With space at a premium and resources dwindling on our overworked planet, more and more people are looking to reduce and reuse where they can. This applies to everything from food to clothing, but it’s especially worth considering when it comes to housing. Why not build your home with something that already exists?

That’s what these clever architects and designers have been doing. They’ve recently started building homes with large shipping containers. As it turns out, they make great houses.

1. The Tree House, Jerusalem, Israel

These architects took a more rustic approach to the shipping container method, incorporating two massive Jerusalem pine trees that not only look nice, but also provide shade.

2. Casa el Tiemblo, Avila, Spain

These shipping containers weren’t redecorated much on the exterior, but the spacious interior and huge windows make up for that.

3. Crossbox House, Pont-Péan, France

Each level of this gravity-defying home in France was created using two merged shipping containers. It has three bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, and a large living room. It was designed and built to showcase a cheaper alternative to traditional housing.

4. Zigloo Domestique, British Columbia, Canada

Made with eight 20-foot containers and a host of other recycled materials, this was one of the first shipping container houses in Canada. It’s a spacious, modern home, and it’s estimated that about 70 trees were spared by using containers instead of lumber.

5. Six Oaks Shipping Container Residence, California, U.S.

This house was designed with the desire to wreak as little havoc as possible on its natural surroundings. Much of the interior was created using recycled redwood and plywood.

6. Kunsthalle, Berlin, Germany

This is actually an event space rather than a home, but it’s still made with containers! It hosts workshops of all kinds.

7. Hybrid House, California, U.S.

This spacious home was created using five shipping containers and recycled steel. It also features a movable roof and a water collection system.

8. Bunny Lane

This house features a modern profile, but inside, the Bunny Lane house is a cozy stack of containers.

9. 12 Container House, Maine, U.S.

Made with 12 shipping containers, this house opens right up to the great outdoors through a large, garage-style door. Stacked containers serve as the rooms, but the building still has a homey feel.

10. Jones-Glotfelty Shipping Container House, Arizona, U.S.

The recycled containers aren’t all that’s eco-friendly about this house. It also uses solar panels and comes equipped with an energy-efficient climate control system.

11. Containers of Hope, San Jose, Costa Rica

Architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe created this house for a couple who wanted to build their own home without driving themselves into debt. Made from two 40-foot containers, it’s a cheap, modern alternative to a traditional home.

12. Container Guest House, Texas, U.S.

This tiny guest house is only 320 square feet, but that’s all these minimalists need. The foundation is made from recycled telephone poles, and the flooring is repurposed bamboo. Despite its size, it’s rather luxurious.

13. Decameron Design Shop, Sao Paulo, Brazil

This design studio and shopping area features brightly painted containers. The containers are each little shops, and it makes for a colorful addition to the Sao Paulo neighborhood.

14. Caterpillar House, Santiago, Chile

Built on a mountain overlooking the city, this 12-container house was cheap and easy to build. It also uses the mountain’s cool air for eco-friendly ventilation.

15. 2+ Weekend House, Trebnie, Slovenia

Yes, this is real! These containers aren’t actually shipping containers, but modular sections created specifically for housing. With this approach, people can create houses that suit their specific needs.

16. The Port-a-Bach, New Plymouth, New Zealand

When folded out, this portable shelter can easily sleep six adults, and it even includes a bathroom and shower. The fold-out panel serves as a porch. When closed, it’s completely secure.

(via Digital Trends)

If living in a shipping container didn’t sound too awesome at first, you probably changed your mind after seeing what some clever design work can do.