Floor Plans
About Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates
| Architect | Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates |
| Containers | First unit 5x 20ft; Second unit 2x 40ft + Gym 20ft |
| Location | Aravali Hills, India |
Indian practice Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates (RSDA) responded by repurposing old shipping containers to quickly create a series of bright living spaces that would provide an "escape from reality" with minimal impact on the landscape.
"The Container House does not conform to conventional residential design ideas," said the practice.
"Instead, it employs industrial materials as the exoskeleton to create a homely, cosy setting with a spatial dialogue between the interiors and the surroundings."
"As an attempt to be mindful of resource consumption and ecology in a highly modernised world, this distinctive dwelling redefines consumption in real estate by being made up entirely of shipping containers," the studio added.
The Container House is comprised of two structures – named Champa and Chameli in tribute to the family's two dogs – which are positioned at opposite ends of the site to provide each with a sense of privacy.
Champa, the larger of the two units, was created for the client's mother using five containers of eight by 20 feet. The smaller Chameli was created by combining two containers measuring eight by 40 feet.
Both units were raised fifteen inches above the ground to mitigate the risk of flooding, and structurally reinforced and insulated in order to insert large areas of glazing. Their exteriors were finished in green to blend in with the surrounding landscape.
For the smaller Chameli unit, RSDA created a more open layout with a living area on one side and a bedroom and bathroom on the other, separated by a kitchen with a suspended fireplace.
In Champa, a more traditional layout sees the bedroom, living room, kitchen and a small gym separated by wooden partition walls.
The full-height windows in both units incorporate sliding doors, opening onto decked wooden terraces that are sheltered from sun and rain by woven bamboo roofs.
"A minimalist interior palette echoes the concept of modularity while being inviting and clean-lined," said the practice.
"Expansive glass walls framed with insulated aluminium open up the facade to accentuate the inside-outside connection and maximise the views."
When a couple approached architectural firm Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates (RSDA) to design their new farmhouse in Gurugram, they were certain they didn’t want a behemoth of a structure that would sequester them away from the rest of the world. “The clients are well-travelled with a lavish yet rustic lifestyle and value sustainability. Having travelled to off-beat holiday destinations, their idea of developing their three-acre farm was pretty eclectic. They were particular about wanting to be able to connect to the outdoors while sitting inside their homes because their office setup is also in a farmhouse,” explains principal designer Shobhit Kumar.
At first glance, it's easy to mistake the farmhouse for a boutique glamping property—"They wanted a resort-like feel," affirms Kumar. To ensure the architecture of the farmhouse was as unobtrusive as possible, the team decided to construct the home entirely from shipping containers. "As per the client brief, we wanted to be mindful of resource consumption and the surrounding ecology. The choice of containers came to light as a solution to this challenge," he explains.
The 2,200-square-foot Gurugram farmhouse is divided into two independent units, lovingly christened Champa and Chameli in memory of the family's pet dogs. The former is more complex in structure and is created from an arrangement of five prefabricated containers each 20’x 8’. “The clients wanted a layout similar to a traditional home for the mother, with amenities such as a separate bedroom, living room and kitchen,” says Kumar. Floor-to-ceiling aluminium-and-glass windows invite plenty of natural light and allow for the indoors and outdoors to merge. A beautiful picket-fenced garden with small fruit trees ensures privacy at the entrance, and another deck at the back opens out into a landscaped garden with views of the Aravallis in the distance.
Occupied by the client and his wife, Chameli comprises two 40’x 8’ containers custom-fabricated on site. The design grammar favours an open plan layout and clean lines, with wood panelling, pops of colour, and homely fabrics balancing the otherwise industrial aesthetic. “The only partition in Chameli is for the bathroom and dressing area, which enables you to divide the room into different zones without disturbing the flow of movement. A modern kitchen counter divides the two spaces, with the bedroom at one end and the dining area at the other,” Kumar points out. Here too, abundant floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the lush surroundings, and a rear deck fitted with an open air shower emphasises the glamping ambience.
The unconventional framework ensured a quicker turnaround time than a brick-and-mortar home and allowed for a waterless construction process, Kumar tells us. It also required technical interventions to account for climatic variations. “Considering the structure is primarily made of metal, it was essential to stabilise any movement or changes in the building owing to temperature variance. Installing vertical grooves in the joinery between panels helped manage thermal expansion,” the architect explains. The ceilings and walls have been insulated with EPF and 19mm HDMR boards to reduce the absorption of heat and ease the load on the air conditioning system. Both structures have also been elevated 15 inches off the ground and supported by a network of hollow metal pipes and a concrete foundation to allow for drainage of rainwater and keep snakes and other creatures out. Each container is also shielded by a hand-woven bamboo covering suspended on 20-foot-tall bamboo posts, with a five-inch gap that allows wind to pass between the layers and keeps the structure cool.
“Although we haven’t previously worked with shipping containers, we've dealt with steel buildings before. So we were aware of the material's advantages and disadvantages,” says Kumar when asked about his approach to this project. Though the process was laborious, he sees it as a success. “To ensure that we did not miss any alterations needed to achieve the desired aesthetic, we closely collaborated with the team executing the container work on site. The finished product was what the client and the design team wanted, even though it required extensive joint rebuilding and occasionally replacing the whole length of a steel beam.”
Floor Plans
About Rakhee Shobhit Design Associates
| Address | A/4, Sushant Lok, Phase l, Mehruali – Gurgaon Road, Gurgaon – 122009, Haryana, India |
| Phone | +91 98105 54829 |
| media@rsda.in | |
| Instargam | https://www.facebook.com/RSDA0605/ |
| Instargam | https://www.instagram.com/rsda.in/ |
| Website | https://www.rsda.in/ |
Links
- https://www.rsda.in/projects/the-container-house/
- https://www.dezeen.com/2022/11/14/rsda-the-container-house-india-residential-architecture/#/
- https://www.creativegaga.com/architecture/interior-architecture/sustainable-living-with-container-houses
- https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/a-gurugram-farmhouse-that-feels-like-a-luxury-glamping-destination/
- https://thebetterindia.com/312932/gurugram-architects-turn-shipping-containers-into-sustainable-homes/
Shipping Container Home with Woven Bamboo Roof Includes Personal Gym, India