INDIANAPOLIS (WPTA) – While driving down College Avenue, you’ve probably noticed some strange buildings near Fall Creek Parkway in north Indianapolis.

They are hard to miss! This is because the houses are literally built from shipping containers.

The three homes are the city’s newest short-term rental offerings, set to go live on Sunday, August 18.

“The reactions are very varied,” said JB Rapp, the owner of the container homes. “Some of my people are crazy about them. They love them. Others have called them disgusting, ugly and rust buckets.”

Rapp founded Indy Urban Jungles in 2018 after renting out his Mass Ave. property through Airbnb.

“I started trying it out and the money was good. I enjoyed preparing the house for guests and from then on I incorporated the green thumb aspect into everything I do,” Rapp said.

The idea for this project was born in 2020. Rapp then bought the property a year later and went through a long rezoning process.

The first containers were delivered in early 2023. He worked closely with Custom Container Builders.

Each house consists of seven shipping containers with an additional greenhouse on the second floor and a roof terrace.

A total of 21 containers were needed to complete the project. Rapp said they all came from a local container depot.

“In Indiana and other Midwestern states, we tend to import more than we export. So we have a surplus of containers just sitting around here,” Rapp said.

According to Rapp, the majority of the containers are damaged and the rest were only used for a few trips.

“You can see dents and dings in some of the ceilings. It tells a funny story about this container that has traveled around the world and is now right here in Indianapolis, and you’re sleeping in it,” Rapp said.

Each house also has its own theme: The Marley, The Sycamore and The Gotham.

“The Marley”

The Marley is a modern, boho-style home with earth tones, wood elements and animal art. It includes artwork by Baron Batch and photographs Rapp took during a trip to Africa.

It is also a tribute to the reggae legend himself.

“My personal favorite is The Marley. Bob Marley has been an icon for me since I was a child. This house has everything that touches my soul,” said Rapp.

“The Sycamore Maple”

The Sycamore is a modern coastal home with the flair of a classic beach house.

“For this theme, I thought about my grandparents’ house in Sanibel and what characteristics a coastal home has. The first thing that came to mind was the color blue,” Rapp said.

The house also features artwork by Indy artist Stuart Alter.

“The Gotham”

The Gotham is a New York-style loft with grayscale paint, black cosmo-style counters, and black accent lighting.

It includes pop culture references with Legos, skyboard art, Nerf guns, comic books, action figures, pinball, Nintendo 64, and a Blu-ray DVD collection.

“A little bit of everything to highlight pop culture,” Rapp said.

Rapp plans to complete the second phase of the project in a few years, which includes spraying the house with clear epoxy and building some trellises with climbing plants.

“I have a big plan here, and in the end it will look even better than it does now,” said Rapp. “It just creates an extremely unique atmosphere that you don’t see every day.”

The properties are available now on Airbnb and the earliest date you can inquire is Thursday, August 22nd.

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