Tiny Houses

Rising Sun squeezes home for two into a single shipping container

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The Rising Sun's utilitarian exterior is enlivened by some wood trim
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun is based on a high-cube shipping container and has a length of 40 ft (roughly 12 m) and a height of 9.6 ft (29 m)
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun, by UnContained Dreams, has a width of just 8 ft (2.4 m)
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's utilitarian exterior is enlivened by some wood trim
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's overall design is subtly influenced by Japanese style
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's interior opens up to the outside with large double glass doors installed in the living room
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's kitchen is well-stocked for a container-based tiny house and includes a microwave, oven, fridge/freezer, sink, cabinetry, and shelving
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's kitchen includes quartz countertops
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's bathroom is split into separate WC, shower and sink
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's bedroom includes a double bed with integrated storage space
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's bedroom includes a wall-mounted standing desk
UnContained Dreams
The Rising Sun's layout is simple and unfussy, helping flatter the limited space available
UnContained Dreams
View gallery - 11 images

Architects never seem to tire of using shipping containers as a source of inspiration, with the simple metal boxes used to create everything from massive soccer stadiums to offices. Tiny houses are of course another popular use for them and this debut model from UnContained Dreams offers an interesting take on space-saving interior design.

The Rising Sun is constructed from a high-cube shipping container and has a length of 40 ft (roughly 12 m), with a height of 9.6 ft (29 m). It's the width that's a bigger challenge with these container houses, however. This comes in at 8 ft (2.4 m), which is a few inches less than a typical trailer-based tiny house and makes it tricky to add a comfortable interior layout.

The other major challenge with a shipping container-based house is the poor thermal performance of a large metal box. To mitigate this, UnContained Dreams has used closed-cell spray foam on the walls, ceiling and floor. The home also has multiple windows and doors cut into it, with wooden trim enlivening its utilitarian appearance. A mini-split air-conditioning unit helps keep the interior a comfortable temperature.

The main entrance to the home opens up into a relatively spacious-looking living room. This contains a custom walnut futon that turns into a double bed, plus there's a handy table made from walnut too. There's an entertainment center in there and double glass doors help fill the area with daylight.

The Rising Sun's interior opens up to the outside with large double glass doors installed in the living room
UnContained Dreams

Next to the living room is the kitchen, which is well-stocked for a shipping container-based tiny house and features quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, including a fridge/freezer, oven with propane-powered stove, microwave, sink, and cabinetry and shelving. There's also a dining table for up to five adults.

Due to the lack of space available, the firm installed a separate WC and shower, with a nearby vanity sink. This probably suits the small space better than trying to shoehorn one spacious bathroom in there.

The bedroom, meanwhile, has a double bed with integrated storage space for clothes, shoes etc. It also has two built-in nightstands and lighting. Elsewhere is a small wall-mounted standing desk area serving as a home office.

The Rising Sun's overall design is subtly influenced by Japanese style
UnContained Dreams

The Rising Sun starts at US$85,000 but this can rise depending on options. UnContained Dreams also intends to sell plans for the dwelling. The firm's founder Micah Woods is a former woodshop and metal shop teacher and hopes to make the process as simple as possible for would-be DIYers.

Source: UnContained Dreams

View gallery - 11 images
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4 comments
Grunchy
$85,000 and it doesn't even have any "slide outs"?
(Seriously... people have motorhomes more livable than this.)
Karmudjun
Nice Adam. But for the price - which is not too bad - what is the overall GWP of such a build. Closed cell foam can us almost any blowing agent and there are other outgases than just the foam blowing agent, is the production close to net zero carbon emission or Global Warming Potential?
Jinpa
Since a new 40-ft shipping container costs about $3k, (https://onsitestorage.com/40-foot-shipping-containers/), and since a better design would be to join two to make a 16-ft width, $85k seems grossly overpriced. Get the container-maker to design two for no interior wall; bolt or weld them together. Another concern would be off-gassing from foam or any other kind of new insulation. Surely some architect could do a better job if this one can't cut the price by 60-80% or so. Paint it ultra-white to reflect heat. Add exterior panels for a siding look. Roof it with south-facing angled solar panels. Mounting it off the ground would be necessary to prevent water intrusion; know the flood-plain maps. But no hurricane or tornado would do much damage, so it could be a good alternative to existing manufactured homes.
P51d007
Overpriced....but the "hip" type people will eat it up LOL