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


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[cristicorte]

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

[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!

[scott]

How nice that AD actually focused on Architecture and not celebrity for once.

[JoelDavid]

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

[SirCentex]

“Respond creatively to what humanity has push aside” beautifully said!

[ttdeane]

hi just echoing the voices saying this is the type of content we want

[DBeAwn]

The fact this is in Brooklyn makes so much sense. Has an industrial look and feel to it. Shipping containers? Very creative tbh

[MusehanaH]

They built an 375 apartments student accommodation comprises named Mill Junction in Johannesburg, South Africa back in 2014, using shipping containers.

[SmallBlogV]

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

[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.

[MadMan]

This is what AD should strive to be. Make the architecture and interesting design the “celebrity.”

[JessiecaB]

I love not knowing who these people are and getting to know them via their beautiful works of art. Chefs kiss AD

[marshlong]

Very clever design especially with the conjoining terraces

[typhanymatthews]

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

[stickynorth]

LOT-EK is one of the most innovative designers around these days and this shows you why. They make high art out of the large-scale equivalent of a milk crate... Now that's something!

[annansel]

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 ..

[tythetasmaniantiger]

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!

[arymu]

Beautiful and it fits the NYC landscape. It's like a 2049 design in our current timeline.

[domi]

finally architectural digest posting about actual architecture . who woulda thought...

[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.