Once shipping containers have lived out their usefulness getting goods to market around the continent or globe, they can still serve a purpose for many years afterward as stationary storage spaces, offices, studios, and most recently, as residences. They are easy to transport and can be inexpensive to obtain. With careful planning, they can also be cost-effective and quick to build with. This can make them an ideal construction choice in densely populated areas. Such centers often have both extremely high demand for fast, low-cost housing options and a large supply of retired shipping containers previously used to service that large population that are now simply awaiting disposal.
What are container homes? A container home is constructed from a retired or new corrugated steel shipping container. It's a relatively recent architectural trend that's been growing in popularity alongside the DIY movement and environmental consciousness. The first US patent for converting a shipping container to living space dates to the late 1980s, and there are certainly homes that predate even that. But media attention did not pick up steam until the mid-2000s. Container homes - and offices and studios - can be found in all climates and around the world. They can range from emergency temporary shelters to spartan low-cost housing to high-style, high-concept architectural showpieces.
How big are they? The basic building block, the container, comes in a range of standard sizes from 20 feet long to 53. The 40-foot-long unit is the most common, and if used as a single-floor dwelling without a loft, it provides close to 300 square feet of living space. Ceilings are standard height or better - containers tend to be eight-and-a-half or nine-and-a-half feet tall. However, a single-container structure is extremely narrow - eight feet or less. Containers are designed to be stacked, so there is little practical limit on how large a modular container home can become; whole apartment buildings have been constructed from them.
Benefits of container homes. Containers are plentiful and inexpensive; depending on purchase condition and location. A 40-foot unit can run $2000-7000. Stacked with corners touching as originally designed, they are structurally strong. And these components were designed for easy transport. Therefore, the basic structure can be in place more quickly than a traditional site-built house. Fans of modern architecture may find the minimalist look and industrial exterior bold and striking; those who prefer a softer look can somewhat soften interior and exterior with finishes, facades, or functional elements, such as straw-bale insulation. Environmentally, there is no argument that a container home largely reuses existing materials instead of consuming new.
Cons of container homes. A container home's structure uses significantly more steel than is structurally necessary, which hurts the environmental case for it. There can be living-environment concerns about toxins from unknown previous cargo shipments or from the treated floor of the container itself; it takes careful sealing to deal with this issue. If the home's design calls for cantilevered or staggered containers or large windows or doors, expensive reinforcement will be required that drives up the cost and drives down the environmental credentials. In most climates, the metal walls require insulation to mitigate temperature and the roof must be modified to handle precipitation.
Finding a container home. While interest in container homes is still recent enough that few dwellings show up in traditional real estate listings, it is mature enough that there are multiple resource websites. Traditional architectural firms and container-home specialists alike offer home plans for sale. Interested parties may find, price, and order containers online, either directly from shipping companies or through classified ads. And there are multiple forums in which DIYers share advice on how to build. For those who prefer a turn-key home, multiple firms now ship move-in-ready homes that simply need to be sited and furnished. Many are even sold on mainstream retail sites.