This retreat is a (somewhat) famous cargo container house project which has been featured on several television programs, including HGTV’s “Small Space, Big Style” and “Some Assembly Required.”  It is situated on the wooded edge of a big farm outside of Seattle.  The owner uses this completely off-the-grid modern cabin to get away from the bustle of farm activity, as well as for guests.  Many sustainable concepts have been integrated into this container home, including using recycled containers, decking milled from wind-felled trees, and recycled steel in the foundation.

This retreat is a (somewhat) famous cargo container house project which has been featured on several television programs, including HGTV’s “Small Space, Big Style” and “Some Assembly Required.”  It is situated on the wooded edge of a big farm outside of Seattle.  The owner uses this completely off-the-grid modern cabin to get away from the bustle of farm activity, as well as for guests.  Many sustainable concepts have been integrated into this container home, including using recycled containers, decking milled from wind-felled trees, and recycled steel in the foundation.

Sunset Magazine, a lifestyle magazine focusing on the Western US, featured a c192 Nomad as their Idea House, the first and only shipping container home to win that award.  With rooftop solar power for all its needs, this bright yellow Nomad has a small carbon footprint yet makes a powerful visual statement.  Sleek Duravit fixtures and bamboo floors make for a stylish getaway that sleeps four comfortably.  Transportable and sustainable, it is a true Cargotecture original.

Sunset Magazine, a lifestyle magazine focusing on the Western US, featured a c192 Nomad as their Idea House, the first and only shipping container home to win that award.  With rooftop solar power for all its needs, this bright yellow Nomad has a small carbon footprint yet makes a powerful visual statement.  Sleek Duravit fixtures and bamboo floors make for a stylish getaway that sleeps four comfortably.  Transportable and sustainable, it is a true Cargotecture original.

This two-story Cargotecture retreat is on an island outside Seattle.  This wonderful cargo container house looks out across its beach to the shipping lanes to and from Asia, where many shipping containers can be seen passing each day.  The context is fantastic.  Designed to handle high winds and storms, this container home also features a large deck, a beautiful stylish interior and access to the slope behind it.

This two-story Cargotecture retreat is on an island outside Seattle.  This wonderful cargo container house looks out across its beach to the shipping lanes to and from Asia, where many shipping containers can be seen passing each day.  The context is fantastic.  Designed to handle high winds and storms, this container home also features a large deck, a beautiful stylish interior and access to the slope behind it.

This is Cargotecture’s very first project from way back in 2003. We envisioned “Cargotown” as a live-work light industrial market/neighborhood development at the south end of Seattle’s waterfront, on the site of a former cargo terminal. Our firm presented it to the City of Seattle and the civic organization Allied Arts. No other American firm was doing container architecture in 2003. We were the first. There would be no “Cargotown” without “Cargotecture,” and we believe this still may get built.

This is Cargotecture’s very first project from way back in 2003. We envisioned “Cargotown” as a live-work light industrial market/neighborhood development at the south end of Seattle’s waterfront, on the site of a former cargo terminal. Our firm presented it to the City of Seattle and the civic organization Allied Arts. No other American firm was doing container architecture in 2003. We were the first. There would be no “Cargotown” without “Cargotecture,” and we believe this still may get built.

One of Cargotecture’s most ambitious and forward-looking designs is for an entire new “village” on what is currently a windswept area popular with surfers, in coastal Westport, Washington.  The vision is of a vibrant, sustainable space made up of containers in a variety of styles built around a classic legacy roadhouse restaurant/pizzeria that gives the whole project a historical context.  The containers create a central space reminiscent of traditional urban market areas, while the container-tower reflects contextually as a lighthouse, with a beacon that can be seen for miles over the waves.

One of Cargotecture’s most ambitious and forward-looking designs is for an entire new “village” on what is currently a windswept area popular with surfers, in coastal Westport, Washington.  The vision is of a vibrant, sustainable space made up of containers in a variety of styles built around a classic legacy roadhouse restaurant/pizzeria that gives the whole project a historical context.  The containers create a central space reminiscent of traditional urban market areas, while the container-tower reflects contextually as a lighthouse, with a beacon that can be seen for miles over the waves.

This wonderful and successful project was designed for Santa Monica, California in 2012 to help its citizens understand more about the recycling process. The building hosts school groups learning about environmental responsibility. A LEED Platinum project, the two-40-foot containers feature a “Green Roof”, ceramic heat-resistant white paint, and sustainable windows and doors.

