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."
Container House by Leger Wanaselja Architecture
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.
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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such an awesome house. how much does a shipping container go for?
view *heather leaf*'s profile
Looks amazing!
view gelatofreak's profile
would the cost per square foot make these a viable design for rebuilding , in a port city like New Orleans ?
view kellynkaty's profile
knk: That would be nice but I suspect that this dwelling is anything but affordable.
Its beautiful.
view SeanG's profile
I don't find faulted ceilings cozy.
view LaDonnaNichole's profile
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?
view clatimer07's profile
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.
view vertigo's profile
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.
view WOV's profile
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.
view vertigo's profile
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.
view John H's profile
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
view wannabe minimalist's profile
so where can i get one? :)
view Lizzykewl's profile
Can I try this at home?
view kelleyk's profile