Container House by Rama Architects
To overcome the challenges and constraints of a bushland setting, Rama Architects used shipping containers to build a fire-resistant family home with purpose.
Words: Hande Renshaw | Photography: Toby Peet
A setting on steep terrain in heavy bushland is a challenge for any architect when designing a new home.
Located in Church Point in Sydney, the location for Container House was one such setting: a home which required to be built within the limitations of the site, while remaining functional for its owners.
To overcome the constrainsts of the tricky site, Rama Architects used shipping containers as a foundation. The home is composed of six 20-foot shipping containers, which reduced labour, saved embodied energy and allowed for a quicker build.
With all containers craned into the setting in one weekend, this is a home that’s not only sustainable but also beats building times which can often be lengthy, especially in a bushland setting.
Working within their existing dimensions, the architects maintained the containers’ structural integrity, stacking them to form a bushfire-resistant home that treads lightly on the landscape.
The process for the build included window openings, which were cut out of the containers off-site, and prefabricated glazing and frames installed on-site. The glass panes of the windows and louvres are all the same size, making for efficient installation.
The inside of the containers includes high-quality insulation, preventing cold bridging and condensation on the inside of the containers.
The expression of raw materials juxtaposed within the native and extraordinary landscape became the cornerstone of the design with the inclusion of limed cypress pine flooring throughout on the walls and ceiling, the house has a sense of warmth, with each space blending into the next seamlessly.
The inclusion of plywood in the floors, walls and ceiling creates a connection through the spaces and a sense of warmth. Photo: Toby Peet
Accompanying materials including hardwood timber, fibre cement sheeting, and metal roof sheeting were chosen for their bushfire rating and durability. Photo: Toby Peet
The open-plan kitchen space includes the continuation of plywood through to the joinery. Photo: Toby Peet
The expression of raw materials, juxtaposed within the native and extraordinary landscape, are the cornerstones of the design. Photo: Toby Peet
“Sunlight highlights the beauty of the grain and brings out a soft pink glow in the plywood, which is matched in the upholstery and furnishings.”
The expression of raw materials juxtaposed within the native and extraordinary landscape became the cornerstone of the design. Photo: Toby Peet
The upstairs container includes the master bedroom with an ensuite. Photo: Toby Peet
Louvres have been used through out the home to allow for cross flow ventilation and limited use of air conditioning. Photo: Toby Peet
