A new off-the-grid home built
out of two second-hand highcube
12-metre containers
has taken environmentally
friendly living to a new level.
Built by Johannesburgbased
Architecture for
a Change (A4AC), the
14 000-sqm “Cliff House” in
Northcliff Johannesburg uses
solar panels for electricity
while borehole water is drawn
onsite. Recycled plastic
bottles and wine bottle corks
were used for insulation and
flooring.
A4AC architect Dirk
Coetser told FTW that it
was almost R3 000 cheaper
per square metre to build
with containers compared
to conventional brick-andmortar
houses of the same
size.
The company is currently
working with First National
Bank on pop-up ATMs in
rural areas.
