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Container House by Leger Wanaselja Architecture

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Cool, modern house, right? It's not just that. It's made from shipping containers, and is "infilling an empty lot overlooking a regional park in the eastern hills above San Francisco Bay."

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Leger Wanaselja Architecture took two refrigerated shipping containers (instant structural frame, exterior siding, and insulation), stacked them, and added a third one, cut in half and stacked on itself. Voila! A 1,350-square foot two-bedroom house. Then they created a two-story atrium living room, added bay windows to the upstairs bedrooms, and connected the two upper containers to the space below with stairs and a bridge through the atrium. The result is compact, yet airy.

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Green materials include blown cellulose insulation for the roof and floors, 50% fly ash/slg in concrete foundation and piers, “green seal” paint on the interior, wool carpets and bamboo flooring, Solar Tubes for day lighting, Energy Star appliances, a high efficiency water heater, and dual flush Caroma toilets.

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Via: MoCo Loco and Inhabitat

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  • Comments (12)

    such an awesome house. how much does a shipping container go for?

    posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-02-11 22:37:42
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    Looks amazing!

    posted by gelatofreak on 2008-02-12 00:23:39
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    would the cost per square foot make these a viable design for rebuilding , in a port city like New Orleans ?

    posted by kellynkaty on 2008-02-12 02:12:20
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    knk: That would be nice but I suspect that this dwelling is anything but affordable.

    Its beautiful.

    posted by SeanG on 2008-02-12 07:20:12
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    I don't find faulted ceilings cozy.

    posted by LaDonnaNichole on 2008-02-12 10:19:25
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    Not exactly a good idea if the big one strikes SF, right? Is this Earthquake proof on the site of a hill made out of shipping containers?

    posted by clatimer07 on 2008-02-12 10:35:24
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    new containers can cost anywhere from 1,000 - 4,000 (refridgerated containers would fall on the higher end) but you can purchase used containers for considerably less. Assuming the container cost 1,000 that would be $3.12/sq ft (a standard container is 8' wide and 40' long). Containers are extremely structurally sound (they withstand a ton of abuse) but as far as earthquake proof I don't know. My guess is the container would be fine but problems would lie where several containers are joined together.

    posted by vertigo on 2008-02-12 11:23:09
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    Actually, remember that the containers are designed to be stacked 6 - 7 units high and then put on a ship that could face storm conditions, without further lashing, attachment, etc. So..they bolt together in a pretty serious way onto dedicated fittings; I imagine the requirements for shipboard usage would accomodate a significant seismic rating.

    posted by WOV on 2008-02-12 11:38:26
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    you're probably right WOV assuming that the method used to bolt them together for home is that same used on cargo vessels. I was thinking there could be a problem where the containers were cut and joined side by side.

    posted by vertigo on 2008-02-12 11:54:26
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    This house is a thousand percent better than the other ones I've seen made from shipping containers. I hope this example inspires more great designs.

    posted by John H on 2008-02-12 12:11:44
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    I agree, this is the best-looking and most appealing shipping container house I've seen.

    If your'e interested in the concept and what's been done so far, there's lots of info on fabprefab.com

    posted by wannabe minimalist on 2008-02-12 17:48:36
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    so where can i get one? :)

    posted by Lizzykewl on 2008-02-12 18:10:16
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