The Elegant Simplicity of Sea Container Modernism

PROJECT: SEA CONTAINER RESIDENCE Silver Spring, MD Details: 3500 SF, Kitchen, Dining, Living, 1 Master Suite/Bath, 3 Bdrm, 3 Bathrooms, Office, Basement, Mongo Garage/Workshop Exterior: Sea Containers with Black Stained Cedar Interiors: Sea Container corrugated steel walls and marine-grade flooring, sheetrock

The site was a rare find inside the beltway along the flowing Sligo Creek on a high cliff. The clients were in love with Sea Container modernism. Indeed airplanes, cars and more were a big part of Arun’s life and passion. The elegant simplicity was a keen element for both Arun and Archana. Looking over the creek in a well-wooded neighborhood was a magnificent plus.

The design construction is a simple 4-sea container hybrid. The home is constructed with 4 - 8’x40’x 9’6” tall sea containers split apart. A two-story living room 20 ft wide is a simple TJI span. The entire home sits on a concrete basement/foundation with an attached workshop/garage. The second floor has access to a green roof food garden well away from the never-ending deer/rabbit invaders. The use of extended steel/glass “bump-outs” added the key ingredients to widen the container rooms with views left, right, and skyward.

Most of the landscape was fully preserved as well as existing highly regulated eco stormwater management hardscapes.

The design lyric was the elegant simplicity of modern repurposed metals that celebrated the flight of a pilot and the serenity of a healer. In concert, create unexpected sky views floating over the soft treetops and the cascading stream.

ARCHITECTURE FIRM: Travis Price Architects, Travis Price FAIA Kelly Davies Grace, AIA

ENGINEERING FIRMS: Silman - Structural Engineering, Civil – Snyder and Assoc. Surveyors Energy Modeling - PEG, LLC

INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM: Travis Price Architects

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: KGP Build, LLC

PHOTOGRAPHER: Dan Westergren