When Sofia and Sebastian of Tranås – Husdrömmar decided to build their home from five recycled shipping containers, a journey full of challenges and creativity began. With their unique project, named The Swedish Herring House, they have created a home that combines sustainability, smart recycling and architectural finesse.
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Sofia and Sebastian's vision
Sofia and Sebastian are a couple with big ambitions and a strong environmental commitment. When they moved to Tranås, their dream of creating something different and sustainable came together – a house built from used shipping containers.
The name The Swedish Herring House reflects not only their proximity to Lake Sommen, but also the house’s unique Corten steel facade, designed to resemble fish scales. Inside, a herringbone-patterned parquet floor runs through the house, paying homage to the theme. The house is not only a home but also a manifestation of creative reuse and personal style.
Building with containers - opportunities and challenges
Sofia and Sebastian chose to work with recycled containers for several reasons. The material is sustainable and provides a pre-existing frame that can be adapted to a house. It is also a relatively cheap option – a container can be bought for around 20,000 SEK. However, it presents many technical and practical challenges:
- Insulation: Containers expand and shrink with temperature, making insulation complicated. Sofia and Sebastian encountered problems during a summer heat wave that caused the insulation material to fail.
- Processing of materials: Corten steel is hard and demanding to work with. The process of customizing the containers involved both heavy and dirty work.
- Adaptation: Cutting up containers for windows and doors can affect load-bearing capacity.
Despite these difficulties, container houses are a growing concept in the world and provide a creative solution for reuse.
The construction process: from sketch to reality
The construction process of The Swedish Herring House was anything but easy. After a snowy start in March 2018, months of hard work followed:
- Selection and decontamination of containers: In Gothenburg, the couple selected the best containers and ensured that they were decontaminated from any toxins.
- Assembly: The first two containers were placed on site in April. The work required precision to ensure that everything was perfectly level.
- Insulation problems: The insulation process was hampered by extreme heat and led to extensive measures in September.
Sebastian and Sofia’s persistence and creativity led to a home that was finally completed in February 2019. Despite delays and cost increases, they stuck to their vision.
Facts about the house
Size: 123 sqm
Start of construction: March 2018
Estimated completion: October 2018 (completed February 2019)
Budget: SEK 2.8 million (final cost: SEK 3.5 million)
Materials: Five recycled shipping containers, Corten steel facade
A home with unique design and nature as a neighbor
When the house was finished, Sofia and Sebastian had a home that reflects their personal style and commitment to sustainability. The design integrates the colors and shapes of nature: from the green color in the bathroom, inspired by the pine trees outside, to the view from the kitchen framed by forest and lake.
The self-designed spiral staircase and herringbone parquet create a common thread throughout the house. Gert Wingårdh, one of the hosts of Husdrömmar, summed up the feeling perfectly: “The magic of this house is how it relates to the plot.”
Although the project was both more expensive and more time-consuming than planned, The Swedish Herring House is an inspiring example of what can be achieved with a clear vision, persistence and a creative approach.
Closure
Sofia and Sebastian’s container house shows that it is possible to combine sustainability with personal design. Their work reflects a commitment that is in line with Stiligt’s vision of creating homes that are both innovative and harmonious with their surroundings.
Do you also want to create your dream home? Explore Stilicht’s services and let us help you realize your vision – whether it’s a shipping container dream or something completely different!
