• Shipping Container Homes: Unique, Inexpensive, Portable, Industrial Architecture
    124 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Rammaster;32911179]I wouldn't mind living in one. If it's cheaper than buying a home, I think it'd be awesome to live in a part of the city with just Container homes.[/QUOTE] I would too, though i'd have to be wary of the free-running guerilla operatives fighting against the Security.
Reminds me of a old geezer who used to live in a freight-train "boxcar" wagon in my area. Though he died recently of natural causes.
[QUOTE=TheForeigner;32911210]Theres a ted talk about using reclaimed materials in building [url]http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_phillips_creative_houses_from_reclaimed_stuff.html[/url][/QUOTE] That was awesome, thanks!
these look awesome
I'd live in one.
Now with more rust and post-apocalytpic feel! [img]http://images.wikia.com/brink/images/5/53/Container_City_favelas.png[/img] But in all seriousness, a small container house made from about 3 containers would be rad.
that's still kinda hobo.
[QUOTE=papu2;32911865]that's still kinda hobo.[/QUOTE] So?
just to prove my point: You probably think it's cheap and modern. It's prety much neither unless you're willing to sacrafice the other one. You can make anything pretty with enough money, That's why the contrainer homes in the pictures look so fancy.
I saw one of these in the new Tron movie. Pretty cool stuff.
[QUOTE=papu2;32911923]just to prove my point: You probably think it's cheap and modern. It's prety much neither unless you're willing to sacrafice the other one. You can make anything pretty with enough money, That's why the contrainer homes in the pictures look so fancy.[/QUOTE] I think these are great. For starters they offer a cheap house that's not too big. For students it offers more housing in general. They are expensive and not too great, but atleast it's there.
[QUOTE=papu2;32911923]just to prove my point: You probably think it's cheap and modern. It's prety much neither unless you're willing to sacrafice the other one. You can make anything pretty with enough money, That's why the contrainer homes in the pictures look so fancy.[/QUOTE] The industrial look of these containers is one of the things that makes them so cool, from an artistic and architectural standpoint. Though the ones in the OP were intentionally selected to showcase the artistic possibilities of container homes, you don't need to make any radical design alterations to create a functional, spacious, and aesthetically pleasing building. Take the following concept, for example: [img]http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/daily_green_news/daily_green_news-733184527-1237200862.jpg?ymeP88ADBoMitAOE[/img] This is a very minimalist design, but it's still very cool looking. The industrial nature of the building is the focus of the construction. Or rather, instead of trying to [I]hide[/I] the fact that the building is actually just a few re-purposed shipping containers, [I]embrace[/I] the origins and use them to your advantage. It requires much less effort, and is still just as appealing. Adam Kalkin is an architect who follows this principle: most of his designs make pretty minimal alterations to the prefabricated materials that compose them, but are still very cool and unique: [img]http://besttopdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Old-Lady-House-by-Adam-Kalkin.jpg[/img] [img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwcEI7nyShg/SpXot3dBdpI/AAAAAAAAAco/HGQF9hUSe_4/s400/Quik_House1_fix_ready.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.52ndwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/adam-kalkin-shipping-container3-300x200.jpg[/img]
Also you should note that this type of homes are not practical in areas where you either have high or low tempeatures, Because you're going to lose space while making certain solutions. Expecially if you want to keep the place warm. And honestly this is a problem, Because if you're going to cut the containers apart to build a bigger "room" you'll end up losing the pros of living in a container home. Suddenly its no longer portable, Strong and all that and sooner or later you realize that you could have built the whole thing out of wood much cheaper and the way you wanted.
[QUOTE=papu2;32912192]Also you should note that this type of homes are not practical in areas where you either have high or low tempeatures, Because you're going to lose space while making certain solutions. Expecially if you want to keep the place warm. And honestly this is a problem, Because if you're going to cut the containers apart to build a bigger "room" you'll end up losing the pros of living in a container home. Suddenly its no longer portable, Strong and all that and sooner or later you realize that you could have built the whole thing out of wood much cheaper and the way you wanted.[/QUOTE] I'm not sure what you're basing this on. Container homes are not a new concept; they're being used quite comfortably across the world in all sorts of climates, from London to the Ukraine. There are hotels, hostels, and entire apartment complexes built almost entirely from recycled shipping containers. I think you're basing this idea off of your [I]perception[/I] of what these materials are capable of, rather than the reality of it. These are just as capable of sporting insulation, heating, cooling, plumbing, and electricity as any other building; they just make use of readily available materials rather than requiring intensive traditional construction methods. They are quick, cheap, strong, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing to look at, and are totally viable living solutions for any normal climate range. Time and application has already proved this. [img]http://www.keithmander.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/container-city-ii.jpg[/img] [img]http://weburbanist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/cargotecture-pinchon-riverside-london.jpg[/img] [img]http://weburbanist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/cargotecture-keetwonen-container-city.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32912310]I'm not sure what you're basing this on. Container homes are not a new concept; they're being used quite comfortably across the world in all sorts of climates, from London to the Ukraine. There are hotels, hostels, and entire apartment complexes built almost entirely from recycled shipping containers. I think you're basing this idea off of your [I]perception[/I] of what these materials are capable of, rather than the reality of it. These are just as capable of sporting insulation, heating, cooling, plumbing, and electricity as any other building; they just make use of readily available materials rather than requiring intensive traditional construction methods. They are quick, cheap, strong, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing to look at, and are totally viable living solutions for any normal climate range.[/QUOTE] Well i don't know i've built few huts here and there, Some with permission and on my expense, Some not(*starts the chainsaw*row row fuck the landowners!) If you're to build a functional container home where you're to live and not just spend time watching the tv then you'd better have a real plan and good materials(considering that the container can be called a material).
