Upscale version in northern New Mexico
A leftover from our economy’s commitment to a permanent trade deficit — is the ubiquitous shipping container. With fewer products of value available to export, they stack up, disused and often abandoned because the cost of returning them to their point of origin is higher than the cost of replacement.
This past weekend, I happened to watch the second in a series of TV shows — by Bob Vila — on the reuse of these containers as the core for affordable housing. Working with local organizations specializing in low-cost housing built up to hurricane spec, they produced a livable, traditional Florida bungalow for lower costs than you’d normally face. They used four steel containers as the corner cores for an 1800 sq.ft. dwelling — four bedrooms, two baths — for low income families.
This jogged my memory, this morning — after receiving a favorable comment about the containership photo I used in yesterday’s Post about our nation’s economic performance. I went looking and here is the first site I came upon — dedicated to the concept.
Everything from luxury to minimal is possible with these cans as the core — and cost savings in every instance. You’re only limited by talent and construction smarts.
Never would have thought of standing them on end!
Retail in NJ for $150-175K
I especially like the idea of tying together the lower level of containers with a glass garage door. Folks don’t often realize these can be acquired with powder-coat finishes in a couple hundred colors. You can match whatever you decide to do with the exterior finish of the home. You can apply insulation and finish to the outside to lose the industrial look — though, in this example, I like the look.
travis
very interesting. i’ve got a friend here who’s very into these and into making them a commercially viable project. and i’m trying to develop a concept of a non-profit that creates free housing out of shipping containers for shanty town dwellers around the world – building these would be even easier and cheaper with the proper research into heating/cooling.
marlowe
We are interested to buy used ISO shipping insulated containers.
Could you be of help.
We use more than 100 units yearly.
thanks and regards,
Nava Birman
This is the first site about Shipping Container Architecture.
It preceded fabprefab, in fact they stole his links.
http://firmitas.org
I want to build one of these but the whole eight by forty thing is doing my head in does any one know a good site with ideas for plans particulaly how do you fit a queen size bed in, there must be a time space quantum physics kind of trick to it.
You folks might like to check out my container house. Its super simple. I like being outdoors most of the time anyway. Its amazing how little space you really need. With the insulated walls its super cosy and easy to heat. I have a friend who put a false roof over his to collect water. Next I will build a bath house with shower and sauna. Toilet is a sawdust composting toilet, as in the book Humanure. Cheers!
I think jail cells would be a great use.
I am very interested in building a container house – not a SITE OFFICE in Sout Africa – ANy other South Africans interested??
The outside insulation that’s sprayed on the shipping containers is a ceramic powder additive mixed in the paint and one or two coats provides R-28 Value thermal efficiency.
I love the “jail cells” idea suggested previously by Doug. Build the entire JAIL out of these things and they would be impossible to break out of – even the guard towers could be containers stood on end with a staircase or elevator leading up to the watch-posts.
Regarding some of the questions I’m seeing about fitting a Queen Size bed into these things, I don’t think most everyone quite gets it – The sides can be welded out and two or more joined together. Think in terms of 8′, 16′, 24′ etc. Then within that space you can subdivide by walling off a length of 8′ etc. to create more spaces for bathrooms, closets, showers etc.
As far as the roof leaking if it’s cut, I’ve heard concerns about that too. However, with so many plans out there on the web showing actual separated roofs (See http://www.architectureaustralia.com.au/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=200109&article=11&typeon=2 as an example of what I mean by separated roof) Even a standard looking slightly angled roof would work to make sure no water ever even touched the top of the container – I’m just an amateur carpenter but 2×4′s, some acceptable grade of plywood and standard shingles would do the trick AND keep a layer of air between the sun and the roof keeping the hot sun from beating on it.
Houses needed in South Africa price is a problem
market for R150 000 – R250 000
is it possible what sizes
need more info
Thankyou
SP
Cool article from 2006! The shipping container movement has come a long way in the last few years. Seems to be gaining a cult like fan club.
. People have come up with a lot of creative solutions for things like insulation and making them NOT look like a shipping container. I like the “Mad Max” look of the house in this article (to quote an earlier commenter.) There are a ton of great designs coming out these days. As well as some really novel mini-house ideas. Shipping containers have to be one of the most versatile construction mediums of all time! Yay!