Inside an NYC Townhouse Made From 18 Shipping Containers | Unique Spaces | Architectural Digest

“We just respond creatively to what humanity pushes aside.” Today AD is in Brooklyn, New York to tour a townhouse comprising 18 shipping containers. Designers Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Lignano, founders of LOT-EK, have been using shipping containers in their work for 30 years, becoming pioneers in sustainable architecture. Comprised of 18 containers from a yard in New Jersey, this townhouse exemplifies how humble materials can be turned into something extraordinary and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Photograph by Yana Yatsuk
Textile Patchwork with Tapestry by Kiva Motnyk
Want even more AD? Subscribe to the magazine and get a free tote ►► bit.ly/3Oh8McU
Still haven’t subscribed to Architectural Digest on KZbin? ►► bit.ly/2zl7s34
ABOUT ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
The leading international design authority, Architectural Digest features articles and videos of the best in architecture, style, culture, travel, and shopping.

[@cristicorte]

This is exactly what I want to see on AD, not the monstrous celebrity mansions. Love it.

[@zis8772]

yes.

[@JoelDavid678]

Giuseppe and Ada are the MOST charming and talented! Directing this video was such an honor! Love it so much 💖💖💖

[@RMFeminine4TheWin]

*brilliantly done. this message is GARGANTUAN and i hope that it spreads wide.* 🚛🌇❤

[@treemerryweather]

You and your team created a beautifully constructed video to present the architects' creation and the new owner's vision thank you.

[@tythetasmaniantiger7]

I genuinely love the industrial look, best way to save the planet is not to manufacture new more "efficient and environmentally friendly" things, but just to stop manufacturing new things altogether and reuse things that already exist. Keep it up!

[@slz203]

There is nothing in this that is “saving the planet” lol. It is a giant townhouse with one occupant. Incredibly wasteful.

[@BradThePitts]

Hey AD! If you're taking notes and if you care about what your viewers say, I'd like to say that I much prefer these videos about *architecture*, and don't at all care for your "celebrity cribs" videos where they walk around and explain where they bought their knick-knack's. Maybe start another channel for that. Thanks!

[@ettajfan5882]

Agree!

[@notshylo]

AD has been featuring celebrity homes for decades, since at least the 1950s. You’re just going to have to get over the fact that they do both. On one channel.

[@heehee63]

I suspect the millions of views the celeb vids get speak louder than your one comment.

[@jimmigizi]

Says brad the Pitts!! 😂

[@WDSimp]

The house is lovely and the designers are delightful. I would be very happy to see them in more videos showing off more of their projects.

[@SmallBlogV8]

I've seen the odd shipping-container house here and there before, but this is the nicest one I've seen by a distance.

[@annansel2638]

They listened to their customers...and are genius in their plan...highly functional and not crazy over top luxury treatments...well done...would love to see it but video was very well done ..

[@anitarodriguez-rudell2211]

Oh my goodness... let me tell you. If I had that kind of money, I would DEFINITELY be interested in this style of living. Johnathan has done a marvelous... job decorating for the style of the shipping containers. Kudos to the amazing design team 🎉❤

[@scientist00000]

I really enjoy this industrial style of house, and reusing materials such as containers is exactly what the world needs. Sadly it takes away the sustainability argument when only one person lives here. It seems to me that living truly sustainably cannot be luxurious

[@slz203]

Yea the whole thing is really ridiculous for one person

[@beardown6574]

AD always bringing something different! Absolutely love this house! Incredible concept by the architects! The layout of the interiors spaces is great. The theater is my fav spot. Love the terraces and how they all connect. Bravo to them it is beautiful.

[@CromTO]

I'm more of a New England Shingle-Style person - but I actually do like this townhouse, it's unique.

[@marshlong]

Very clever design especially with the conjoining terraces

[@LadyYoop]

This is stunningly beautiful!

[@edilbertosacchi]

This house is a treasure: sustainability, assembling semplicity (three days), elegance, comfort, a beautiful view and luxuries that invite the owners to share and be connected with other people, like the projection room, the huge fireplace, beautiful outdoor spaces and, why not, the large master bedroom bath tab 😉 The owner's decors look like there couldn't be anything different, they fit and add value to the spaces with personality and respect for the spirit of the building. My fantasy is that he took some warmth to a more essential and maybe kind of industrial flavour. The architects tale was really engaging: thank you guys, there's still so much enthusiasm for the project, humility and love as long as proficiency. I grew up in Napoli too, so I hope you'll appreciate if I describe these 15 minutes, for everything written before, sweet, soft and intense as " 'nu babà ". Exactly how I think our homes should be, congratulations.

