Dubbed the River Forest Lookout, this project is quite an intriguing one, since it elevates shipping container architecture to a whole another level…quite literally! This project is located above the forest floor in Whitfield Country, Georgia, and was constructed by owner Mark Derenthal and his family. The unique home features a fire lookout tower-style design and is made up of two containers that have been elevated 60ft above the ground.
Designer: Mark Derenthal
The River Forest Lookout is placed on rural land spanning 14 acres, and it was quite a complex and difficult process to transport everything to the site. Assembling the various parts such as the base and the stairs was quite a pain too, as was craning the modified shipping containers into place.
You can enter the home via a staircase, and you are invited into an open-plan living area that occupies one of the shipping containers. This space accommodates a few chairs, and a dining table, as well as a basic kitchen with a mini fridge, a microwave, and a two-burner propane-powered stove. Adjacent to this open-plan living area is a bedroom which contains a double bed. The space has been equipped with an ample amount of shelving and some neat storage nooks. The first shipping container is amped with floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a skylight which maximizes the amount of natural light that streams into the space.
The second shipping container accommodates a spacious bathroom which includes a walk-in shower, flushing toilet, and a sink. The tiny home also includes a compact balcony area with a table for two, as well as seating for two. It also includes a BBQ. Other amenities in the home include a rooftop terrace, which can be accessed via a spiral staircase. The terrace is adorned with a fire pit, and some seating. The River Forest Lookout runs completely off-the-grid and is equipped with a rooftop solar panel array. Water is procured from a nearby well, and it is equipped with propane-powered heating, as well as a small wood-burning stove, to keep the space warm. The tiny home is currently for rent on Airbnb, and you can check it out on there!
