Home is where the heart, the hat and all things safe and warm are. This is the extraordinary story of a man named Will Breaux, an ingenious designer who found a new and interesting way of building a house, using a material that is fireproof, storm-resistant and thoroughly strong and sturdy: shipping containers. Breaux, who has been looking to build a home of his own for some years now, struggled to find a builder to help him bring his dream home to life. So, despite not being familiar with building or architecture himself, with the help of an engineer, a few locals, and 11 massive shipping containers, this man made his dream come true. Join us on a journey through the construction of this homely masterpiece!
1. The building plan
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
2. The plan was to turn this plot of land...
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
3. ... into this:
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
4. After receiving approval for the structural layout plans of the building from the city council, the plot was made ready for construction
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
5. First, a series of holes were dug in the ground
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
6. Within which large piers were created with wood and cement
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
7. The wood held the bolts of the piers in place until the cement hardened, locking the steel top plates into place as well, completing the structure
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
8. These piers were used as a base for the containers
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
9. Using a crane, the containers were shifted from the trucks that brought them in onto the piers
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
10. While the containers could have been assembled in such a way that allowed them to be disassembled at a later time, Breaux chose to have them welded together, the idea, obviously, being that the building remain standing as such for a long time
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
11. After an exhausting 12 hour day of moving and welding containers, all eleven containers were placed and welded together according to the plan
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
12. Once the containers were in place, Breaux got to work creating the windows and doors for his soon-to-be home
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
13. Most of the frames were built solely by Breaux himself
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
14. Following that, the necessary permits were again sought and construction on the interior and stairs began
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
15. Finally, the interior of the house was completed, including the reinforcement of the staircases, bathroom, and kitchen
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
16. With some final touches, such as lighting, furnishing and interior decor, Will’s dream is ready to be a home!
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
17. Will has now been happily living in his container home for a number of months, which he continues to work on and make additions to, and which continues to be the focus of much fascination from many people
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
18. Home Sweet Home!
(Photograph courtesy of Will Breaux)