This wonderful and successful project was designed for Santa Monica, California in 2012 to help its citizens understand more about the recycling process. The building hosts school groups learning about environmental responsibility. A LEED Platinum project, the two-40-foot containers feature a “Green Roof”, ceramic heat-resistant white paint, and sustainable windows and doors.

This landmark structure was and is Seattle’s first cargo container -based commercial building, and generated extensive media coverage at the time.  Erected in 2009 in the aftermath of the Great Recession, it represents a 20-40% reduction in construction costs compared to typical commercial construction.  Constructed from 12 shipping containers, it houses a double-height retail showroom gallery and 7.200 square feet of total space on the 7,000 square foot lot.  It features a Green Roof, sustainable landscaping, and recycled materials for reduced environmental impact.

This landmark structure was and is Seattle’s first cargo container -based commercial building, and generated extensive media coverage at the time.  Erected in 2009 in the aftermath of the Great Recession, it represents a 20-40% reduction in construction costs compared to typical commercial construction.  Constructed from 12 shipping containers, it houses a double-height retail showroom gallery and 7.200 square feet of total space on the 7,000 square foot lot.  It features a Green Roof, sustainable landscaping, and recycled materials for reduced environmental impact.

A few years back our firm won the competition for a cargo container cabin at King County (Seattle) Parks Department. This beautiful design hosts couples and kids in bunk beds and is overinsulated. These features make it extremely popular for guests in Fall & Winter at the campground.

A few years back our firm won the competition for a cargo container cabin at King County (Seattle) Parks Department. This beautiful design hosts couples and kids in bunk beds and is overinsulated. These features make it extremely popular for guests in Fall & Winter at the campground.

We designed this transportable Mobile Medical Triage Unit for the Nobel-Prize winning NGO Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) in 2004. Built from one 8 by 20 container, it nonetheless can store a wide range of supplies and handle a good deal of emergency clinic traffic. Several different versions have now been built around the world.

We designed this transportable Mobile Medical Triage Unit for the Nobel-Prize winning NGO Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) in 2004. Built from one 8 by 20 container, it nonetheless can store a wide range of supplies and handle a good deal of emergency clinic traffic. Several different versions have now been built around the world.

This project was designed to be the site of a type of reality-show contest for a cell phone provider, and was to be situated in Washington Square Park in Manhattan, NYC. The concept of the promotion was that contestants would try to stay on the telephone for the longest period of time, and they would be visible throughout their calling. So we created a fishbowl concept, making the entire building see-through with walls of windows. Though seemingly futuristic and cutting-edge, it actually would be relatively easy to construct and site.

This project was designed to be the site of a type of reality-show contest for a cell phone provider, and was to be situated in Washington Square Park in Manhattan, NYC. The concept of the promotion was that contestants would try to stay on the telephone for the longest period of time, and they would be visible throughout their calling. So we created a fishbowl concept, making the entire building see-through with walls of windows. Though seemingly futuristic and cutting-edge, it actually would be relatively easy to construct and site.

This on-the-boards project is garnering great anticipation from both the community and our clients here in Seattle, Washington. The tower in the project will overlook the condominium (under construction), and also will boast a spectacular view of beautiful Lake Union, too. Every element of this project is relocatable and sustainable.

This on-the-boards project is garnering great anticipation from both the community and our clients here in Seattle, Washington. The tower in the project will overlook the condominium (under construction), and also will boast a spectacular view of beautiful Lake Union, too. Every element of this project is relocatable and sustainable.

This is a backyard home office in the Fremont District of Portland, Oregon. The owners are very happy with their new 384 square foot office, built in 2010. It is made of two 24-foot containers, and features a “Green Roof” which increases insulation, improves the habitat, and reduces energy usage.

This is a backyard home office in the Fremont District of Portland, Oregon. The owners are very happy with their new 384 square foot office, built in 2010. It is made of two 24-foot containers, and features a “Green Roof” which increases insulation, improves the habitat, and reduces energy usage.

A guest cabin was needed adjacent to an existing stick-built cabin at a site 4 hours north of San Francisco.  This great-looking steel container guest cabin was sandblasted to reveal the brown Corten weathering steel behind the paint.  Corten steel has about 5% nickel in it, which means that when it rusts 1/32”, it will then rust no further, yielding a fantastic look. That is why cargo containers, and indeed all sea-going ships, are all built from Corten weathering steel. This cabin also has a projected roof which sheds water from areas around it, which is available as an option for most models. The client is very happy with this cargo container home.

