New House Plan Release: Sunbird 320 – A Compact 1 Bedroom Shipping Container Home
- Chris Morris
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Small Home, Big Possibilities – A Clever 2 × 20ft Container Home Design
If you're looking for an affordable way to create a granny flat, tiny home, guest house or compact rental, our new Sunbird 320 Shipping Container Home Plan shows just how much can be achieved with two 20-foot shipping containers.
The Sunbird 320 is a compact 1 bedroom container home designed around simple construction, practical everyday living and a generous outdoor timber deck.
With 320 sq ft (29.6 m²) of enclosed container space, this little home packs a surprising amount into a very small footprint.
Introducing the Sunbird 320
Shipping container homes continue to attract interest from people looking for alternative ways to build smaller, more flexible homes.
The idea behind the Sunbird 320 was simple:
How can we turn two standard 20ft shipping containers into a comfortable, self-contained home without wasting valuable space?
The result is a straightforward two-container layout incorporating a bedroom, bathroom/laundry, kitchen, meals area and open living space.
A large timber deck extends the usable lifestyle area outdoors and gives the compact home a much more open feel.
Sunbird 320 at a Glance
1 Bedroom
1 Bathroom
Combined Bathroom & Laundry
Full Kitchen
Meals Area
Open Living Area
Bedroom Closet
Large Timber Deck
2 × 20ft Shipping Containers
320 Sq Ft / 29.6 m² Enclosed Container Area
Why Two 20ft Shipping Containers?
One of the challenges with a single shipping container is its narrow internal width.
By using two separate 20ft containers, the Sunbird design provides greater flexibility in arranging the living and sleeping areas.
One container accommodates the bedroom and bathroom/laundry, while the second provides the kitchen, meals and living area.
This creates clear separation between the private and living zones while keeping the overall building extremely compact.
For anyone considering a small secondary dwelling, it is a good example of how careful floor planning can make a major difference.
A Proper Bedroom – Not Just a Studio
One feature we particularly wanted to include was a separate bedroom.
Many very small homes rely on sofa beds, lofts or having the bed permanently located in the main living room.
The Sunbird provides a dedicated bedroom with a double bed arrangement and its own closet.
This makes the design potentially much more comfortable for longer-term accommodation than a basic open studio layout.
Bathroom and Laundry Combined
When you're designing a 320 sq ft home, every square metre needs to earn its place.
Rather than dedicating valuable floor area to a separate laundry, we've incorporated it into the bathroom.
The bathroom/laundry includes space for the main bathroom facilities together with a washing machine.
It's a simple idea, but exactly the sort of planning that can make a small home work.
Open-Plan Kitchen, Meals & Living
The second container becomes the everyday heart of the home.
The kitchen, meals and living spaces are combined into an open-plan arrangement, helping the interior feel less confined.
The kitchen provides the essential preparation, cooking and storage areas while still leaving room for dining and lounge furniture.
For small-home design, this is important.
Too many internal walls can make a compact house feel even smaller. An open layout helps create longer sightlines and makes better use of the available floor space.
The Timber Deck Makes a Big Difference
One of our favourite features of the Sunbird 320 is the 241 sq ft (11.76 m²) timber deck.
In a small home, outdoor living space can effectively become another room.
Add an outdoor table, a couple of comfortable chairs and some landscaping, and the deck can become an outdoor dining area, morning coffee spot or simply somewhere to relax.
This is particularly suited to the Australian lifestyle and warmer climates.
Could the Sunbird Work as a Granny Flat?
Depending on local planning and building requirements, a design of this type could provide a starting point for several different uses, including:
Granny Flat
Tiny Home
Backyard Guest House
Holiday Cabin
Airbnb-Style Accommodation
Secondary Dwelling
Rural Accommodation
Home Office with Accommodation
Compact Rental
Affordable Small Home
In the United States, buyers may also consider a small design like this as the starting point for an ADU – Accessory Dwelling Unit, subject to local requirements.
Always check with your local council, building authority or licensed building professional before deciding what can be built on your property.
Could This Be a Good Rental or Holiday Accommodation Design?
Potentially, and this is one of the areas where compact container homes can become particularly interesting.
A separate bedroom, private bathroom, kitchen, living area and deck provide the basic ingredients for self-contained accommodation.
For property owners with sufficient land, a small dwelling may be worth investigating for uses such as guest accommodation, farm stays or holiday accommodation.
However, local planning rules, short-term rental regulations, wastewater requirements and building approvals can vary considerably between locations.
The important thing is to investigate these requirements before spending heavily on the project.
Why Start With Concept Plans?
One mistake people sometimes make is spending thousands of dollars on engineering, approvals and detailed construction drawings before they have decided whether a design actually suits their property or budget.
A concept plan gives you something tangible to work with.
You can use it to:
Discuss the idea with builders
Obtain preliminary pricing
Review the layout
Discuss the proposal with your local authority
Consider where it might sit on your property
Identify changes you would like
Compare the concept with alternative building methods
Once you're happy with the design and have established that the project is feasible, you can then investigate the detailed documentation required for your location.
What Comes With the Sunbird 320 Plan Package?
The plan package includes:
Detailed Floor Plan
Exterior Elevations
Electrical Plan
Window Schedule
Door Schedule
3D Front Perspective
PDF Plan Files
Copyright Release to Build
The design can also be used as the starting point for further modifications.
Can We Modify the Sunbird?
Yes.
Not every buyer has the same site, budget or requirements, so modifications can be quoted separately.
You may want to consider changes such as a larger deck, different windows and doors, an alternative kitchen arrangement or modifications to the bathroom and bedroom.
You could also use the basic idea as inspiration for a larger container home using additional modules.
Builder's Tip: Price the Whole Project, Not Just the Containers
One of the biggest misconceptions about container homes is that buying inexpensive used containers automatically means you'll end up with an inexpensive completed home.
The containers are only part of the project.
You still need to consider items such as site preparation, foundations, transport, crane costs, structural modifications, insulation, windows and doors, plumbing, electrical work, internal finishes, roofing or weatherproofing where required, engineering and approvals.
That doesn't mean a container home can't make sense.
It means you should approach it exactly as you would any other building project: start with a design, investigate local requirements and obtain realistic quotes before committing to construction.
Is the Sunbird 320 Right for You?
If your priority is a huge family home, probably not.
But if you're looking for something small, simple and flexible, the Sunbird is worth considering.
At only 320 sq ft of enclosed space, it demonstrates that a home doesn't necessarily need to be large to provide the essentials.
For a granny flat, guest house, holiday retreat or compact independent dwelling, sometimes smaller really can be smarter.
Sunbird 320 – Design Summary
Design: Sunbird 320
Type: Shipping Container Home
Containers: 2 × 20ft
Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1
Enclosed Container Area: 320 Sq Ft / 29.6 m²
Timber Deck: 241 Sq Ft / 11.76 m²
Combined Area Including Deck: 41.36 m²
Small Home. Simple Design. Big Possibilities.
Explore the Sunbird 320 Shipping Container Home Plan along with our growing collection of container homes, tiny houses, granny flats and affordable small-home designs at Australian Floor Plans.
Full Construction Plans
The Sunbird 320 cleverly addresses the challenge of small-space living by ensuring a dedicated bedroom, which is a huge comfort improvement over studio layouts. I particularly appreciate how the generous timber deck truly acts as an extension of the living space, creating opportunities for relaxation or perhaps a quiet corner after an intense session of unblocked games 66. This design offers impressive possibilities for compact, comfortable living.