A European architecture firm made a $50,000 portable tiny home out of shipping containers — see inside

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A European architecture firm made a $50,000 portable tiny home out of shipping containers — see inside
  • Wiercinski-studio, a Polish architecture and design studio, created a portable tiny home.
  • The prefabricated home is made of two defunct shipping containers.
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Wiercinski-studio, an architecture and design studio based in Poland, has created a portable tiny home.

Wiercinski-studio, an architecture and design studio based in Poland, has created a portable tiny home.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

But unlike most tiny homes currently available on the market, Wiercinski-studio's isn't a prefabricated unit built on a trailer.

But unlike most tiny homes currently available on the market, Wiercinski-studio's isn't a prefabricated unit built on a trailer.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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Instead, the tiny home is made out of defunct shipping containers, giving the large metal boxes a new life.

Instead, the tiny home is made out of defunct shipping containers, giving the large metal boxes a new life.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

We all know of shipping containers, or maybe the lack thereof, as one of the sources of our ongoing supply chain woes.

We all know of shipping containers, or maybe the lack thereof, as one of the sources of our ongoing supply chain woes.
A container cargo ship in Rotterdam Harbour on April 4, 2021 in the Netherlands. Rotterdam is the largest shipping port outside of Asia.Niels Wenstedt/BSR Agency/Getty Images
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But as thousands of shipping containers remain backlogged at major ports and ocean carriers continue to struggle with sourcing the large metal boxes …

But as thousands of shipping containers remain backlogged at major ports and ocean carriers continue to struggle with sourcing the large metal boxes …
Port of Long Beach.Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Source: Insider

… interest in shipping container-based living units — whether it be tiny homes, pools, or hotels — has skyrocketed.

… interest in shipping container-based living units  — whether it be tiny homes, pools, or hotels — has skyrocketed.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

Source: Insider

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An example of one of these units is Wiercinski-studio's portable tiny home, which was constructed out of two shipping containers.

An example of one of these units is Wiercinski-studio's portable tiny home, which was constructed out of two shipping containers.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

Combined, the two containers create a 39.4-foot by 8.2-foot tiny home that stands at 9.5 feet tall.

Combined, the two containers create a 39.4-foot by 8.2-foot tiny home that stands at 9.5 feet tall.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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The studio left the container's recognizable corrugated sheet metal exterior to "show the sincerity of the raw construction material," although it was still painted green to camouflage into its surroundings, according to a press release.

The studio left the container's recognizable corrugated sheet metal exterior to "show the sincerity of the raw construction material," although it was still painted green to camouflage into its surroundings, according to a press release.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

But inside, the 581.3-square-foot home looks nothing like a cold metal unit used to transport goods.

But inside, the 581.3-square-foot home looks nothing like a cold metal unit used to transport goods.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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The home has a living room with a minimalist kitchen and office space, a bedroom …

The home has a living room with a minimalist kitchen and office space, a bedroom …
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

… and a bathroom complete with a bathtub, sink, and toilet.

… and a bathroom complete with a bathtub, sink, and toilet.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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There's also a 258.3-square-foot terrace for outdoor lounging among the trees.

There's also a 258.3-square-foot terrace for outdoor lounging among the trees.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

The minimalist home was a one-off project for a "couple of brave people who … are interested in searching for interesting and difficult to adapt spaces," according to the press release.

The minimalist home was a one-off project for a "couple of brave people who … are interested in searching for interesting and difficult to adapt spaces," according to the press release.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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To accommodate to this "difficult" location, the shipping container cabin was prefabricated off-site …

To accommodate to this "difficult" location, the shipping container cabin was prefabricated off-site …
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

… and later transported by truck and crane to its current location before its finishing touches were completed.

… and later transported by truck and crane to its current location before its finishing touches were completed.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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"Prefabrication of the cabin in the production hall means great savings and convenient production conditions," Adam Wiercinski, the founder of the studio, told Insider in an email, echoing other prefab home makers.

"Prefabrication of the cabin in the production hall means great savings and convenient production conditions," Adam Wiercinski, the founder of the studio, told Insider in an email, echoing other prefab home makers.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

Source: Insider

"Workers have all the materials on site, transport is limited, and you can create [no matter] the weather conditions," he said.

"Workers have all the materials on site, transport is limited, and you can create [no matter] the weather conditions," he said.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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The tiny home is currently located in a community garden in Poland.

The tiny home is currently located in a community garden in Poland.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

But in the future, the little living unit will be relocated to a forest and wherever its nomadic owners choose to live next.

But in the future, the little living unit will be relocated to a forest and wherever its nomadic owners choose to live next.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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To bring its surrounding lush environment into the home, the interior is lined with large windows.

To bring its surrounding lush environment into the home, the interior is lined with large windows.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

But the container home isn't limited to just gardens and forests.

But the container home isn't limited to just gardens and forests.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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According to Wiercinski, the tiny home can function on any terrain, whether it be in someone's backyard or on a rented plot of land.

According to Wiercinski, the tiny home can function on any terrain, whether it be in someone's backyard or on a rented plot of land.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

Its current owners are also interested in placing the home on a floating platform or device, allowing it to stand above water.

Its current owners are also interested in placing the home on a floating platform or device, allowing it to stand above water.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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And unlike traditional construction, which damages the land beneath it, the tiny home has a smaller physical footprint: It can hang suspended above ground so long as it has support at its corners, Wiercinski said.

And unlike traditional construction, which damages the land beneath it, the tiny home has a smaller physical footprint: It can hang suspended above ground so long as it has support at its corners, Wiercinski said.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

The studio spent between four to six months transforming the two containers into a full functioning home ...

The studio spent between four to six months transforming the two containers into a full functioning home ...
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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... and Wiercinski predicts a "base version" of the tiny house could be built for $50,000.

... and Wiercinski predicts a "base version" of the tiny house could be built for $50,000.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio

This may seem expensive for a little home, but according to Wiercinski, there are several benefits to having a house based in a shipping container: "Adaptation of containers is not much cheaper than standard construction, but mobility is a great advantage," Wiercinski said.

This may seem expensive for a little home, but according to Wiercinski, there are several benefits to having a house based in a shipping container: "Adaptation of containers is not much cheaper than standard construction, but mobility is a great advantage," Wiercinski said.
Wiercinski-studio's portable cabin made out of a shipping containers.Oni Studio
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