[QUOTE=Zethiwag;32910065]Yeah but, I heard somewhere that if you misplace one electical wire then the whole house goes live. Is that true op? I'm counting on you to dispel this[/QUOTE] If you were to cause a short circuit the fuse would simply blow, or pop or whatever. And even if that didn't the hull would probably be ground. And if you are inside the house you won't have any problem at all because you wouldn't be touching ground, kind of like grabbing electric fence while jumping, doesn't do anything. and yes wires are always insulated, would be pretty dumb not to. And you should always get a professional to do your wiring i'd say.
Experts can do all kind of magic, And i'm sure it's a big saving for them to use containers when building bigger buildings, But you and anyone whos planning to buy or rent one should be concerned about what they get for their money. For the DIY guys all i can say is have your plan ready, and do a reality check to make sure its realistic, and for gods sake check the math(not just the price of the container but also getting everything to the location).
I am most definitely going to make my house entirely out of shipping containers, it will be delicious. automerge.
[QUOTE=papu2;32912426]Well i don't know i've built few huts here and there, Some with permission and on my expense, Some not(*starts the chainsaw*row row fuck the landowners!) If you're to build a functional container home where you're to live and not just spend time watching the tv then you'd better have a real plan and good materials(considering that the container can be called a material).[/QUOTE] I'm not planning on building a container home, I'm just praising their form and function. It's a cool architectural movement that's being more and more widely employed as people are becoming more aware of it. Sure, you can't just run out, buy a shipping container, and live in it comfortably, they require certain modifications and proofing against the elements, but application has conclusively proved that these converted container homes are inexpensive and perfectly viable, and no amount of anecdotal "[...]well, I[I] just don't feel[/I] that[...]," arguing will change that. [QUOTE=papu2;32912543]Experts can do all kind of magic, And i'm sure it's a big saving for them to use containers when building bigger buildings, But you and anyone whos planning to buy or rent one should be concerned about what they get for their money. For the DIY guys all i can say is have your plan ready, and do a reality check to make sure its realistic, and for gods sake check the math(not just the price of the container but also getting everything to the location).[/QUOTE] Yeah, obviously anybody considering this as an option needs to take the time to do proper research, but the same is true of [I]any[/I] housing situation.
Was anyone else reminded of these containers while reading? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_FGMDElZU[/media]
Man, these are really cool. I might look into getting one of these myself if they're that cheap.
[QUOTE=Cone;32912698]Man, these are really cool. I might look into getting one of these myself if they're that cheap.[/QUOTE] If you live near London, go check out Container City. Apparently rent there is dirt-cheap, and the novelty of it is wicked cool.
I'd love to find one of these to actually buy in London.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32912719]If you live near London, go check out Container City. Apparently rent there is dirt-cheap, and the novelty of it is wicked cool.[/QUOTE] Eh, I'm a five-hour train-ride from there. I'll see if I can book a day or two there one my annual trip.
I would get 3 containers, make a double wide lower level, add the third on top of another container, remove half the bottom and make it a loft, then use the open space on the top of the other container to make a deck or garden. Thanks for independent living possible BDA!
Now that would be an awesome home for a bachelor. It's like modern smashed with a clean industrial style.
I had seen these before, but the styling and composition of the one in Tron: Legacy really caught my eye. I would love to live in one of these.
I think these are really cool. I'd love to do something with this in the future
I would buy an empty lot and just pop one of those in there. Buy lot in city for added kick-assery
[QUOTE=papu2;32911923]just to prove my point: You probably think it's cheap and modern. It's prety much neither unless you're willing to sacrafice the other one. You can make anything pretty with enough money, That's why the contrainer homes in the pictures look so fancy.[/QUOTE] These are actually REALLY cheap to make, like three thousand dollars cheap.
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