A guest cabin was needed adjacent to an existing stick-built cabin at a site 4 hours north of San Francisco.  This great-looking steel container guest cabin was sandblasted to reveal the brown Corten weathering steel behind the paint.  Corten steel has about 5% nickel in it, which means that when it rusts 1/32”, it will then rust no further, yielding a fantastic look. That is why cargo containers, and indeed all sea-going ships, are all built from Corten weathering steel. This cabin also has a projected roof which sheds water from areas around it, which is available as an option for most models. The client is very happy with this cargo container home.

This multi-use project was designed to Innovatively maximize the square footage and drama on a pocket-sized lot on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The building houses two 640 square foot apartments over a double-height commercial space, and the standing stairwell tower is constructed from an uprighted cargo container. Green water collection and native vines are included from the ground level all the way up to the roof deck.

This multi-use project was designed to Innovatively maximize the square footage and drama on a pocket-sized lot on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The building houses two 640 square foot apartments over a double-height commercial space, and the standing stairwell tower is constructed from an uprighted cargo container. Green water collection and native vines are included from the ground level all the way up to the roof deck.

This dramatic unbuilt cargo container building project has the ability to transform urban landscapes.  It can be entirely factory-built and transported to the eventual site, allowing to form the basis for a new way of developing new or reclaimed neighborhoods with modern, attractive, durable and affordable structures that reflect the way urban dwellers want to love today – sustainable, low carbon footprint, and oriented to the rhythms of the street.

This dramatic unbuilt cargo container building project has the ability to transform urban landscapes.  It can be entirely factory-built and transported to the eventual site, allowing to form the basis for a new way of developing new or reclaimed neighborhoods with modern, attractive, durable and affordable structures that reflect the way urban dwellers want to love today – sustainable, low carbon footprint, and oriented to the rhythms of the street.

This striking building was custom-designed to be a public facility for the community of Scottsdale, Arizona.  Fashioned from one 8-by-20-foot container, it reflects the regional feel of the pueblo with its soaring wing of an awning.  It can be customized for many different portable or permanent restroom requirements.

This striking building was custom-designed to be a public facility for the community of Scottsdale, Arizona.  Fashioned from one 8-by-20-foot container, it reflects the regional feel of the pueblo with its soaring wing of an awning.  It can be customized for many different portable or permanent restroom requirements.

This 64,000sf, four story 100-unit apartment design was designed for a Seattle property next to some cargo container railyards, and is still on the boards  The context will be fantastic.  It is  modern, highly efficient, and strong and resilient enough to be approved in a seismic zone even with four stories.  True to its heritage, it features cargo container floors and walls exposed on the inside.  The entire  structure can be built in a factory and craned into place in one single day.  We hope to bring this monumental cargo container building to Seattle’s Interbay Neighborhood soon.

This 64,000sf, four story 100-unit apartment design was designed for a Seattle property next to some cargo container railyards, and is still on the boards  The context will be fantastic.  It is  modern, highly efficient, and strong and resilient enough to be approved in a seismic zone even with four stories.  True to its heritage, it features cargo container floors and walls exposed on the inside.  The entire  structure can be built in a factory and craned into place in one single day.  We hope to bring this monumental cargo container building to Seattle’s Interbay Neighborhood soon.

The c640 Lookout is a 640sf double-wide pair of 40’ containers configured as a 1.5 bedroom, one bathroom home.  It comes complete with washer/dryer, kitchen with appliances and a cedar accent wall, choice of gas or electric heat, windows, insulation, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures- it is plug-and-play from the factory and is a very affordable complete home ready for move-in within days of installation.  The pictured c640 Lookout project is on the boards for a site in central Washington State and will be delivered by the factory later this year.  A bunk bed option allows the home to host two more adults, and there is generous storage throughout, making it an excellent retreat for a second home site or as a guest cabin.

The c640 Lookout is a 640sf double-wide pair of 40’ containers configured as a 1.5 bedroom, one bathroom home.  It comes complete with washer/dryer, kitchen with appliances and a cedar accent wall, choice of gas or electric heat, windows, insulation, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures- it is plug-and-play from the factory and is a very affordable complete home ready for move-in within days of installation.  The pictured c640 Lookout project is on the boards for a site in central Washington State and will be delivered by the factory later this year.  A bunk bed option allows the home to host two more adults, and there is generous storage throughout, making it an excellent retreat for a second home site or as a guest cabin.