• Shipping Container Homes: Unique, Inexpensive, Portable, Industrial Architecture
    124 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32908687]This one is designed as an "off-the-grid" portable home for a small family. The entire building folds back up into a standard-sized shipping container that can be moved at will. [IMG]http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/BigDumbAmerican/atc-grounds-lg.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Is it me, or does the house in that picture look very photoshopped
Steel plates to make house is the worst way to make a fireproof house, a small fire could catch on easily and burn your house down fast, it needs to be compound with concrete to be sound, heat isolated and fireproof, just saying.
Induction stovetops would probably help reduce fire risk a whole lot.
Those are absolutely fantastic! I can definitely see the allure of living in something that is so simple, and yet so functional and fashionable. I'm not sure why, but recently I've been absolutely infatuated with the idea of building structures out of recycled and renewable materials. The only major flaw I've run into on each and every occasion is the issue of building large structures with the materials provided in that they have either not been strong enough to prop up a structure of multiple stories, or have needed fabricated support in order to do so. This might be the answer to that problem! Tell me, have any of you heard of Earthships? I think that a combination of both the Earthship techniques and the shipping container designs could work out to build the most incredible living spaces, for a large number of individuals and families. You might even be able to go so far as to build entire communities out of discarded and reused materials! What a fantastic thought!
there is a apartment complex in phoenix, arizona where it's made of containers
I'd like to bury one of these in my garden and make some nerdy game room thing
[url]http://www.cargotecture.com/[/url] Looks really intresting. The C640 Lookout which is the biggest house they offer is only $180,000 [img]http://www.cargotecture.com/wpimages/wp49a110bf_05.jpg[/img]
I like container homes because of the minimalist style. Also, didn't they had a whole art gallery made out of containers?
[QUOTE=Bytecry;32920553][url]http://www.cargotecture.com/[/url] Looks really intresting. The C640 Lookout which is the biggest house they offer is only $180,000 [img]http://www.cargotecture.com/wpimages/wp49a110bf_05.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] [I]Youch[/I], that totally defeats the point of a container home! What the heck are they charging you for? It's based on just two 40ft containers (only 640 sq. ft, total); those can be gotten for as little as two- or three-thousand dollars, depending on where you live! Even with land and construction costs, I can't see how they could possibly justify that price tag, unless it's literally in the heart of a major metropolitan hub. The entire point of container homes is to prove that cool, unique, and functional homes can be built for a bare minimum of expense using readily available prefabricated materials. The price tag on this thing totally spits in the face of that notion. [editline]23rd October 2011[/editline] Apparently it doesn't even come with built-in plumbing. What a bust.
Good point.
I love modern architecture and the idea of recycling. So I naturally fell in love with these things the moment I laid my eyes on them.
My father is an architect and when these first came up (at least in my state) there was a slight buzz in his office. It would save tons of time working with a designer to build your dream house. I talked with him a little afterwards and he said it wouldn't take much to alter the outside to make it flat/look less like a shipping container.
This looks like something [I]straight[/I] out of Garry's Mod.
[QUOTE=credesniper;32925206]My father is an architect and when these first came up (at least in my state) there was a slight buzz in his office. It would save tons of time working with a designer to build your dream house. I talked with him a little afterwards and he said it wouldn't take much to alter the outside to make it flat/look less like a shipping container.[/QUOTE] That's great, congratulations to him! I'm studying architecture, and I've got a ton of respect for architects! Yeah, I'd imagine it really wouldn't be very difficult to disguise the fact that the frame of the house is composed from shipping containers, but, from a personal standpoint, I don't see why anybody would want to! This style of construction is bold, creative, stylish, and unique; I wouldn't want to hide the bones under masonry and siding! [editline]23rd October 2011[/editline] Oh, this is awesome: [url]http://dornob.com/worlds-greenest-cargo-container-wood-pallet-homes/[/url] This architect makes liberal use of recycled wood pallets for a very cool effect. Natural shade and ventilation for an open, airy feel to the construction.
I was having a hard time coming up with an idea of what to make in Source SDK next and then this thread pops up! :buddy: I've started making one of these shipping container homes in EP2. It's going to be interesting.
[QUOTE=kaine123;32925513]I was having a hard time coming up with an idea of what to make in Source SDK next and then this thread pops up! :buddy: I've started making one of these shipping container homes in EP2. It's going to be interesting.[/QUOTE] You probably could, actually. Just look up the dimensions of a standard shipping container and recreate them in Hammer. The in-engine containers aren't accurately sized, so you'll have to make your own. It's not perfect, but it's one way of playing around with the concept! If want way more accurate, and purpose-built technology, download Google Sketchup. It's free software, and Google has thousands of downloadable to-scale models, including accurately sized 20ft and 40ft standard cargo containers. With the in-engine Sketchup tools, you could create perfectly accurate designs, down to the millimeter. [editline]23rd October 2011[/editline] Another awesome container home: [img]http://gliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/shipping-container-lakehouse-02.jpg[/img] A garden on the roof. What a novel idea. [editline]23rd October 2011[/editline] I found some neat pricing information for shipping containers in the UK. New, unused 20ft containers can be gotten for: £1775.00 + Shipping [url]http://www.shippingcontainersuk.com/products.php?plid=m7b3s7p72[/url] New, unused 40ft containers can be gotten for: £2200.00 + Shipping [url]http://www.shippingcontainersuk.com/products.php?plid=m8b3s10p0&tbv=_SHIPPING_CONTAINERS_31ft_to_40ft_New[/url] Used containers of both sizes cost from between £200-400 less. There are a variety of different models available, such as containers with built-in garage-style doors along the side. These specialized containers are a bit more expensive, but would probably be cheaper and safer than modifying a standard container to meet the same purpose. So, in other words, containers in the UK are dirt cheap!
