Shipping out puts shape back with off-the-grid contentment

AFTER being severely injured in a shooting at Northgate Mall in 2010, Tony Elburg, together with his wife Collette, were determined to live a simpler life, away from the hustle and bustle of Randburg.

The move took them a few years to make, but the pair eventually fell in love with the small town of Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga.

They relocated in November 2017 and have been living in a Jurgens caravan they bought for R30 000 while they construct, build and fit their dream home – which is made up of two 12m x 2.44m shipping containers set on a 6 000m² plot.

The ceiling is higher than normal containers, with a height of just under 3m. Each container was bought secondhand for R36 000.

The couple will move into their new abode,which Elburg designed, in July.

“We have spent R800 000 on our property and for that we will soon have a 200m² home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, an outside working room, and all on 6 000m² of land.”

This cost includes everything needed to go completely off the grid, such as the installation of a borehole and solar power panels.

While the Elburgs have taken on the entire construction process themselves, from the laying of the foundations to the interior design, a neighbour who loved the design of their home so much had one constructed, based on their model.

“His containers were constructed in Pretoria and then delivered here eight weeks later.

“Those who can afford to do so can go this route, but for those who cannot, like us, you make a plan and do it yourself.”

Elburg says: “We have paid probably one-third of the price it would have cost us to have had it built the traditional way.”

While the couple will only move in to their new home later this year, he says the benefit of a container home is that one could move in straight away.

For the Elburgs, the thought, time, effort and love put into their new dwelling will make the living experience a whole lot sweeter.

In a few years’ time, they will probably sell their home and buy a camper van to travel the country. That, Elburg says, is the next big dream.

NEAT FIX The Elburgs are living a simpler life, constructing and building their dream home inWakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, from shipping containers.