The Blue House in Pune was crafted as a compact yet functional living space using two 20 ft shipping containers, with an additional 20 ft container placed on top as an office — marking the firm’s first G+1 structure. Embracing a resourceful design approach, the interior was crafted using salvaged materials to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The essence of the project lay in celebrating the charm of old elements — embracing their scars and imperfections — while transforming them into a functional and welcoming home that honours their history and character.
This project also served as an experiment in reuse and upcycling, aligning with the firm’s goal to demonstrate the quality and functionality of their builds. The interior design was intentionally simple: use whatever they had, find what they could, and create a cosy, inviting home. The project’s aim was to display the possibilities of a modular tiny home, inspire confidence and demonstrate its functionality in a real-world setting.
Dhara Kabaria and Sonali Phadke, Partners at Studio Alternatives, designed the house with the specific goal of easy dismantling and movement, inspired by the ‘Lego Block’ concept, allowing containers to integrate into the desired configuration.
Conceptual Craft
The Blue House marked a significant milestone for Studio Alternatives, building on the success of their first 40 ft shipping container tiny home in 2014. Although their approach received widespread praise, convincing clients to fully embrace the container-home concept remained a challenge. In order to address this, they opted to self-fund the construction of a twin-container living space to showcase the concept’s potential, emphasising its modular nature and sustainable design.
The design prioritised three key elements: creating a modular, movable space with flexible layout options, and maximum use of reclaimed materials. A standout feature was the motorised openable deck, designed to extend the living space beyond the container’s 8 ft width, yet still compact enough for transportation by a standard truck when packed up. Inside, the design embraced resourcefulness, using salvaged materials to create a cosy, welcoming environment. Loose furniture was sourced from treasured family heirlooms, while fixed pieces were crafted from repurposed packaging wood and plywood scraps.
Functional Foundation
A key feature of the house is its use of upcycled vintage windows with aluminium grills, including a standout piece decorated with bird motifs, all sourced from local scrap dealers. The motorised deck was later enclosed with a Mangalore tile roof made from reclaimed tiles from a neighbour’s old village house.
It was designed for easy dismantling and relocation, based on the ‘Lego Block’ concept, allowing each container to integrate into any desired configuration. This modular approach enhances versatility, enabling quick expansion by adding more containers if needed. The structural strength of used shipping containers makes them ideal for secure housing, while their inherent mobility allows for rapid deployment in remote areas.
A well-established sourcing system ensures a smooth procurement process, with trusted vendors simplifying container purchases from JNPT, minimising delays. A dedicated transporter further streamlines logistics, ensuring timely delivery to the workshop for construction and modification.
Upcycled Uniqueness
Light plays a vital role in the design of the Blue House, with varied openings of different sizes, shapes, and colours that create a dynamic play of light and shadow. As the seasons shift, so does the light, transforming from winter to summer, offering a constantly changing visual experience. On the top floor, each window becomes an individual art piece, framed by mellow aluminium that captures the surrounding landscape in real-time, from the lush green to the golden hues of the changing trees.
The use of shipping containers provides a strong foundation for the structure, with their heavy-duty design ensuring resilience against harsh weather and natural elements. Made from corrosion-resistant Corten steel, the containers are built to withstand extreme conditions and carry up to 30 tonne of weight, making them nearly indestructible in the face of heavy winds or earthquakes.
The concept of reuse and upcycling is deeply embedded in the design. Reclaimed wood and locally sourced aluminium were used for doors and windows, while surplus nitrile rubber and discarded thermocol packaging served as wall and ceiling insulation. Other sustainable elements include wall cladding from cement fibre sheets, recycled chipboard, mixed scrap wood for flooring and seating, and fixed furniture made from reclaimed packaging wood. Additional upcycled materials include a metal drum turned into a sink, old doors for bathroom partitions, and discarded Jaisalmer stone for the floors, creating unique patterns without wasting materials.
Fact File
Project Name: The Blue House, Pune
Tonnage: 20 tonne
Current Status: Completed
* Studio Alternatives is the client and stakeholder of this project.
Quote
“This was our first residential space that was movable, modular, and built using around 65 per cent reclaimed materials — an experiment that truly brought our upcycling mission to life. It was a defining experience, allowing us to practice what we had long envisioned, creating a space that embodies sustainability, flexibility, and innovation.“
– Dhara Kabaria and Sonali Phadke, Partners, Studio Alternatives
– Vanshika Raigaga
