Madeinguincho: This Portuguese company turns containers into adorable tiny homes

The sea container is an invention we owe to an American shipping company owner: Malcolm Maclean. The latter, tired of traffic jams, invented large metal containers, and placed them on a boat. How did shipping containers, symbols of globalization, become homes? It is difficult to answer this question. In the United States, they were, Originally temporary homesoffered to the homeless. In Europe, it could have been popularized by the architect. Eric Reynolds. In France, First container homes They were intended for students, as in the case of the A-Docks campus in Le Havre in 2021. Since then, container homes have been emulated, as in the case of Madeinguincho, a Portuguese studio that has just presented its latest model: “Le Cargo”. Discover.

Technical Basics of Madeinguincho Container House

The company has made a remarkable transformation of the simple metal box, adding innovative features such as a roof terrace and a spacious interior that seamlessly opens to the outdoors. To do this, they chose a standard 6 x 2.5 meter shipping container as the basis. This container has undergone a transformation, and is now decoratedThe wood cladding makes it look like a small house. It gives it a warm and welcoming aesthetic.

The main element of this container home is undoubtedly the roof terrace that elegantly overlooks the house. Along with the effective insulation and large windows, it is designed to ensure optimal thermal comfort for its occupants, whatever the external conditions. Insulation in this type of home is essential, and let's not forget that to begin with, these homes are made of relatively thin metal walls.

Guided tour inside

A convenient staircase provides direct access to the roof terrace, while part of the container’s outer wall has been intentionally left exposed. This allows occupants to open the structure to enjoy the fresh air when the weather permits. Outside, this compact home also features Welcoming terrace and generous glass doors Double glazing, cleverly shaded with wooden slats, provides privacy and brightness. Inside, the warm atmosphere is accentuated by the wooden décor, evoking the distinctive style of Madeinguincho’s previous works, such as Vigia. The space is arranged around a master bedroom with a raised bed, providing clever storage space underneath, as well as an L-shaped lounge area, perfect for relaxing. A porthole-style window adds a charming touch to this artfully designed space, indicating the craftsmanship and attention to detail that characterises this small home.

What do you need to know about this container home?

The tiny house tour continues with a small kitchen that simply has a small sink and some storage space. It can accommodate basic kitchen equipment, such as an oven or stove, but it is not intended for a “big kitchen.” A little further on, we find a small bathroom and toilets. Very simple, considering the space available..

This container house called Le Cargo is located in Lagos, in the sunniest area of ​​Portugal: the Algarve. In the near future, it will be available for rent, because it is still difficult to live there all year round. Read more ? Meet on madeigincho.pt. What do you think of this container house? Give us your opinion, or share your experience. Please let us know if there are any errors in the text, Click here to add a comment .