The Do’s and Don’ts of Shipping Container Homes

ByMyProperty Life

It’s easy to buy into the hype around shipping container homes, but there are some fundamentals you should know before going all in.

A prefabricated kit house, the Quik House by Adam Kalkin is designed from recycled shipping containers. Its 2,000-square-foot plan includes three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The shell can be assembled in one day, and the entire home built in three months or less.

Few building types are as rife with misconception as the shipping container home. Many hopeful homebuyers assume that building one means stacking boxes together and—presto!—a brand new house. Others view it as a mysterious feat of design and engineering that has nothing to do with architecture as we know it. The truth, of course, lies somewhere in between. 

Building an effective container house takes significant know-how. For those considering one, we offer the following starter guide, based on insights from a few of the market’s most talented and experienced architects. 

Do Work With An Architect 

Nestled on a family farm, this South African shipping-container cabin is completely off the grid. Located on owner Lucas Steyn’s family farm in Botrivier, a 90-minute drive from Capetown, Copia is an eco-retreat comprised of two shipping-container cabins in the South African countryside.
Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

While a container home’s building blocks—corrugated metal containers used for long haul shipping—are novel, it is still a piece of architecture. It has walls, windows, doors, and a roof, and it requires the same level of design and engineering as any other building.

You should choose an architect well versed in container work. “Peoples’ imaginations run wild with container houses,” notes Douglas Burnham, a principal at San Francisco-based firm Envelope A+D, which created Proxy, a two-block cultural development made of shipping containers in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley. “They can see themselves doing it, but you need experts to help you figure it out.” Most architects in turn work with subcontractors—engineers, fabricators, etc.—who have experience with this typology. Without their insight, costs can balloon, and unexpected issues can arise.

Next, choose your containers. Standard containers measure 20 or 40 feet in length. Container architects generally recommend what are known as “high cube” containers, which measure a little over nine feet high.

Read another article:Hot Trends: 20 Best Farmhouse Style Kitchens in White and Wood

While containers should be in good shape, they don’t need to be brand new. In fact, basically no containers are totally new. Some firms, like New York-based LOT-EK, embrace the patina that used containers exhibit.

“We want to explore the project as it is. We don’t want to hide it,” says Ada Tolla, a principal at LOT-EK. You should, of course, have the container inspected to make sure it is structurally sound and suitable for construction.

You should likewise decide whether you want to build on or off site. Doing the work off site can save significant time, but it requires more resources and expertise. Many firms employ a hybrid, with most exterior work done off-site and interiors on site.  

Don’t Build on Hilly or Unstable Terrain

Made of scraps taken from the containers’ sides, the roof creates a sense of openness from the inside and ushers in sunlight. Its slanted design creates a wind tower effect, providing natural ventilation that negates the need for air conditioning.
Read another article:Revamped Small Barcelona Apartment Combines Multiple Styles and Finishes

Once you’ve chosen your architect and containers, you must get your site, permits, and foundation. Know that your home will need to pass any locality’s building standards, from environmental to seismic.

After getting the OK to build, you’ll want to lay a foundation on a flat surface. Most architects use concrete and steel pier, pile, slab, or strip techniques for the foundation. Climate is also an important concern. Unsurprisingly, harsher weather can put a major strain on a container’s functionality, and its ability to be maintained.

Do Go Bold With Design

The H4 is HONOMOBO’s most efficient shipping container home. At just over 700 square feet, the home has two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a full kitchen, and one bathroom.

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Do’s and Don’ts of Shipping Container Homes

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