Repurposed shipping containers are a versatile, sturdy, and cost-effective option for a variety of applications, from offices to workshops, smoking shelters to farms. Although a shipping container may not be the first thing that comes to mind when envisioning your perfect weekend getaway, there are an increasing number of shipping container holiday homes springing up around the world.
Due to the current coronavirus pandemic and lockdown restrictions, an increasing number of people are opting to vacation in Kenya; in fact, fewer than one in ten adults polled by the Ministry of Tourism said they were likely or very likely to travel abroad this year. So, if you’re trying to cash in on the booming staycation market or just want a holiday home for you and your family to enjoy, a shipping container is a fantastic alternative.
Cost Effective
It should come as no surprise that building a vacation home out of a shipping container is far less expensive than building a traditional home. While a holiday apartment or cottage in a common location can cost upwards of Ksh 15,000,000, a shipping container home can be built from 2,500,000.
Durable
A shipping container’s lifetime is largely dependent on its condition; for example, a used shipping container would obviously last for a shorter period of time than a brand new one, whereas those that are left untreated and uncared for are more likely to rust. Containers, which are typically made of solid corrugated steel, are built to be heavily filled and stacked, as well as to withstand harsh conditions and long distances, making them an excellent housing material. A shipping container, when properly maintained, will last up to 50 years.
Environmentally Friendly
Used shipping containers are plentiful, making a shipping container vacation home an excellent upcycling project. The use of a standard 30ft shipping container, which weighs about 3.2 tons, eliminates the need for construction materials like bricks and cement.
Similarly, by making a few quick changes, you can make your vacation home more environmentally friendly. Setting up a vegetable garden or compost heap, harvesting rainwater, installing solar panels, or encouraging visitors to recycle their trash, for example, will all help you do your part to help the environment.
What kinds of vacation rentals can you make out of a shipping container?
Shipping containers are highly flexible due to their material and form, enabling them to be used for a variety of purposes and building forms. All containers are the same width, come in just a few heights, and relate to interlocks or stackers, making it simple to build a larger structure or property.
If you’re on a tight budget, a basic studio container apartment would suffice for short-term vacation rentals; all you must do is get creative with your layouts, such as investing in foldaway furniture or building secret nooks to conceal bedrooms and bathrooms.
