Building your dream home is a pricey business, and anywhere you can save a dollar or two is a blessing – as any thrifty type knows, it all adds up. So when architect Patrick Bradley needed to bring his Grillagh Water House design in on budget, he turned to a clever, low-cost alternative: shipping containers.

Looking at the end product, you wouldn’t know Bradley’s used four steel beastly boxes to create his home. Using earthy materials like grey metal and pre-rusted corten to finish the build, the Grillagh Water House completely complements its surroundings. Sitting pretty in the lush fields of Northern Ireland, this house sets a new standard for shipping container conversions. There’s absolutely no buts about it – Bradley’s design is b-e-a-utiful.

Images via Aidan Monaghan.