Some people choose to be domicile pioneers and reside in unique structures, which are constructed from unusual and non-traditional materials or transformed from their original purpose into residential living spaces. Creative architects and engineers have looked towards the cargo and freight industry for inspirational home designs. They did not have to look further that the deck of massive ships, which transport raw materials and manufactured products all over the word. The idea to create a shipping container house was bold, groundbreaking, and innovative. It had never been done. Would it be accepted?

An Industrial Object that One Can Call Home

Oftentimes, after large industrial equipment, objects, and structures reach the end of their purpose in life, they corrode, languish, and rust, creating an eyesore in the environment. It is usually easier and cheaper for the industries to abandon these artifacts and let them remain in a state of decay, rather than dismantling and recycling the materials.

Some ingenious architects, contractors, and engineers are repurposing and transforming cargo and freight boxes, technically called “*inter-modal steel building units*” (*ISBU*s) in artfully designed and unique shipping container houses.

Some environmental, functional, and structural benefits of shipping container houses:

• Completely modular home units (single or multiple units can be used)

• Durable material (steel)

• Environmentally-friendly building materials

• Fire resistant

• Low exterior maintenance costs (rust–proofing, primer, and paint)

• Recycle and “rescue” a cargo box from decay

• Weather resistant

An ISBU container can be completely crafted and designed to be suitable living spaces in many parts of the world. In colder climates, the units can be insulated for year-round comfort. In warmer regions, the entire length of the unit can be made to open, allowed for a completely open floor plan and a patio deck. The patio deck feature can also be used in colder climates in the seasonable warm weather months of the year.

If you tell your family, friends, and colleagues you are considering to residing in an ISBU modular home, you will pique their interest as to what type of structure you are interested in purchasing.

You can espouse them with the modular design options and modern amenities, which will gain their support. At which time, you can segue into the environmentally-friendly construction and design using recycled building materials for the major component of the home structure. They will be even more supportive in you housing selection.

You can further impress them with the relative low cost of your new home. They will be in awe of your environmentally conscious behavior, frugality, and resourcefulness. After you got their attention and they are fully invested in your decision, you can tell them you are going to become an owner of a shipping container home and live on the forefront of environmental consciousness and ride the rising wave of globally responsible environmental housing. These new homes are beginning to gain acceptance among some environmentally conscious pioneering homesteaders.