From Containers to Cozy: How One Family Built Their Dream Home for Just £52k
Building a home from scratch is a challenge in itself, but doing it with recycled shipping containers in the mountains of Colombia is a whole new level of ambitious.
For Fiona Rivadeneira, a 43-year-old mum from Surrey, and her husband, Juan Carlos, 46, this dream became a reality when they constructed their family home for the remarkable cost of just £52,000—equivalent to the price of a single parking space in London’s Islington district.
This innovative and eco-friendly project wasn’t just about creating a place to live but also about reusing materials and fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Here’s the story of how they turned an unconventional idea into a dream home.
Dreaming Big: A Vision for a Unique Home
Fiona Rivadeneira had long harbored dreams of building her own home. With a passion for recycling and a fascination with shipping containers, she envisioned constructing a house that would not only be functional but also sustainable.
Alongside her husband, Juan Carlos, she embarked on a journey to create a home in the scenic mountains of Colombia, far removed from their life in Surrey.
The decision to use recycled shipping containers wasn’t just a random choice—it was driven by Fiona’s deep-rooted interest in upcycling and sustainability.
By using materials that would otherwise go to waste, the couple hoped to craft a home that reflected both their eco-conscious values and Fiona’s creative vision.
Their children, Sofia, 11, and Sebastian, 10, also played a role in the decision, as Fiona wanted to teach them the importance of reusing and recycling in a world increasingly dominated by consumerism.
