Container Home Above Tortola’s North Shore
Perched on a steep hillside above Tortola’s north shore, a compact container home built by couple Scottie and Timpa blends clever design with local craftsmanship. Their two-container house, offset to create airflow and space, showcases the resourcefulness required for building in the BVI and celebrates a partnership that began on a flight and grew into a shared dream.
Perched high above Tortola’s north shore, a small home fashioned from two shipping containers now sits lightly on the hillside, offering sweeping sea views and a model of compact island living. The house is the work of Scottie, a Cape Air pilot, and Timpa, a charter yacht captain with VOYAGE Charters.
Their relationship began four years ago with a chance sighting on a flight and a proper meeting at The Elm in Cane Garden Bay. After a first date that stretched into the night, the couple began sketching plans for Scottie’s land and dreaming of a home they could build together. The site was a dense, steep parcel of bush that required a machete to clear.
When they reached the rock at the top corner, the couple fell in love with an expansive view of sea, cliffs and green hills — and that view became the starting point for design decisions. Initially attracted to traditional plans in SketchUp, Scottie woke one morning with the idea of using containers.
Timpa, with a background in construction, immediately saw how to make the idea work. The final design offsets the two containers by 10 feet, a simple move that opened circulation, placed the kitchen and bar, and made the main living area feel far larger than its footprint. Construction required significant modification of the steel shells.
The couple cut roughly 20 feet of steel to open the main living area and reinforced the opening with welded I-beams. One container holds a cosy bedroom suite while the other contains kitchen and indoor living space. A breezy outdoor dining area and raised seating complete the footprint.
Building in the BVI calls for resourcefulness. Rather than importing expensive fixtures, Scottie and Timpa engaged a local craftsman to make custom mahogany doors and windows at a fraction of the cost. The kitchen and wardrobes were bought as a budget-friendly package, and the couple added a laundry and storage extension later to keep the compact interior uncluttered.
Outside is where the home truly comes alive: a swing seat suspended in a perfect wind channel, a deck layered with personal touches, and a table Timpa built after realising the family needed extra space for dinner. Their cat, Chloe, is also part of the household charm. More than an innovative reuse of steel, the home is a testament to partnership, local skill and the practical solutions island life demands — proof that with planning, creativity and community trades, small spaces can deliver big living.
This feature was first published in VIRGIN ISLANDS Magazine.
Primary source: VI Property&Yacht