Architect Poteet Architects
Program Playhouse, garden retreat, guest suite
Container One 40 ft unit
Year 2010
Location San Antonio, Texas, USA
Photography Chris Cooper
Small footprint. Big comfort.
Texas architect Jim Poteet transformed a single 40 ft steel container into a bright, multiuse retreat for an artist. The plan keeps one bay as a garden shed and converts the rest into a light filled living space with floor to ceiling glazing, bamboo lined interiors and a compact bath. A planted roof softens heat gain and turns a simple box into a cooled, living envelope.
For Sri Lankan homeowners, this is a perfect precedent for backyard studios, guest suites, home offices and boutique stays in Colombo, Galle, Kandy and Jaffna. It proves that one container can deliver a refined, climate responsive pavilion with very short build time.
Design highlights
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Long side opens with steel and glass lift and slide wall for cross ventilation and garden views
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Interior wrapped in bamboo plywood for warmth and durability
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Cantilevered visor and pergola frames create shaded outdoor rooms
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Container sits on reclaimed timber sleepers to minimize site work and allow airflow under the floor
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Service zone hides AC, greywater tank and composting system behind a green trellis
Passive performance and systems
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Green roof provides shade, evapotranspiration and a thermal buffer that cuts cooling loads
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Spray foam insulation behind the bamboo lining keeps interior cool in peak heat
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Greywater from sink and shower filtered through reeds then reused for irrigation
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Composting WC eliminates blackwater line where sewer access is limited
Layout snapshot
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Approximately 28 sqm conditioned area
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Flexible single space for living, working and sleeping
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Compact bath with open shower and non slip floor
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Separate garden shed retained at one end
What this means for Sri Lanka
Hybrid Cargotecture adapts this one container typology for tropical use in Sri Lanka with:
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Double roof with ventilated cavity and planted or cool roof options
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Mineral wool or PIR insulation plus reflective wrap for coastal humidity
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Powder coated doors and windows for monsoon resilience
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Plug and play MEP with solar ready conduit and rainwater harvesting
Use cases backyard studio, homestay pod, pool pavilion, tea estate writer’s cabin, rooftop office on existing slab, school maker lab. Typical on site time 5 to 10 days after factory fit out.
Build it with Hybrid Cargotecture Sri Lanka
We design, fabricate and install container architecture across the island.
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Custom to your site and budget
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Factory quality control and fast delivery
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Expandable in modules as your needs grow
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Aftercare and maintenance plans
Start your studio pod Send your site pin and a brief. We will return a sketch plan, façade options and a budget range.
