A Colorado house made from shipping containers

It all started when Andrew McMullin, principal of Tiburon Builders in Boulder, Colorado, saw a train go by and thought, “Shipping containers would be a cool way to build a house.”â¨â¨

And that’s just what he did, with the help of architect Brad Tomecek of Boulder-based Studio HT Architecture. Using retired shipping containers and salvaged building materials, the pair created an unconventional 1,600-square-foot dwelling that’s uniquely suited to its mountainous site in Nederland, Colorado.

Two 40-foot-long shipping containers flank a section of COR-TEN steel-clad new construction. The containers are cocooned against Colorado’s harsh winters by a layer of insulation and new exterior walls made of James Hardie plank siding—a noncombustible material that’s ideal for the wildfire-prone environs. Photovoltaic panels generate 100% of the home’s power—and produce extra energy that’s fed back to the electrical grid. But perhaps the most inspiring thing about this house is its view of the Rocky Mountains. “Even the word ‘amazing’ doesn’t do it justice,” McMullin says.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UNIQUE MOUNTAIN HOUSE—AND SEE MANY MORE PHOTOS.

Photos by Braden Gunem