Six shipping containers create cool house in Wānaka

Oct 10, 2023

This house in Hāwea Flat, Wānaka is testament to what can be done with six 20ft shipping containers –with a little ingenuity, the owner has created a spacious, light-filled home.

Designed by multi award-winning architect Gary Todd, the two-bedroom house features three groups of double-stacked containers in a U-shape, with a large roof covering not only the containers, but the area between, creating a double-height open-plan living space.

The owner chose to highlight the steel exterior by letting it weather and rust naturally. And in a clever adaptive reuse, the doors of the two top containers at the front have been opened and covered with timber pergolas to form the sides of two matching balconies.

In keeping with the "raw" aesthetic, the original pole handles have been retained, highlighting, rather than disguising, the containers’ original use.

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Inside, plywood wall linings with black negative detailing between panels provide a cosy home. The side walls of the two lower side containers have been removed to maximise the living area, providing enough space for a second seating area and a large dining table.

There's also a visual connection to the kitchen – it can be glimpsed through the timber stair balustrades at the rear of the living area. And in keeping with the colour palette of the walls, black cabinetry is teamed with timber boards on the island. A slider opens directly to the outdoors.

Bedrooms are in the upstairs modules on either side (with the balconies), and a bathroom and study are on the upper container above the kitchen at the rear. Windows have been positioned to maximise natural light and alpine views.

The owner is selling his house, and has listed it with Guy Alty and Sheryl Alty of NZ Sotheby's International Realty.

"The house is ‘next level’," Guy Alty says. "We’re really excited about it. We had the first open home at the weekend and a lot of people came through."

Alty says because it is such a unique property, the agents are seeking feedback from interested parties to see where the market puts the value. "It's not often properties are available in the sought-after Hawea Flat community."

He also says there's plenty of potential for the "good life", with the home offering "an alternative lifestyle with a modern twist".

The 2023m² property comes with a 35m² sleepout, an established enclosed vegetable garden with raised beds, a worm composting septic tank system, and a private bore with a 30,000L holding tank.

The property, at 29 Newcastle Rd, is for sale by tender, with tenders closing on March 17, 2023. It has a September 2021 RV of $860,000.