The building
The shipping-container lofts at Ashley Lofts
Ashley Lofts is a small community of steel shipping containers, stacked three high around a palm courtyard and wrapped on one side in a block-long mural. It is one of the more recognizable addresses in Downtown Jacksonville, and the home inside is finished, not a novelty.
The container, inside
Each home is a single container turned into a studio loft of about 320 square feet. The industrial steel shell gives way to a finished interior: granite counters, dark wood cabinets, warm wood-look plank flooring, a tiled walk-in shower, and wide windows at the ends. A galley kitchen runs along one wall with a deep stainless sink and the washer and dryer built in under the counter.
The courtyard and the mural
The containers are arranged around a shared palm courtyard with grills, behind a fenced, gated entry. One side of the building carries a large painted mural, which is the part most people recognize from the street. It is a front door you walk up to, with a handful of neighbors, rather than a lobby and an elevator.
What living in one is like
The trade is deliberate. You give up square footage and an oven, and in return you get a distinctive, low-key home in the middle of downtown, with everything in the unit and the city outside the gate. Homes at Ashley Lofts are studio lofts of about 320 square feet, built inside a single steel shipping container, each with a full-size washer and dryer, granite counters and a tiled walk-in shower. The availability page lists the current rent for every open home.
Questions people ask
Is Ashley Lofts really built from shipping containers?
Yes. The homes are studio lofts built inside steel shipping containers, stacked around a palm courtyard in the Cathedral District of Downtown Jacksonville.
How big is a container loft?
About 320 square feet, as a studio with a galley kitchen, a full bath with a tiled walk-in shower, and a separate sleeping area at the far end. Tour before you apply so you can judge the space.
Does the home feel industrial inside?
The shell is steel, but the inside is finished like a home: granite counters, dark cabinets, wood-look plank flooring and wide windows. Photos are on the gallery page.
Is there a courtyard?
Yes, a shared palm courtyard with grills, behind a fenced and gated entry.
More about living here
- Living in the Cathedral District, Downtown Jacksonville
- The studio loft floor plan, explained
- Studios with a washer and dryer in the home
- Parks and the riverfront near Ashley Lofts
- Groceries and everyday errands downtown
- Eating and drinking downtown
- Commuting from Ashley Lofts
- Things to do downtown
- Living near the stadium and the arena
- Pet friendly studios downtown
- How to apply at Ashley Lofts
- Working from home at Ashley Lofts
- What residents say about Ashley Lofts
- The neighborhood guide
- All questions