With a little bit of imagination (and a lot work), some talented architects have succeeded in designing dwellings made of shipping containers, ranging from off-the-grid guest homes to full time single family homes.

Shipping Container homes have their pros and cons: they are durable and eco-friendly, usually more cost-effective to build than conventional construction, and pre-fab modules can be easily transported by truck. But they also must be well insulated and sealed, as the steel conducts heat and can easily rust.

Here are 22 of the best modern shipping container houses built around the world to consider...

The new regional head office of the United Nations is designed with clear references to the UN’s identity and values: It is a building that physically reaches out to all parts the world, while the sculptural staircase in its core reflects the UN’s work to create global dialogue.

Located on an artificial island the building is naturally separated from its immediate surroundings, while still being highly visible from both the city and the water.

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Australian architectural firm Techne has recently redesigned the Prahran Hotel and pub. The process involved the demolition of the rear extension to be replaced with a very unique and modern addition.

The designers chose to use large concrete pipes as both the pub's seating and outer facade. The tubes are stacked on top of each other to meet the building’s two-story height while still allowing plenty of natural light in through the windows. There are 17 pipes in all. The ones used for customers can hold anywhere from two to twelve guests and are complete with leather seating and timber paneling.

Other unique aspects of this renovation include the large open courtyard that enhances natural light and the concrete half-pipe that has been mounted on steel beams, acting as an alternate dining booth. The interior of the building is a mix of unfinished concrete and metal. This feature helps to contrast the warmth of the natural wood and leather found throughout the structure.

Shipping containers are low-cost, stackable building blocks ideal for incorporating into all kinds of architecture including homes, stores and restaurants.

Portable, durable, stackable and readily available all over the world, shipping containers are the ideal building blocks for smart structures of practically every variety. Some require just a little bit of renovation to transform into tiny houses or mobile offices, and others are barely recognizable. Often left with their exteriors as-is to pay tribute to their industrial origins, shipping containers can be used to form exterior walls and integrated into other types of building materials. Here are 23 examples of shipping container architecture in the form of homes, schools, offices, retail stores, hotels and restaurants...