In less than four hours, a construction team managed to build a two-story house out of six 45-foot-long shipping containers.
The building, located in New Haven, Conn., was designed by Christian Salvati and Edsel Ramirez of Marengo Structures. The apartments cost $360,000 to build, and Salvati purchased the lot for $22,500 from Hill Development Corporation.
Jetson Green reports that Salvati hopes that he will see a large decrease in cost as he builds more shipping container homes, once the economy of scale becomes applicable.
The builders moved the containers to the construction site on flatbed trucks, then used a crane to put them in place. Holes for doors and windows and some of the interior walls to make rooms were cut out prior to construction.
Here's a photo recap of the project:
A concrete foundation, approximately 45 times stronger than the foundation used in the construction of standard houses, was laid prior to construction as well.
While the front of the house is fitted with a wooden facade that matches other houses in the neighborhood, the gray exterior sidewalls are still visible. Salvati left the container's original doors in place, and they now swing out to create the sides of the rear back porch.
The home has two separate apartments. Students are currently renting out the downstairs apartment, and Salvati uses the upstairs apartment when he vists New Haven. Inside, the apartments don't look like they're built from shipping containers.
The interiors have sheetrock walls and ceiling; the floors are made of poured and polished concrete. While heated by baseboard hot water heaters, the home also has radiant floors. Air conditioners, ventilators and ceiling fans have been installed for cooling. Finally, the walls are insulated with six inches of soy-based sprayed cellulose.
Related Stories
| Nov 7, 2012
John Portman & Associates awarded new high rise in China
108-story building to rise in Nanning, the Capital City of Guangxi Province.
| Nov 7, 2012
Two Thornton Tomasetti projects receive 2012 International Architecture Awards for Best Global Design
The awards, presented by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture Design, the European Center for Architecture Art Design, and Urban Studies and Metropolitan Arts Press, Ltd., recognize excellence in architecture and urban planning.
| Nov 6, 2012
Honeywell donates first responder products for Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery efforts
Honeywell Humanitarian Relief Fund to provide aid to local employees affected by Hurricane Sandy.
| Nov 6, 2012
Uponor files patent infringement suit against Sioux Chief Manufacturing
Uponor is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent Sioux Chief from selling the PowerPEX F1960 Ring with Stop, which it believes violates Uponor’s patent.
| Nov 6, 2012
Simpson Strong-Tie donates $25K to hurricane support
The company will also be matching employees’ personal contributions to the Red Cross and other nonprofit disaster relief organizations.
| Nov 6, 2012
Goettsch Partners designs new tower in Shunde, China
200-meter-tall building will be located between Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
| Nov 5, 2012
Brasfield & Gorrie awarded new steel processing facility for Kloeckner Metals
The construction will take place on a 16-acre greenfield site at ThyssenKrupp Industrial Park in Calvert.
| Nov 5, 2012
Trimble acquires Vico assets, extends design-build-operate capabilities
Software to add 5D management to Trimble’s Solutions for vertical construction contractors.
| Oct 30, 2012
Lord, Aeck & Sargent announces four student life facility wins
Projects recognize the architecture firm’s expertise on a nationwide basis.
| Oct 30, 2012
The Beck Group announces CEO succession plan
Current Eastern Division Director and company veteran, Fred Perpall, named CEO.