[@marilucastillo7777]

They make a great team! Such vision is wonderful to see come together.

[@Tf03]

I miss New York City so much.

[@autumnmoon6395]

While I agree with the comments pointing out the depressing visuals of the exterior, the interior of the house is wonderfully thought out and well-constructed with emphasis on aesthetics as well as recyclable materials, so I am not opposed to this house! I am curious how the stability of the house works since the bottom-level shipping containers are floating and cut off at their corners, which is part of their strength, but I hope the math was accounted for~

[@sleepyandhollow.]

My mind is blown at how is this even possible I can't figure out

[@eskimoki9630]

I want a house like this!!! It’s so cleverly planned, I love the connecting terraces!

[@typhanymatthews]

I used to live in the neighborhood where this house located, was always curious about it. Thank you for this video

[@castingkid6836]

Wow I love this house and the architects! They're so cute together! I'm so inspired 😍😍😍😍

[@peadar-o]

Great design and such a charming architectural team. ❤

[@attention_shopping]

gorgeous -- the furnishings of the inside are so well done

[@zeebreezy9302]

This was amazing! AD needs to feature more of these narratives. The celeb cribs are ok, but this is legit AD inspiration we want to see and learn about.

[@Belle_Faye]

What a beautiful glimpse into a sustainable future ❤

[@slz203]

Lol what is sustainable about a giant townhouse with one person living in it

[@Hongaars1969]

Beautiful all around. Truly amazing design and invention. Bravi.

[@dinodinosaur2930]

💚 Unique with amazing outdoors space

[@vickimaiorano5763]

Wow, that is amazing. Such vision!

[@allanyeager263]

So inspiring and beautiful!

[@john32son]

I like the exterior concept. The interior is a little dark for my taste, and an elevator would have been a nice touch.

[@Mystic_Light]

Extremely cool and innovative design.

[@chrisk4751]

Moving towards the cities in Ready Player One

[@AllStars2525]

Amazing designs!

[@pepesfrau]

What a fabulous way to repurpose something that would sit abandoned for decades. Great idea to also house the houseless!

[@markuswunsch]

I like the idea and concept but in some areas there should be more windows as it looks pretty dark which in combination with the dark ceiling makes it slightly depressing. So a lighter choice of main color and a few more windows and that would be much better in my eyes.

[@maen3dstudio]

Well done for idea. Very creative 👏👏👏

[@corvettenyc72op21]

I know that house!, i always stop to look at it ! Very interesting architecture.

[@ezy.doesit]

this is the kind of videos i like!

[@illka314]

Cool) why not?! gorgeous, beautiful, talented family🎉

[@lisadooley2794]

This is just incredible

[@Jaybushy98]

i love this. i want one

[@Kommissary]

So fricking cool!

[@ettajfan5882]

Very well done!

[@pearlhartney9]

Love this! And what a lovely couple! First time occuring to me that it must be hard for architects to let go of their creations that they are so proud of.

[@mangoldm]

"We just respond creatively to what humanity pushes aside." My first reaction was, "Such conceit!" but after watching my reaction is, "Well done!"

[@jackechan1311]

Awe inspiring!

[@iamkid_a]

what a beautiful house!! every piece thoughtfully architected and i love the bathroom setup upstairs

[@tiogoala7654]

Marvellous!

[@toneriggz]

I like it, interior looks amazing. Even if the outside is ugly, that wouldn’t bother me. Although, I would be concerned about how it would hold up in bad weather.

[@nataliaalfonso2662]

I mean…… don’t shipping containers have to hold up better than anything else? In the worst weather? Like……. Through enormous waves and storms on the oceans?

[@richardcheese5839]

Amazing

[@SuperDodoe]

Looks cool but seems like it would be a bit ice cold during the winter months

[@gabbyc5215]

Just curious… Can any of the windows be opened?

[@sergnemo2379]

exellent

[@BryanDexter-i7x]

Cool!

[@stenbak88]

Cost of permits? Amount of time to create? And so many other questions, the look is the last question

[@CodyCha]

looks very safe...

[@legniak1]

Now I just have to talk my wife into knocking down our house to build one of these homes 😅 Be nice to know the price tag

[@christinalalonde4159]

Beautiful...but quite dark. A little depressing. But the sustainability is awesome❤

[@TheTaxburden]

What a missed opportunity. Almost looks unstable.

