Greetings from Chile! 🙂

We at Container Home Hub have been so lucky to connect with such creative minds that are willing to show off their work. So as another real treat for you guys, Jorge Cardenas Jara, the architect of this shipping container home, is sharing with us the home he built with his father.
This shipping container home is made of two shipping containers, 3 rooms, 1 bath, and a big central space where the kitchen is the main event. With the best part being the big entrance of light throughout the home. The total cost was about $45,000 USD.

Here is one of the original designs created for this container home. This 3D sketch features a modern structure composed of three interconnected shipping containers. The design seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings, set in a sprawling grassy field with rolling mountains in the background. Large windows invite light into the space, creating a bright and airy atmosphere inside. A rooftop deck crowns the design, suggesting an ideal spot for outdoor relaxation and enjoying the panoramic views.

In this second image, we see another 3D-rendered view of the container home, bringing the original design to life. The structure stands out with its sleek wooden facade, adding a touch of warmth and contrast to the modern metal frame of the shipping containers. The layout reveals a small, inviting porch where you can imagine sipping morning coffee while soaking in the surrounding greenery. This angle also highlights the thoughtful integration of large windows and the rooftop deck, continuing the theme of open, light-filled spaces and outdoor living.

This 3D-rendered image offers a glimpse into one way the interior of the container home could look. It features a cozy living area adjacent to a compact, modern kitchen. The spacious and functional layout is designed to accommodate daily activities comfortably.

The floor plan layout of the container home, detailing the arrangement of bedrooms, kitchen, living, and dining areas


Front view

Side view

Jorge told us, “this is a family business with my dad who is an engineer and I did the design. We both participated in the constructive process. The main project is to create a sustainable village with containers, but first of all these are two cabins to start.”
This shipping container home is the first of two builds. The second is currently under way. The exact location is Valdivia, the river region in Chile. It is in a rural area but close to the urban boundary.
Cardenas Jara also tells us, “Here in Chile this is something that is starting to be put into practice and there is much potential as the number of ports along the coast; with so many containers in large numbers. Today I live in a port city Valparaiso where the use of these elements as construction is just beginning.”

Getting the container in place was one of the first steps in building this container home. Here, you can see a crane lifting a red shipping container onto its foundation in a grassy area surrounded by trees.

After positioning the container, the next step in building the container home was to secure it on concrete supports. Here, you can see the red shipping container resting firmly on these supports, set against a grassy backdrop. A small window has already been cut out, beginning the transformation from a simple container.

As the project progresses, an orange shipping container arrives at the site, ready to be positioned.

After securing the containers on their concrete supports, the next phase in the transformation involved cutting out spaces for doors and windows. This and the following image show the orange shipping containers with newly cut openings, ready for further development into living spaces.


With the containers securely in place, the focus shifts to interior construction. The two containers are joined together with beams and supports, adding structural integrity and connecting the two structures. Special care was taken to ensure the containers were perfectly aligned, creating a level surface for the interior of the home.

As construction progresses, attention turns to the roof. In this image you can see the partially constructed roof of the container home, featuring metal beams and corrugated panels. The roof structure spans across the connected containers, providing protection from the elements and integrating the containers into a cohesive unit.

One standout feature is the skylight, often referred to as a ‘well’ in some parts of Chile. This addition floods the interior with natural light, enhancing the overall design and creating a bright, inviting atmosphere.

As the container home neared completion, attention turned to the entrance. In this image, you see the front of the container home with the doors of one container fully open, revealing an interior room. The exterior, with a striking contrast of black and red, gives the home a modern and bold appearance.
Following are photos of the completed interiors:

Stepping inside the container home, you can see a bright hallway and a white door at the end. High windows along the top and a central skylight flood the space with natural light, creating an airy and welcoming atmosphere. This thoughtful design maximizes the use of vertical space!

Turning to view the opposite direction in the container home, you see a bright and inviting hallway. The high windows and central skylight continue to fill the space with natural light. A white door stands at the end, while a sliding glass door on the left leads to an outdoor area, blending the indoors with nature. The red accent wall adds a vibrant touch, contrasting with the clean white interior and highlighting the modern design elements of the home.

Continuing from the previous view, this angle offers another look at the bright hallway featuring the white door and red accent wall seen before. The sliding glass doors connect the interior to the outside, maintaining the home’s open and airy feel. The low partition wall adds a subtle division between the living and dining areas without interrupting the flow of space. High windows allow natural light to flood in, highlighting the thoughtful design that seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor living spaces.

This view highlights the kitchen area of the container home, continuing the exploration of its bright and open interior. The kitchen features sleek cabinetry and a compact layout, perfect for efficient use of space. High windows run along the top, allowing natural light to illuminate the room and complement the warm wooden tones of the kitchen. The consistent design elements, like the white doors and partition walls seen before, tie the entire home together, blending functionality with a modern aesthetic.

Stepping outside, this image shows the exterior of the container home, featuring a bold red wall and a small porch area. The sliding glass door, which we saw from the inside, connects the interior to this outdoor space. The porch is covered with a simple awning, providing a sheltered entryway and a spot to enjoy the outdoors.

This close-up image highlights a distinctive red shipping container that forms part of the container home’s structure. The bold “tex” logo on the container adds a touch of industrial character. You can see a small staircase leading up to the entrance, providing easy access to the elevated home. The black metal frame and porch seen earlier blend seamlessly with the container, emphasizing the mix of modern design and the raw aesthetic of repurposed materials.

In this journey of transforming shipping containers into a modern home, we highlighted different aspects of the design and construction process.
This project is based on another project that occupies the same system of cross ventilation between two containers. This design shows a shift in how many families in Chile approach interior spaces. It’s seen as a practical and stylish model that others might consider for its effective blend of functionality and aesthetics.
You can definitely see where the inspiration blossomed from! Which one do you like more? My vote is for this house. If you liked this house, please go to Jorge’s Facebook page for his container home and tell him Container Home Hub sent you!
So what do you think? Would you live here? ☺
Information Source: Jorge Cárdenas Jara, the architect/ homeowner/ builder
Photo Source: Jorge Cárdenas Jara, the architect/ homeowner/ builder
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