in RiebeekWestin theSwartlandis a dreamcometrue.Butit wasn’t
withoutitsfairshareof blood,sweatandtears:a containerhomethat
fitsintoa steelframelikea puzzle,andhasbrickworkhereandthere
to fillin thegaps,requiresmeticulousplanning.
Andthat’sexactlyhowthesetwocreativemindstackledtheir
project– withplentyof researchandattentionto detail.
Theybegandiggingthefoundationsin November 2016 in themost
tree-filledsectionof thelargeproperty,whichalreadyhadtwohomes
onit. Theirfirstobstaclewasthattheentireprojecthadto befinanced
withhardcash:“Banksdon’tgiveyoua loanif youbuildwith
containers,”cautionsAxel.
Buttheywereadamant:containersit hadto be,especiallyafter
seeingsimilarprojectsontheBritishTVshowGrandDesigns.
Fortunately,Axelis a buildingcontractorandwasableto doa lotof
theworkhimself,sotheysavedoncosts.Amidstotherconstruction
projects,hesetasidetimeto helpshapetheirhomewhileRichard,
whorunsa beautysalononthesamepremises,cameupwiththe
ideas.On1 Junelastyear,theymovedin – justovera yearanda half
afterthefirstsodwasturned.Axel Ryder and Richard
Wood’s container home
The living area, which is adjacent to the kitchen, is a lovely sociable
space. Beneath the counter, a collection of old German biscuit tins
provides storage for CDs. The floor is second-hand plywood, but the
pair intend to install a new wooden floor on top.
26 home September 2019