The Pardiwala family was looking to build a weekend getaway, far from the heat and hustle of Mumbai.

The youngsters of the house, Mishal and Mikhail took charge of this project and chose Alibaug as it promised clean air, water and organic food.

Passionate about the environment, the family was sure that the house had to be built sustainably.

In fact, the two brothers run ‘Treewear,’ a company that makes eco-friendly products, since 2016.

Built on a one acre plot, the eco-friendly home is constructed from recycled shipping containers.

“Compared to other recycled or eco-friendly materials, shipping containers are more durable and tough. Every time a container is recycled, thousands of kilos worth of steel is repurposed,” says Mishal.

He also adds that you don’t need to use other building materials like bricks or cement, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint.

Built in 2019, the house is made using six 40-foot by eight-foot shipping containers.

Since Alibaug town has red soil and mango wadis (orchards), the house is known as ‘The Orange Box’.

It has three bedrooms and a high ceiling, 1,500 sq ft terrace and a central courtyard.

Rainwater is collected into a pond in the courtyard. The excess water is also sent to a nearby borewell to recharge the groundwater.

Mishal and his wife made this weekend getaway their permanent home in 2020. They have planted many trees to ensure greenery.

Solar panels help them keep their electricity bill to the bare minimum. Their bill is Rs 1,000 in summers while it’s less than Rs 500 during other months.

“We want to create awareness about ways to live in harmony with nature,” he concludes.

They also collect dry waste in nearby areas by encouraging people to segregate waste on a monthly basis.