Though it might not feel like it, we really don't need all the stuff we have around the house for it to feel like a proper home. Tiny houses and tiny living, in general, are proof of that, proposing a minimalist, more intentional lifestyle that prioritizes experiences over material possessions.
With the relatively recent boom in tiny living solutions, most of them mobile, there also came an increased number of container homes. They're not entirely mobile, in the sense that you can't simply hook them up to your truck or a larger towing vehicle (in the case of park models), but they can still change locations comparatively easier than brick-and-mortar homes.
Container homes also come with the advantage of an existing frame to start building from and, in many cases, a larger living footprint than with a home based on a trailer. To each their own, and container homes are proving a suitable alternative for certain downsizers.
This container home is both a (relatively) mobile home and a gorgeous example of sustainable housing. It's called Cargo, which admittedly isn't the most original name, but it suits the project well, and it's the work of Portuguese studio Madeiguincho, which specializes in all-wood alternative housing, be it tiny homes or treehouses.
Photo: Madeiguincho
Cargo was designed as a rental slash vacation home, and that's highly relevant to the way the layout was designed. Obviously, when you're creating a home for short-term occupancy, as is the case here, you can afford to ditch some of the stuff you couldn't have long-term residency without, like a full kitchen, plenty of storage options, and communal and private spaces.
Located in Lagos, in the Algarve region, Cargo aims to retain a connection to its surrounding environment through the extensive use of wood and high-quality materials. It is insulated so that it won't get too hot in the summer, and it has an entire wall that opens up to the exterior, thus allowing guests inside to effectively erase the boundary between the interior space and the surrounding nature.
The layout is basic, though high ceilings and plenty of glazing, including for the entryway, bask it in natural light. If you woke up this morning wondering what the physical representation of blissful minimalism might look like, this is it: Cargo.
Photo: Madeiguincho
Because a shipping container will only allow for a linear layout unless you employ smart design, Madeiguincho creates the illusion of different areas here through contrasting paneling and furniture. The bedroom, for example, is a two-person bed that sits on an elevated platform at one end of the container. The wall right next to it opens up to the outside, and an oversize porthole window allows plenty of light in.
The platform hides storage and creates the impression of stepping into a separate "room," but it also doubles as an L-shaped kitchen bench. The kitchen itself is basic, though it still has a sink and enough space to fill with whatever appliances and utensils necessary to throw together a light meal. Since Cargo was designed as a rental, it makes sense to offer a smaller kitchen since cooking won't be a top priority.
At the other end of the container, behind a sliding door, is a small, apparently wet bathroom with a toilet and a shower. The architecture studio doesn't give any specifics about this feature of the home, and photos don't show it, either.
Photo: Madeiguincho
The best feature of the Cargo tiny home, aside from its distinctive, gorgeous styling, is the sunken terrace up top. Because the footprint is compact (6 meters by 2.5 meters/19.6 feet by 8.2 feet, to be more exact), the studio has created an extra living space on the roof by means of a sunken terrace accessible via a steel ladder that goes through the roof overhang. Given the home's location, this area will be getting plenty of use.
Madeiguincho promises more details will be unveiled soon once availability for the Cargo home opens. It'd be interesting to hear what they've done for water and wastage, as well as electricity.
Even if you have no plans of traveling to Portugal soon, the Cargo container home can still serve as a beautiful, very artsy example of downsizing. Downsizing in a way that can maintain and nurture the connection with the natural environment, that favors intentional living and a less stressful life, is the closest thing to the original idea of downsizing.
Photo: Madeiguincho
By contrast, most of today's downsizing options highlight lower maintenance costs, the ability to travel, and the online appeal of the lifestyle.
Sure, a home like this isn't for everyone, even if we're not hoarders or passionate collectors of who knows what. But you can still enjoy your collection of Hot Wheels or hot heels and appreciate the beauty or the appeal of a container home done with such exquisite taste. Just sayin'.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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