Shipping Container Home in Santa Barbara, CA

HO:ME 296

HO:ME 296 - Housing Opportunities : Modular Expandable [HO:ME] captures the essence of AB design studio’s ethos of “inspiration through collaboration.” From concept to completion, the studio strategically maintained a collaborative relationship with fabricators & builder at every level to realize this high-end, shipping container home in Santa Barbara County—the first Shipping Container Home of its kind to be permitted in the area.

The architects incorporated sustainable strategies, such as photovoltaic and bio-retention systems, along with high life-cycle materials, including concrete and structural steel.

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The program was to create a modest scale and transparent modern house design that would take full advantage of Santa Barbara’s mild climate to create connection to outside spaces and distant vistas. The client’s interest in sustainability and a refined rustic imagery included the creative integration of 5 shipping containers and other sustainable features in the design to create a shipping container home. The sites top to bottom hillside topography and Western & Eastern view exposure provided the opportunity to gain impressive sunset views to the West and Mountain views to the East. The two-story design fully engages view corridors towards the setting Western sunset and the sweeping Santa Ynez Mountain range to the East. The original up slope and down slope orchard of orange trees and avocado was maintained to frame the views and allow the home to settle into the landscape. Cut and fill grading was carefully engineered to create a balanced onsite grading condition. Fill areas of the site allow for a level surface inside and by benching the home into the site with a large retaining wall providing a seamless integration of the first-floor areas to the spa, pool and cozy fire feature. Pervious paving hard scape was reused to create bio swales and riprap throughout to recharge water table and filter run off.

Blurring the line between indoor/outdoor spaces is an expansive floor-to-ceiling, folding glass door system that opens up to showcase unobstructed views of an 85-foot swimming pool and sweeping canyon vista. Viva indoor / outdoor living!

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LOT SIZE	92,270 sf
PROJECT SIZE	2,345 sf
LOCATION	Santa Barbara, CA
PRINCIPAL	Josh Blumer, AIA
PROJECT MANAGER	Paul Rupp, AIA
DESIGN TEAM	Clay Aurell, AIA \|Josh Blumer AIA \| Robert Pester
GENERAL CONTRACTOR	Barber Builders
MEP	Mechanical Engineering Consultants
INTERIOR DESIGNER	McFadden Design Group
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT	Green Landscape, Inc.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER	Ashley and Vance
CIVIL ENGINEER	Ashley and Vance
Electrical Engineer	JMPE
TITEL. 24	Inger Associates
PHOTOGRAPHER	Jason Rick

Hand drawn elevation cutting through terrain and showing garden façade of residence.

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