Skip to content

Living In a Shipping Container Could Actually Be Pretty Sweet, Thanks to Bellevue Student

A design group upcycles a shipping container into a tiny, but chic, living space.

By Callie Little September 25, 2017

shipping-container-landscape

This article originally appeared in the September 2017 issue of Seattle magazine.

Traditionally used for transporting goods near and far, shipping containers are being repurposed for residential living. Karen Hirschman, a board member of the Washington State Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID; Georgetown, 5701 Sixth Ave. S, No. 213; 206.762.4313), noted that burgeoning interest had spearheaded a floor plan design contest for students from all seven Washington colleges and universities that have interior design programs. 

The winning plan for the shipping container (which was purchased by ASID from shipping company ConGlobal) came from Brandon Riem of Bellevue College. The interior design boasts efficiency and simplicity—which are required of a space that measures just 320-square-feet. Although the exterior is simple blue corrugated steel, the interior tones of black, gray and white exude luxury.


Image by American Society of Interior Designers

Rooms are separated by frosted sliding glass doors, while high-end appliances (including a dishwasher, 4-inch tankless water heater, stacked washer and dryer and combination oven-microwave) and custom storage solutions, such as a chic queen-size Murphy bed, create versatility in a space where every square inch counts. 

The home—completely reinforced, insulated and move-in ready—can be viewed at a private Tacoma location (for details, contact ASID by phone or email [email protected]).

It is available for purchase for $79,000 and, of course, can be shipped anywhere.

 

Follow Us

Better Together: This Take on Co-Housing Emphasizes Quality and Community

Better Together: This Take on Co-Housing Emphasizes Quality and Community

The Seattle project presents an out-of-the-box model, where investors are also residents, and the design focuses on longevity and tenant retention—not profit.

Growing up in rural Detroit, Chad Dale spent many after-school and weekend hours playing with neighborhood kids in an open lot near his house. It’s an experience he always hoped his children would have someday, but by the time he became a father in Seattle, land was at a premium: either already developed or prohibitively…

A Different Kind of Mattress Store
Sponsored

A Different Kind of Mattress Store

Photos courtesy of Bedrooms and More. If you’re looking for the best mattress shopping experience in Seattle, the right choice often comes down to materials, transparency, and expert guidance – not just price or brand names. Bedrooms & More specializes in natural and organic two-sided mattresses and offers a no-pressure showroom environment where customers can…

Craft Value: The Founder of Henrybuilt Reflects on What He’s Learned in 25 Years of Business

Craft Value: The Founder of Henrybuilt Reflects on What He’s Learned in 25 Years of Business

In 2001, after 15 years of working in publishing—where I was a founding team member of two venture-funded technology companies—I decided to start a different kind of company: one that made physical products. This company, Henrybuilt, would combine product innovation and craft under one roof and sell directly to the end user—the homeowner—so that we…

Joint Effort

Joint Effort

Rooted in the Northwest craft tradition, Mory Homes offers thoughtful furniture and storage solutions with an architectural point of view.

After more than a decade as the executive director of  local lighting company Graypants, one of the cofounders, Jonathan Junker, decided to return to his architectural roots. In 2019, he was raising a family on Bainbridge Island when he opened his namesake studio. At first, Junker enjoyed the holistic approach to residential design; a few…