Ship It To Me

How would you like a 1,600 sq/ft home for $14,500?  Well, it is possible but in all fairness this is just the cost of the structure.  Wiring, plumbing, interior walls, doors, window and outfitting are all extra as is the land… it is still a bargain.   What I am referring to is a structure which is readily available, in abundance and often just sitting around waiting for a use.  Recycling shipping containers  ( 8′ x 8.5′ x 40′ long approximately $2,900 a piece as of 12/2011) for use in housing is a breakthrough trend in the search for economical and viable housing.

Ecofriend

One of the first lessons architects learn is the box, the simple box is the most efficient structure.  Philip Johnson, Richard Meier, Richard Neutra are a few of the known architects one might relate to using box like structures as the basis for many of their residential structures.  So why not a shipping container?  They are available, cheap and easily retrofitted. The Old Lady House by Adam Kalkin via Architecture View

Hey, if Starbucks is doing it… Inhabitat

If interested here are some more architects using shipping containters:

• Alchemy Architects
• Logical Homes
• Office of Mobile Design

What do you think?  Would you consider using a container?