What's Wrong With Shipping Container Housing? One ...

Shipping containers are now such a thing that in Denmark, they are putting them in glass cases. I have had a troubled relationship with shipping containers since I was ten, when my dad went into the container biz. They were made in the USA and Canada then and were really expensive; you wouldn't think of living in them. But every now and again he would get sent a photo of some shipping container in Africa that fell off a truck and had windows and doors cut into the walls.

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 Lloyd Alter

I had some fun with them in University, designing a summer camp for temporary use that folded out of a forty footer. Because you would never actually use a container empty; the dimensions are lousy for people and the flooring was treated with insecticides and the paints were designed to last through ten years on the high seas, so are seriously industrial. It may have been a really bad career choice not sticking with containers, but my moves into modular construction and tiny homes were not too successful either.

The Issue With Shipping Container Housing

Perhaps the lesson is that when it comes to housing, technology, or lack thereof, is not the fundamental problem. After watching all the coverage of shipping container schemes with some bemusement, I asked Does Shipping Container Architecture Make Sense? But now, in response to an architectural competition, Architect Mark Hogan of OpenScope Studio comes up with his own list of questions.

He speaks from some experience, having actually built a container project, and notes that "For sites where on-site construction is not feasible or desirable, fitting a container out in the factory can be a sensible option." But for housing? On his personal website, Mark makes some very good points. Here are some of the most interesting.

Shipping Containers Have Structural Problems

Housing is usually not a technology problem. All parts of the world have vernacular housing, and it usually works quite well for the local climate. There are certainly places with material shortages, or situations where factory built housing might be appropriate- especially when an area is recovering from a disaster. In this case prefab buildings would make sense- but doing them in containers does not.

Here I might argue that the great genius of shipping containers is not the box but the handling systems; there are ships, cranes, trucks and trains all designed around them. So if you do want to deliver stuff fast after a disaster, there is no better form than the shipping container. He then goes through the fundamental problem of width, which is just too narrow really, Insulation, which is a huge problem, and for once, somebody understands about structure:

 Ganti & Associates

You’ve seen the proposals with cantilevers everywhere. Containers stacked like Lego building blocks, or with one layer perpendicular to the next. Architects love stuff like this, just like they throw around usually misleading/meaningless phrases like “kit of parts.” Guess what- the second you don’t stack the containers on their corners, the structure that is built into the containers needs to be duplicated with heavy steel reinforcing. The rails at the top and the roof of the container are not structural at all (the roof of a container is light gauge steel, and will dent easily if you step on it). If you cut openings in the container walls, the entire structure starts to deflect and needs to be reinforced because the corrugated sides act like the flange of beam and once big pieces are removed, the beam stops working. All of this steel reinforcing is very expensive, and it’s the only way you can build a “double-wide.”

They Present Challenges for Utilities

And then there is one that I have never thought about but is important:

In a large building, you’ll still need a lot of space to run utilities. Because of the problems with insulation mentioned above, you will need to install a very robust HVAC system to heat and cool the building (that Mumbai tower shown above would literally be a deathtrap without cooling). You will have a hard time taking advantage of passive strategies like thermal mass if you maintain the container aesthetic. You’ll also end up with low ceilings, as even high cube containers are only 9-’6” (2.9 m) in overall exterior height, so any ductwork or utilities start cutting in to headroom.

OpenScope Studio

They Waste Space

Finally Mark mentions the issue of recycling. I have looked at this in the past, with the Upcycle House which had " the ambitious goal of being the first house build only from upcycled and environmentally sustainable materials." I did a calculation to determine if using two shipping containers as the structure of the house was actually the highest and best use:

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An empty 40' shipping container weighs 8380 pounds. A galvanized steel stud weighs a pound per linear foot. These two containers, melted down and rolled and formed, could have been upcycled into 2,095 8' long steel studs. Framing the walls instead of using shipping containers would have used about 144 of them. Using shipping containers as structural elements for a one storey building is downcycling and wasting of a resource.

There is a lot more steel in a shipping container than you actually need for a building; that's so they can be stacked full nine high and get tossed around the ocean and thrown on trucks and trains. It's really being wasted when it's put into a house. And as Mark notes, you can probably build it faster and cheaper than bringing in a welder and mucking up a shipping container.

Relatively untrained people can build a room that size of simple wood framing in a day without needing to rent a crane or learning how to weld for about the same cost (or less) than buying a used container.

Shipping Containers Don't Make Good Homes

Don't get me wrong; I love shipping container architecture that moves, plugs in, that takes advantage of the tremendous infrastructure. I agree with Mark that it is terrific for temporary or emergency uses. But does it make good housing? I don't think so. Perhaps after all these years I am still missing something.

There are many factors to consider when making the decision to live in a shipping container home. On the one hand, there are the obvious benefits to living in a shipping container home: they’re relatively inexpensive, eco-friendly, and can be built quickly. On the other hand, there are some potential drawbacks: they can be cramped and uncomfortable, and may not be up to code in some areas.

So, what’s the verdict? Are shipping container homes right for you? Here, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of living in a shipping container home, to help you make an informed decision.

Pros of living in a shipping container home:

1. They’re Inexpensive

One of the biggest advantages of shipping container homes is that they’re relatively inexpensive. When you compare the cost of building a traditional home, shipping container homes are a fraction of the price. This is because they’re made from recycled materials, and can often be built using DIY methods.

2. They’re Eco-Friendly

Another big plus for shipping container homes is that they’re eco-friendly. Because they’re made from recycled building materials, they have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional homes. Plus, they can often be outfitted with solar panels and other green features.

3. They Can Be Built Quickly

Another advantage of shipping container homes is that they can be built relatively quickly. Because the materials are already pre-fabricated, all you need to do is assemble them on-site. This can be a great option if you’re looking for a fast and affordable way to build your own home.

Cons of living in a shipping container home:

1. They Can Be Cramped and Uncomfortable

One of the potential drawbacks of shipping container homes is that they can be cramped and uncomfortable. Because they’re typically only about 10-15 feet wide, they can feel a bit claustrophobic. Plus, the metal walls can make them hot in the summer and cold in the winter. If you’re considering building a shipping container home, be sure to take these potential downsides into account.

2. They Might Not Be Up to Code

Another potential downside of shipping container homes is that they might not be up to code in some areas. Because they’re such a new type of home construction, there aren’t always clear guidelines for how to build them. This can mean that they might not meet local building codes. Before you commit to a shipping container home, be sure to do your research and make sure it will be up to code in your area.

3. They Might Not Appreciate in Value

Another potential downside of shipping container homes is that they might not appreciate in value. Because they’re still a relatively new type of construction, it’s hard to say whether or not they’ll increase in value over time. If you’re considering a shipping container home, be sure to factor this into your decision.

If you are considering the option of living in a shipping container home, you need to carefully consider all these points.

Contact us for expert advice to ensure you make an informed decision.

At Port Shipping Containers, our team has extensive experience in all kinds of shipping container modification projects. This includes building a wide range of shipping container accommodation. As is the case with traditional homes, container homes can be built in all kinds of sizes, configurations, and with a wide variety of finishes and ‘mod cons’. From cosy cottages to larger homes with modern luxuries, there are so many options for a shipping container house.

Our team will help you take advantage of all that living in a shipping container home offers, and ensure that the drawbacks are mitigated as much as possible. Contact our team to chat about your ideas about living in a shipping container home.

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