Inside, 25-foot-high ceilings tower over the impressive open-plan living space. Swathes of industrial metalwork frame the separate zones, while vast sliding glass doors open up the interior to the garden. Two bedrooms are located on this level, while the mezzanine walkway upstairs leads to three further bedrooms, including the plush master.

Available to rent out via Airbnb, the property's vast floor plan is packed with luxury touches. The master bedroom features elegant dark wood floors, a raised platform bed and a generous private balcony. If that wasn't enough, there's also a projector screen downstairs that's ideal for family movie nights. Not bad for a shipping container eh?

With the lower storey comprising one container, a second unit forms the top storey, cantilevering out at a gravity-defying angle. The jaunty addition offers residents a fresh perspective of the rural vistas and the property's 18.5 acres of surrounding land. This architectural marvel is the last thing we'd expect to see below the tree canopy!

Available to rent out, the home's interior layout puts every inch of the container's elongated structure to use. In the ground-floor living area, a quaint galley kitchen in forest green packs plenty into a compact space, while the floating staircase allows light to flow freely throughout the property.

Upstairs, there's a snug double bedroom with large picture windows that capture the best of the woodlands. Imagine waking up to that view! On the opposite side of the room, sliding glass doors lead out onto a spacious roof deck – the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast in the midst of nature.

Previously up for auction via Domain, two vast shipping containers have been beautifully integrated into the structure of the home, creating airy open accommodation with plenty of character. The original openings of the steel units have been put to use, allowing the interior zones to spill out onto the garden. 

Inside, the upcycled home's past life is never far from view. White corrugated metal walls add raw, architectural interest to the contemporary living area, while hairpin bar stools and exposed metal beams complement the industrial fabric of this unusual residence.

Having recently sold for the hefty sum of $3.2 million (£2.5m), this captivating container home in Boulder, Colorado looks a little different from your standard corrugated metal box. Clad in weathered, reclaimed wood, it's a modern mountain cabin unlike any we've seen before.

Elsewhere, there's a laundry room, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, however, our favourite feature has to be the incredible outdoor kitchen. Connected to the living room via a glass-and-steel garage door, which creates a seamless indoor-outdoor space when raised, it features everything you could need to whip up an alfresco feast.

Available to rent out, the container's corrugated metal has been left exposed across the exterior for a rustic feel, while stacked bamboo detailing offers an organic contrast, helping the home to blend into the surrounding terrain.

Expansive glass doors that span the living spaces retract back, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors. The covered raised deck features a built-in fireplace and log store – the ideal spot to dine alfresco on a chilly evening.

Inside, the floor plan is split into three spaces; the open-plan kitchen and living room, the bedroom and the bathroom, which all overlook the rolling hills. Running completely off-grid, the residence is fuelled by solar power but that doesn't mean it scrimps on indulgent amenities – there's even a luxurious wood-fired hot tub on the deck.

One of the most sustainable homes in our round-up, Manifesto House by Spanish architecture firm James & Mau is almost entirely made from recycled materials. Its unique design utilises a system of palette shutters across the façade that open or close to filter light flow and shade the interior spaces when needed.

Located in Chile, the two-storey dwelling is made of three repurposed maritime shipping containers, which offer 1,722 square feet of living space. Architecturally daring, the top level cantilevers out over the lower storey, creating an unusual enclosed balcony that offers far-reaching views of the undulating countryside.

Bright and airy, the main living space features a spectacular floating staircase and sliding glass doors that run the entire length of the room. When retracted, the exterior terraces and rugged landscapes seemingly bleed into the interior, creating a flexible indoor-outdoor layout. 

Perched on the edge of a rocky outcrop in the rugged wilds of Colorado, this modern masterpiece was designed by Tomecek Studio. Employing recycled materials and eco-friendly technology in its design, the innovative residence's space-efficient floor plan puts every inch of square footage to use.

The incredible cliffhanging home comprises two shipping containers that flank a wedge-shaped structure at the centre of the property. The containers either side are designated as sleeping or working zones, while the tall volume in the middle houses the main living zones, with a handy loft located above.

Accommodation is spread across 1,500 square feet, with the heart of the home featuring a vast open-plan living area, complete with a cosy wood-burning fireplace. Industrial metalwork has been left exposed throughout, while bursts of colour punctuate the interior walls, zoning the different functional spaces. 

Solar photovoltaic panels help to power the off-grid retreat, keeping it warm and welcoming even in the bitter winter months. What's more, the majestic mountain landscapes outside are never far from sight thanks to carefully situated windows and glazing.

Located on the sand dunes of the Hamptons, the summer playground of New York's elite, this spectacular beach house consists of six shipping containers kitted out with the latest eco-technology, from energy-efficient appliances to state-of-the-art insulation.

Situated just outside of San Jose in Costa Rica, this shipping container home, devised by architecture firm Studio Saxe, was designed for a family in search of a rural bolthole. Remarkably, the stylish structure was created on a tiny budget...

Built at a cost of just $40,000 (£31k), staggered orange containers form a contemporary home with industrial undertones. The price of the construction is lower than that of social housing in Costa Rica, making it a cost-effective way to address the demand for affordable housing.

Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the home's clever slanted roof and floor-to-ceiling windows allow cool air to circulate. Ideal for such a humid climate, this natural cross-ventilation system means there's no need for air-conditioning.

This breathtaking 6,000-square-foot mansion on the outskirts of Brisbane, Australia is made from 31 boxes, making it one of the largest shipping container homes in the country. Designed by Ziegler Build, it features four massive bedrooms, four bathrooms, a gym and a saltwater pool.

The flood-proof structure was commissioned by Todd and Diana Miller, whose previous home was severely damaged in the Queensland floods in 2011. The entire project took six months to build – not bad for a home this size – with their journey featured on Grand Designs Australia.

Encompassing three floors, the stunning Australian home's design includes an array of other recycled materials alongside the shipping containers, from railway sleepers and salvaged wood to old industrial equipment. One of the main reasons for utilising the containers was cost, as they offered much better value for money than conventional home-building methods.

Conceived by London designer James Whitaker of Whitaker Studio, work on this futuristic shipping container home is set to begin later this year. Nestled in the arid desert of California's Joshua Tree National Park, the realistic renderings of the residence are almost otherworldly, depicting a sprawling white structure comprised of a number of carefully angled container units.

Adjacent to the main structure will be a garage with a canopy of solar panels that will generate the home's electricity. Once complete, the unique residence will be the home of a film producer – we can't imagine a more inspiring setting for them to hone their artistic vision.

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