So I'd buy a container and get someone to renovate it for me?
Among other things, yeah. First you'd need to find out what modifications would need to be made for such a structure to comply with whatever building codes exist in your city, then you'd need to find an architect or engineer to draft structurally sound blueprints for the building, then you'd need to find an appropriately-sized plot of land to place the structure. After that, you'd need to find construction teams to lay a sturdy foundation, move your containers into place, secure them, make whatever reinforcements are necessary, make whatever cuts need to be made, wire the building for electricity, lay pipes for plumbing, insulate it, and renovate the interior and exterior with whatever fixtures and features are necessary or desired. Simply put, the cost of the containers is just a fraction of the total costs necessary to turn them into structurally sound, legal, and comfortable buildings. However, by using cargo containers you're saving tons of money on the cost of traditional building materials like masonry, wood, and steel construction. Most of the other costs still apply, however. While it's much cheaper to construct a cargo container home than a similarly-sized home using traditional construction materials, it still requires a substantial investment.
[QUOTE=credesniper;32925206]My father is an architect and when these first came up (at least in my state) there was a slight buzz in his office. It would save tons of time working with a designer to build your dream house. I talked with him a little afterwards and he said it wouldn't take much to alter the outside to make it flat/look less like a shipping container.[/QUOTE] Yeah they'd just let someone make boards and a sloped roof.
[QUOTE=sami-elite;32926247]Yeah they'd just let someone make boards and a sloped roof.[/QUOTE] Yeah, I'd imagine roofing modifications would be necessary for any long-term structure. While containers are weather-resistant, they aren't weather-proof. A sloped roof or drainage system of some kind would have to be included to keep the weight and exposure of precipitation from causing leaks or structural damage.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32926203]Among other things, yeah. First you'd need to find out what modifications would need to be made for such a structure to comply with whatever building codes exist in your city, then you'd need to find an architect or engineer to draft structurally sound blueprints for the building, then you'd need to find an appropriately-sized plot of land to place the structure. After that, you'd need to find construction teams to lay a sturdy foundation, move your containers into place, secure them, make whatever reinforcements are necessary, make whatever cuts need to be made, wire the building for electricity, lay pipes for plumbing, insulate it, and renovate the interior and exterior with whatever fixtures and features are necessary or desired. Simply put, the cost of the containers is just a fraction of the total costs necessary to turn them into structurally sound, legal, and comfortable buildings. However, by using cargo containers you're saving tons of money on the cost of traditional building materials like masonry, wood, and steel construction. Most of the other costs still apply, however. While it's much cheaper to construct a cargo container home than a similarly-sized home using traditional construction materials, it still requires a substantial investment.[/QUOTE] And labor time. get a crane to drop the containers and your house is almost done. [editline]23rd October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32926328]Yeah, I'd imagine roofing modifications would be necessary for any long-term structure. While containers are weather-resistant, they aren't weather-proof. A sloped roof or drainage system of some kind would have to be included to keep the weight and exposure of precipitation from causing leaks or structural damage.[/QUOTE] I am not sure how long it usually takes for containers to rust, but a flat roof like that wouldn't last 20 years unless you paint yearly probably.
[QUOTE=sami-elite;32926330]And labor time. get a crane to drop the containers and your house is almost done.[/QUOTE] Ayuh, you'd definitely save on labor time. These things can be erected in a manner of days, instead of weeks or months. Workers added an entirely new section, with something like six or seven new housing units, to the UK's Container City in only two days, according to the stuff I've been reading.
Wow I would love to have one of these out in the woods where I could just go chill. I found a Canadian company that builds these type of houses: [URL="http://www.maisonidekithome.com/"]Maison IDEKIT Home[/URL] My life dream has always been to have small cabin out in the mountains somewhere but these container houses look really cool.
Holy shit, this actually exists? Just the other day I was thinking about how cool it would be to convert one of these into a living space.
Ive always wondered how something like this would work out.
I'm still looking for a website selling containers. The only ones that I have found are poorly designed and no price tag.
Oh wow this is really cool. It's like IRL GMod. Optimistically, I could see in a few centuries, these kind of modular houses being rocketed down onto other planets for quick housing.
I'd love to buy a plot of land out some where near a port, and build a entire city out of these things.
I want to build one of these on the beach. Come at me Hurricanes. [editline]23rd October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32912138]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][/QUOTE] Didn't the kid from tron have that house?
I'd happily live in a 20x8 box. wire it up, put a computer, bed, fridge, and microwave in there and I'll be set for life [editline]23rd October 2011[/editline] I might need a bathroom too
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