HOUSE OUTSIDE THE BOX
FOUR shipping containers are coming together to form one of the most distinctive houses in Townsville.
Kathy Heath is behind the unique idea to build her dream home, which has drawn curious looks from neighbours and passers- by.
The house is being built on Goicoechea Drive, Bushland Beach. Ms Heath designed the double- level, two- bedroom, two- bathroom home herself.
The shipping containers are welded together, some are covered in cladding and the others are bare, giving an industrial feel to the house.
“A lot of people are just stopping and chatting and asking about it,” Ms Heath said.
“A few of the neighbours were a bit shocked at first but they came around.
“It will be beautiful and just a bit different.”
Ms Heath said she had a “bit of an obsession with houses” and loved the idea of building something different.
Being open- plan, Ms Heath said the shipping container home was in a perfect location.
“I have views of the waterfront and the mountains,” she said.
“It’s all open- plan and there’s an amazing deck out the back.”
It’s hoped the house will be finished by the end of November and be ready for Ms Heath to move into.
Getting to this point, however, has not been a quick process.
Ms Heath first bought the block about 4 ½ years ago after moving to Townsville from Charters Towers to be closer to her daughters.
A contract to start work on the container home was signed in October 2016 but the builder went into liquidation this year, which stopped building.
However, Ms Heath engaged Ausnorth Building and Construction to do the job and is thrilled with the result so far.
It’s not just the use of shipping containers that makes this home so very special.
Ms Heath said it was full of upcycled pieces she made and collected herself.
This includes a huge concrete rendered island bench and old hospital door at the entrance to upstairs.