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33 Comments
- novenator, on 04/11/2009, -0/+11I knew people in Hawaii that lived in containers, but nothing like this. These architectural designs are awesome.
- Jookly, on 04/12/2009, -0/+11more like living in renderings
- punchinelli, on 04/12/2009, -0/+10These are getting popular in hurricane-ridden areas because they are virtually indestructible if done correctly (anchored to ground, structural integrity, etc.). I saw an episode of This Old House or something where they brought in a bunch of metal shipping containers (massive) and they built an 1500 sq. ft. house for < $40,000. Plus it's indestructible. You just cut holes where you want doors, windows, etc. and weld the containers together and then finish it with drywall, insulation, just like a regular house. It was pretty cool.
- FreckleEars, on 04/12/2009, -0/+7A classmate of mine in Civil Engineering done a study on this style of design and from nothing to fully functioning house with the same aspects as a traditional wood frame or concrete frame house popped in at 40% cost. $200,000 home for less than $80,000.
It was quite a nice idea. The stats even give it excellent sound proofing, amazing fire resistance, and insulating properties when sheet sealed in concrete. The main problem with this type of design for residential housing is the lack of freedom when it comes to layout. Boxes are a Civil Engineers best friend but an Architects worse enemy.
This type of design is excellent for apartments and commercial buildings. You can purchase a normal size freight container for a couple thousand or less. It is cheaper to sell the containers than it is to actually send them back to the original countries where they came from (China etc). - MilfordCubicle, on 04/12/2009, -0/+7I see anger management courses in someone's future.....court appointed, or not.
- stolemybike, on 04/12/2009, -3/+8bacon
- jontando, on 04/12/2009, -0/+5Since when does every apartment complex have to have a storefront? None of the places I have lived needed stores in them.
- voomfoo, on 04/12/2009, -0/+3It looks like they *will* be made.
- Myztry, on 04/12/2009, -1/+4We've got 3 full size (front access), and 6 half size (side access) ex-shipping containers for storage. I wouldn't want to live in one. While they are large, they only weigh about 3-5 tonne so they echo really badly (thinish sheet). They have no natural ventillation as they are meant to be water-proof. The doors use a sort of bar latch which are near immpossible to close once they get to the point of being written off. They rust all over the place and are meant to be repaired with special Corton steel. They've spent much of there lives with being sprayed with pesticides for export quarantine reasons.
In short, no thanks... - ripple123, on 04/12/2009, -0/+3GRRR. he so ANGRY. in the BRAIN.
- inigomntoya, on 04/12/2009, -0/+2I once knew a guy that lived in a boxcar...
- Janinco, on 04/12/2009, -0/+3I agree!
Oh, except I don't know any one who lives in containers in Hawaii! - Jookly, on 04/13/2009, -0/+2Anytime you manufacture something you are going to leave a footprint. It seems obvious that reusing the containers that were already manufactured is going to at least save a small amount of resources.
- Tubal22, on 04/12/2009, -2/+4Would this seriously be more economical than wood and drywall?
You'll still have all the infrastucture,heating and a/c, etc. The only thing these containers would be replacing is walls.
I'm guessing it would be cheaper and use less of a carbon footprint to just use traditional materials.
#1: each "container room" will be transported on it's own truck. Where with traditional material, I'm guessing you could put 5-6 rooms per truck. Lots of extra fuel, lots of extra transport/labor costs.
#2: it will probably cost as much in labor to make these containers liveable as it would to build new rooms.
#3: if they're good enough to be used as rooms, they're probably still good enough to be used for transportation. What are they really recycling?
I think this is another case of "being green" using up more resources than not being green. - brianbennett, on 04/12/2009, -2/+4The lone commenter in the original story had a good point. All the potential "storefront" area is squandered.
- darkowl02, on 04/14/2009, -0/+2cool
- rightwingkiller, on 04/12/2009, -0/+2Our trade inbalance has resulted in huge numbers of these conatiners stacking up in American Ports of Entry. It's stupid not to comemup with some use for them. They are sturdy, and be modified easily and can be transported to where they are needed in large numbers using existing systems.
It makes perfect economical sense to use them, especially in areas where exreme environmental events often result in extensive damage.
Granted heir previous uses may have some residual issues but noting that can't be overcome. - Jesus2007, on 04/12/2009, -0/+2Useful and fun at the same time as being eco-friendly.
- carlosos, on 04/13/2009, -0/+2#1: Same with wood, dry wall, etc.
#2: Should be a little less labor cost because you don't have to build the walls up.
#3: It is too expensive to reuse them because they would get sent back empty (not as much gets sent out of the USA to China as from China to the USA). - carlosos, on 04/13/2009, -0/+2As far as I know, when they are used for homes they use dry wall or something else to cover up the metal walls.
The doors also get removed and often replaced with glass sliding windows or replaced with a regular door and normal wall around it.
To protect again rust they also get sprayed over and cleaned from the inside before using.
This costs all money but is supposed to be still cheaper than using wood or stone. - linagee, on 04/12/2009, -0/+2Awesome, but I can't figure out why wifi doesn't work in my shipping container home....
/s - Fibby1123, on 04/12/2009, -0/+1The tenants in the apartment will feel right at home in the neighborhood with all the homeless men living in cardboard boxes.
- Grazzit, on 04/12/2009, -0/+2Umm if I can live in a 3d render I can think of better designs
- DougHillman, on 04/13/2009, -0/+1I could make a 3D render of a proposed container housing unit on Mars that would be just about as newsworthy as this story. Save the Diggs for when they actually BUILD the thing.
- flaterates, on 04/13/2009, -1/+2Utah? Great, I can live there with my 1000 used wives!
- jeffiek, on 04/12/2009, -2/+2None of the places you lived in HAD stores in them.
Fixed.
We will never know if they were needed. - drakelarson, on 04/12/2009, -2/+2
I have an idea. lets cut up and melt the shipping containers into steel wide flange beams, and then build something that is aesthetically pleasing rather than this giant toy block home factory. - boozinf, on 04/12/2009, -2/+2On the fifth day, He created birch, and polystyrene, and related corrugated magick, of the sorts intended to be organized in such a way that they are defined by that which they lack.
And He saw what He created, and it was good.
On the sixth day, tomorrow, He created functional, green, and affordable by decree living units, using the materials he had created on the previous day, and in the chosen land.
He found many permutations, all of which he beheld, all of which were good.
On the seventh day, He rested, on one of the designer beds in one of the designer units He had fashioned on the previous day.
It was worth less by the end of his nap than in the beginning. - gkiltz, on 04/12/2009, -1/+1Makes me glad I'm not the poor SOB who has to come up with a way to heat and air condition the damn thing!
- x986123, on 04/12/2009, -5/+4Now poeple start living in used boxes?
- inactive, on 04/12/2009, -9/+7This is looks inefficient and impractical, nice novelty though.
- ebbv, on 04/12/2009, -11/+5HEY ***** IT HASN'T ***** BEEN MADE YET SO THIS TITLE IS ***** INACCURATE.
- OptykUnreal, on 04/12/2009, -11/+5Crazy Mormons
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