You know those ubiquitous corrugated metal boxes you see on trains and around industrial centers? AZCentral ran an article this morning about a local architect, Lorenzo Perez, who’s planning to build studio apartments out of them!
My first thought was “come on, give me a break.” But a little more research changed my mind.
Turns out this isn’t the first project of its kind. In fact, there are several residential and commercial projects around the world using shipping containers. Check out this home in Manhattan Beach, CA (a VERY expensive area!)
image courtesy of Zach Smith’s Shipping Container Architecture website: http://firmitas.org/, a great place to learn more about this topic.
The containers are almost 9 feet wide & tall, come in 20′ and 40′ lengths, and are virtually indestructible. They reduce our environmental impact by reducing the use of other materials (that recycling thing we keep talking about), and at a cost of $2,000, how can you NOT be a fan?
Your learned something new today Realtor,
Chris Butterworth
Chris Butterworth is: Realtor. Analyst. Husband. Father. Writer. Amateur Photographer. Triathlete. Soccer Dad. Big fan of technology, efficiency, and the Arizona Wildcats.
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I would love to live in there.
I’ve seen this Container building in Berlin some month ago.
http://www.twotimestwentyfeet.com/p/hilfiger_w2011
Container buildings are a fascinating part of modern architecture. Maybe even of future Architecture.
in particular in times of “green movement”
Not my first choice personally but in some climates I can see where someone would be interested in these shipping container modifications as a home.
Chris – spoken like a true builder! But an interesting point nonetheless.
I wonder if that issue has already been addressed in some manner, since these are being used as student housing and apartments in other parts of the (developed) world. Obviously, 78 degrees inside and 110 outside during the Phoenix summer would constitute a large temperature difference…
The unfortunate part of any metal construction is the moisture issue. Unless you leave the metal walls exposed, you will have condensation build up behind sheetrock at the first large temp difference on either side of the wall. Moisture and walls are not friends. Containers are a creative thought, but I would be worried that my environmentally friendly effort would turn into a large pile of moldy trash!
Architects are famous for not caring about things like mold or leaks.