ADUs go by many names: guest house, in-law suite, casita, and many more. ADU stands for accessory dwelling unit, which means a smaller home that is “accessory” to your primary residence. Relevant Buildings is an ADU builder that specializes in building detached ADUs, which are stand-alone homes separate from the main home. Detached ADUs are typically placed in the backyard and are about 800 sq. ft. or less. We love ADUs for a number of reasons. They are sustainable, offer extra living space, and can end up paying for themselves. Over the past 10 years, both Portland and Seattle have se ..read more

We’re always looking for ways to spread the word about how shipping container homes offer a sustainable option for housing. That’s why when Better Homes & Gardens kindly asked to interview us about shipping container homes as a green building material, we were happy to accept! Their article goes into detail about the rising popularity of container homes, as well as an overview of their pros and cons. Container homes offer an eco-friendly housing solution for a handful of reasons. Most obviously, perhaps, is the fact that they utilize a recycled material, shipping containers, as their main ..read more

Relevant Buildings aims to provide housing options that are modern yet affordable. With that mission in mind, we built the container home condos in St. Helens, Oregon, that features 8 living units. This home was made from sixteen 40-foot long containers. The project was a challenge and had us questioning at times what we had gotten ourselves into, but the results were worth it. As with all of our container homes, these container home condos include high-quality finishes. We use durable luxury vinyl flooring, stainless steel appliances, and tiled kitchen backsplash. We didn’t skip on our energ ..read more

  Watch as one of our customers, Bob, leads us through a home tour of their beautiful De Lux River 20′ container home. This home totals 586 sq. ft. in size. We build this home using two 20-foot shipping containers and a 10-foot wood-framed midspan section. The midspan section features a standing height loft. Efficiency and compact living meet in this open-concept container home ADU. This compact home makes optimal use of every square foot, ensuring that the guest house is comfortable and functional. A perfect blend of container home meets traditional stick-built ADU. This design allows ..read more

Watch as Carl Coffman, owner and founder of Relevant Buildings, explores the exciting possibilities of creating a stylish 1-bedroom, 1-bath ADU using shipping containers.   Thoughtful Design  The Suite Spot River 40’ utilizes the compact nature of a shipping container to create a well-designed living space that maximizes every square foot. Think open floor plan, multifunctional areas, and creative storage solutions.   Craft a cozy and inviting bedroom that serves as a peaceful retreat. This bathroom design balances functionality with aesthetics. We optimized this space wi ..read more

  Our friends at Tiny House Expedition took a tour of our De Lux River 40′ container home located near Portland, OR. As one of the first container homes that we designed and built, the De Lux River 40′ remains a favorite. Part of what makes this home so eye-catching is its hybrid design. The home features two 40′ shipping containers on either end with a wood-framed section in the middle. The midspan section, which gets built on site after the containers are placed, features tall, vaulted ceilings, clerestory windows, and a storage loft. The home featured in this video has two bedrooms ..read more

  This 399 sq ft. model is a 1BR / 1 Bath with a full-size kitchen and ample space for dining. The unit also comes fully equipped with kitchen appliances, vinyl floors, and quartz countertops. Park model homes are considered recreational vehicles and must be registered with the DMV. This option may be ideal for those who plan to relocate in the future as it is not installed onto a permanent foundation.   What is a container home Park Model?  A container home park model is a compact and mobile living space constructed from shipping containers. Unlike traditional container ho ..read more

The Box Car 3 is one of many exciting new models we have in the works. This innovative 1,280 sq ft model is a 2-story 3B/2.5BR with a spacious dining and living room as well as a beautiful office space. It also includes a balcony, built in front porch and comes fully equipped with vinyl floors, quartz counter tops and all kitchen appliances. Pricing is to be determined. The post New Box Car 3 appeared first on Relevant Buildings ..read more

We’re always looking for ways to spread the word about how shipping container homes offer a sustainable option for housing. That’s why when Better Homes & Gardens kindly asked to ..read more

  Relevant Buildings aims to provide housing options that are modern yet affordable. With that mission in mind, we built a multifamily residence in St. Helens, Oregon, that features 8 ..read more