[@МихаилПервый-в5я]

Мне нравится👍

[@richardkelly4667]

Seeing how there is already a cantilever, I wonder how this structure would have looked with some asymmetrical windows a la Marcel Breuer.

[@icazuchi]

YT ADS ARE OUT OF CONTROL!!!!!

[@miriamzajfman4305]

I do like it ,maybe because I am European and we are used to this kind of building methods .

[@reinhardt3090]

Where in europe do people build with ugly shipping containers in expensive downtown areas of major cities? and since when?

[@miriamzajfman4305]

@@reinhardt3090 Everybody has his personal taste . I do agree to disagree with yours . This townhouse was created by very renowned Italian architects . P.S. Being a student I lived in one of those containers in Amsterdam

[@Dream-wu4bn]

Dope....❤

[@TheAlphaZulu]

Finally a video that's isn't about the super rich celebs showing off.

[@loveforeignaccents]

Kind of like it, even though it is a bit dark, but some of those views looking to the outside remind me of our condo's garbage dumpsters, so not very pleasing to my eye.

[@notoriousfierce]

FABULOUS house. I'd like to know who Jonathan is so I could be invited to this amazing house.

[@JOSHUADIES]

What a wonderful design concept. I was turned away when they so casually spoke about cooking an individual in the fireplace. 💔

[@igcowboy]

Me gusta

[@AmandaHuggenkiss]

Shipping containers are the “stone soup” of construction

[@xTobsecretx]

6 inches of insulation? That sounds like it's impossible to properly heat in the winter.

[@BENNYYKWAI]

Keep wishing for some affordable housing to be built in large scale ......

[@reinhardt3090]

This is in new York, it isn't and won't ever be affordable.

[@barbaraw4066]

Where are the windows??? It’s like a dark cave.

[@jonahlondon648]

Who doesn't want a shipyard aesthetic in their neighborhood?

[@FamoussPodcasts]

❤️

[@animalmother4]

Would have been nicer to look at if it was less shipping container-ey

[@JericoGoods]

building in NY ........The building cost x amount of money but the fees, kickbacks and bribes probably cost them 3-4 times as much.

[@Pww642]

I would want wider windows along the side of the house and white ceilings. It just feels a little dank and closed-in. But otherwise beautiful. The cantilever is AMAAAAZING.

[@pumpthewater419]

It’s the world’s most expensive trailer house.

[@seanmcallister2985]

Not enough natural light in this thing, I guess they structurally couldn't put too many holes into the side of the containers.

[@GODBLESSMEASALWAYS]

🎉❤

[@elanmackey7892]

Take these to poor countries all over the world!

[@StephenVaccaro]

Brutalist Architecture disguised by saying the key word sustainability. It's depressing looking, ominous. The bars, the locks are non functional and not decorative. Hideous.

[@HassanKourouma-zh8jk]

❤️🙌🏾🇬🇳✊🏾

[@pinker812]

The containers are cool but wow the decorating is terrible

[@lucadicriscio8182]

On todays episode of rich people wasting money on horribly ugly and expensive things

[@akbarsdesign]

Its funny how they refer to it as a "facade," there is none, only ugliness of mass manufactured containers, it's like they look at modern architecture and think "but can we make it even more uglier and demoralizing."

[@infesta7]

Last sentence is spot on.

[@austingonzalez1148]

Try to find joy in the mundane.

[@edyr]

I hope it's cheap and a number of colleagues get to use to be productive and awesome members of society Maybe fun Maybe plain solve and make the world better

[@DrRichardKimbel]

Wow, sorry not a fan of constricted living.

[@raquelpenzo6299]

I admire the sustainability push, but this is the UGLIEST building I've ever seen. And as a native NYer, I hate how structures like this ruin the aesthetic of the City. There has to be a happy medium somewhere.

[@RichReportcom]

Just no. no... Stop this brutalism.

[@slz203]

Nice and all to talk about sustainability but you have this entire building and only one person living there. How ridiculously wasteful and bad for the environment. (Not the fault of the architects, of course.)

[@ch8gb16]

Feo, F-E-O!!!!!!

[@ch8gb16]

Jajajajajajajajaja!!!! Pero que feo!!!!!!

[@foxgluv]

Wonderful. Magical. Unique. This is what we love to see on AD

[@ftsfrosty2]

That is so ugly 😂😂😂😂😂

[@MariaThompson-n5m5m]

I'm at that age where my idea of a wild night involves taking a nap without setting an alarm🍭