Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2025

A Shipping Container Penthouse in New York City

A Shipping Container Penthouse in New York City

Formerly a mechanical room and overhauled by LOT-EK, the Manhattan pad recasts a 20-foot shipping container as an upstairs bedroom.

It’s not everyday that a shipping container home appears on the market-and much less so in New York City, which makes this two-story penthouse particularly noteworthy. Set above West 31st Street in Midtown, Manhattan, it was designed by local firm LOT-EK, lauded for their use of upcycled materials-in this case, a 20-foot shipping container turned into the main bedroom.



The living areas, located on the lower level, seamlessly merge by way of the open floor plan. Details such as the concrete walls, exposed pipes, and steel doors pay tribute to the home's former past as the building's mechanical room.

"This home is the most unique space I’ve seen in all the years I’ve worked in real estate," says listing agent Joe Pellegrino. "Creative and groundbreaking architecture like this makes New York what it is: the greatest city in the world, and a hub for art and design."



Floor-to-ceiling glazing illuminates the double-height living room while framing picturesque skyline views.

Measuring 860 square feet, the hybrid apartment is comprises two sections. The main living area, which is located on the lower level, was converted from a former mechanical room and presents a sleek industrial aesthetic with expansive glazing, including a large bay window on the southern wall.



Glass doors provide direct access to the home’s leafy terrace.

Working with limited square footage, LOT-EK expanded the property by installing a shipping container on top of the lower level. The new volume serves as the primary sleeping quarters and includes a multifunctional loft area.



Another view of the terrace showcases its close proximity to the Empire State Building.

Clever space-spacing solutions can be found throughout the flat, such as integrated appliances and shelving made from newspaper dispensers. Yet out of the home’s many highlights, the most notable is arguably its up-close view of the Empire State Building.



The kitchen is brightly lit by a central skylight and fitted with all new, stainless-steel appliances.

"Not only does this space offer a chance for you to feel like you’re living in a piece of modern art, but it is also perfectly positioned around terraces that enable you to walk out to your own little slice of heaven and stare up at the Empire State Building in all of its grandeur," says Pellegrino. Keep scrolling to see more of the property, currently listed for $995,000.



A repurposed fire escape ladder serves as the staircase to the upper-level bedroom.



A custom-built wardrobe and shelving unit helps create a cozy, warm aesthetic in the bedroom.



An oversized soaking tub awaits in the bathroom.



A peek at another outdoor area included with the property. Perched in a pre-war building, the penthouse is a part of a live/work co-op comprised of floor-through loft apartments.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
×