A Shipping Container Home Rises on a Rocky Site Outside Stockholm

Måns Tham, architect and founder of Måns Tham Arkitektkontor, describes his latest residential design in a memorable way. "It’s as if a flying Tetris block landed on steep granite rocks," he says.

Eight gray shipping containers form the home, which perches on a rocky, forested site outside Stockholm. Windows at one facade look out through treetops toward a quiet lake, but with the uneven terrain, capturing the view wasn’t easy.

"The site was an unsold lot where many had tried to build but none had succeeded," Tham says. "There was a general ban on dynamite, and the lot’s grade has an almost sixty-foot difference. There is no place for a slab, just a steep canyon where a lot of rainwater flows toward the lake."

When Tham was introduced to the setting by his clients, he immediately saw why they were interested in a challenge. "Thomas and Linda are both into customized American cars, and they felt that old containers were in line with their do-it-yourself interests," Tham says. "They have three kids, and Linda’s dad was a former mechanic and welder. His knowledge proved to be invaluable to our success."

The couple chose shipping containers as the main structural element, citing sustainability, more flexibility in creating a foundation, and the ability to build more quickly. As it turned out, things took a little longer than anticipated.