French architect Patrick Partouche recently designed and developed a single-family unit made up of five shipping containers. In Africa we've seen containers being used as community gathering places, schools and places of business. Having been largely confined to the African continent these efforts always carried a make-shift and "low-class" notion. However, this family unit looks fantastically industrial-chique. With a big push to sustainable building perhaps one of the greatest ways is to simple re-use and recycle. And to be honest I wouldn't mind coming home to one of these.

All images are courtesy of designboom and Patrick Partouche

by Mayra Hartmann

As originally appeared on soul.sailing.