We already owned a steel shipping container modified as a small but relocatable living space and obtained another insulated aluminium one.The containers, positioned at the core of the home, are set at right angles to each other and 3m apart in an L shape. They are sitting on 0.5m x 0.5m x 1m plus, concrete foundations at each corner with large bolts protruding up into the twist-lock places.

This unpretentious but elegant home echos the pioneering spirit in its apparent simplicity.

The entry courtyards welcome you through internal gardens to the sun drenched hall, 8 by 8m by 3.6m high with a clear corrugated polycarbonate roof. This is flanked by cosy and intimate spaces themselves all linked to the wild outside. There are three bedrooms, two lofts, internal gardens for food growing, passion fruit and kiwi fruit vines throughout, and most importantly a flying fox and several swings inside. The kitchen looks out onto the Pacific Ocean (Moana Nui a Kiwa) a mere 30m away and the shower/washing room, which is 4.8 by 4.8 m2, has a Jasmine plant, hops and vines and a waterfall which is active when it rains.

Two of the roofs slope down to the ground in graceful curves despite being constructed entirely of straight timbers. Specific windows are positioned to allow the sunrise to shine directly out of the ocean into the inner bedrooms. The beds are all on castors to enable them to be rolled through the lifting wall sections out onto the deck for those star lit nights serenaded by the ever present rumble of the surf.

We use gas for cooking, wood and solar heating for hot water and both 12 and 230 volts electrical systems for light and a few appliances. The house now covers about 15m x 12m (about 170msq or 1500ftsq) plus decks. After 5 years of building my partner avows it must be at least half finished and who am I to argue, but...

Containers generally.

Our experience suggests insulated containers are best. One of ours was just a corrugated steel box (but with a lovely hardwood floor) and we had to frame it out before insulating and lining it.

If used alone, containers need some kind of roof as they tend to pool water on their flat tops otherwise. They are quite stable thermally especially with double glass windows and doors. A huge contrast to the limited space available on the road but very appropriate for our current needs.  They are usually available here because they have failed their international "warrant of fitness " ie out of square or punctured etc. and cannot be stacked on a boat as a result. Depending on the type (steel, aluminium, insulated etc) they range from NZ$1000 up to $3000.

This is for the 6 meter or 20ft by 8ft standard box (the heights are not all the same though, ask me how I know !). Cheaper than any comparable garden shed/garage/sleep out, secure, and still portable and therefore often no need for official building permission etc.

As one of our possibilities, before we built, we investigated mobilising one of our containers and I saw one which had an axle set at the rear and a turntable under the front making it an instant semi-trailer. Otherwise as a load, they are not really viable for a truly mobile home as generally their weight (empty around 2000 kilos) and strength are undesirable and unnecessary respectively. We have moved ours around the country on several occasions until they became bolted down here on the coast. They can be trucked, rail freighted orpulled/rollered by a tracked vehicle.

Doi of DunedinAotearoa/New Zealand

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