Container Pond Villa

This impressive shipping container villa is set right on a small pond, a few miles north of the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, Vietnam. With the tranquil setting of the pond and trees plus access to a nearby pool, this container home is a perfect refuge from city life.

Saying this container villa is ‘close’ to a pond is not really giving it full credit: it’s partially IN a pond. Look closely at the pictures and you’ll see concrete footings come out of the pond holding up a patio and part of the container, which literally bridges over the water.

The entire villa is made up of three containers in two distinct buildings. One smaller building appears to be a single 20-foot container, while the main building looks to be a 40-foot container with a 20-foot container stacked on top and rotated 90 degrees. While we can’t verify it, it does appear that these containers may be custom units that are a foot or two wider than the normal eight feet wide varieties.

From a distance, this container villa almost looks like a ship sailing on a calm lake due to the way the containers seem to float lightly above the water. All the containers are a bright white to stand in contrast with the colors of the pine trees and water. But what you see most is reflections and transparency, because these are containers are completely full of windows and sliding doors. In fact, one side of the 40-foot container has five sets of sliding glass doors, effectively a full 40 feet of glass.

The interior is a sophisticated minimalist design, with the stark whites balanced by the warm tones of the wood flooring. One unique touch is the floating bed, which juts out of the wall and has slim, steel cables holding it up at the foot of the bed. Another of our favorite features is the modern spiral staircase that enters into the upper container via a perfectly cut circle in its floor. 

With two large king-sized beds and several other open areas for sleeping, the villa can accommodate 8 to 12 people. And the kitchen and dining area make it possible to prepare meals at home if you aren’t visiting any restaurants nearby.

Don’t forget about the balconies on the second floor, which cover the space on top of the bottom container and offer a great spot for watching the landscape (and possible fishing as well). This container home looks like a place to engage in maximum relaxation. But, even if you never visit, the design is certainly inspirational.