I designed this concept for a low-cost container home built out of four individual 60 foot shipping containers for a friend of mine here in the Pacific Northwest. The structure is designed to take advantage of the local environment and I focused on incorporating reclaimed materials such as wood siding/plastic sheeting. I also made use of standard aluminum frame windows and sliding doors to ensure lower construction costs and maintenance.
The initial design went through several phases where I was trying to visualize the layout of the site and how to maximize internal spaces while maintaining visual interest. I settled on a two by two configuration for the main floor space, with an adjoining wing and a second story master bedroom. Views from the second floor were my emphasis, hoping that the Olympics and the sound might be part of the appeal.
The building features an extensive use of solar power for secondary functions such as an electric water heater and storage batteries for evening use of low power lighting. The back of the home features a basic deck space to enjoy the summer sun and barbecues. The front of the home features a large, shallow pond for rainwater collection and an incorporated fountain feature for a soothing ‘running water’ effect.
My first thoughts were how to not only arrange the buildings, but how to create entrances and room flow within a 9x60x9 box.
The internal spaces of the home include a galley style kitchen and a wide double space aperture for hosting guests, including wall mounted television and furniture designed for modular rearrangement to suit social functions.
The outside of the home takes advantage of the natural ridged exterior of the shipping container, with a trim of reclaimed redwood and vinyl side paneling for the base of the home to hide the concrete substructure. The home would take advantage of local sewer system but is designed to have limited self-sufficiency with solar power generation and rainwater collection.
RENDERINGS:
The Numinous Cosmos 