other materials.
Brenda Kelly’s off-grid New Zealand container house is a case of ultra-tiny gone right. There are a few tricks to her seemingly simple trade. First, light colors were employed to give her microhome an increased sense of openness. It also helps that she was able to procure a slightly taller shipping container (almost 10 feet, as opposed to the usual 8). This extra headroom allowed Brenda to create a two-level design where the sleep space is actually situated below the “living room deck.” Usually it’s the other way around, but I’m fully in agreement with Brenda’s reasoning: “Sleep space isn’t for standing.” By dropping her bed below and creating a cozy sleep cave, she has omitted the danger of loft ladders and created a space that will please even those who prefer not a sliver of light at night.
Inspiration: “A quest for simple, modern, more affordable living.”
A cozy sleep cave is tucked beneath the living room “deck.”
Brenda’s bathroom, which opens onto the deck, is not part of the main container. Her aim was to keep one’s, er, “business” away from the tiny, enclosed living space. While incredibly small, this bathroom employs what I call “clear roof trickery” to fake spaciousness.
In Retrospect: “I really don’t feel I have any regrets, but keep in mind that shipping containers can be tricky to work with because they are tougher to cut and meld to your liking. Insulating them is something you don’t want to skimp on, either, as their metallic makeup can be quick to transfer both heat and cold.”
