In the past few years and especially since the current economic down turn, a new form of recycling has made its way into our midst: shipping container housing.
While some design pioneers have been container dwelling for years, there is a whole new container home design trend geared toward this living arrangement.
Types of container Home Design
The immediate and obvious use for this nearly indestructible box is an emergency preparedness shelter, or “Storm shelter”. Since this design would only be used in the case of emergency, only the most creature comforts are necessary or expected. But, what if you found yourself in the aftermath of a major catastrophe? Emergency housing is rarely chic, but in the wake of a natural disaster, chic is rarely on one’s mind and a safe, clean, and peaceful home is welcome no matter how simple the design.
A dorm room is often called a natural disaster of a different sort by the parents of its inhabitants and dorm rooms are another type of housing that lends itself quite well to shipping container design. The Student Housing Project in Keetwonen, Amsterdam houses 1000 students and reportedly, quite comfortably. Each student is recorded as having a balcony, kitchen, separate sleeping and study rooms, a bathroom and large windows. So popular is this living condition that the lease has been extended to 2016.
Vacation homes, artist retreat cottages, mother in law apartments, and living spaces for your grown children who have returned to the nest are all reasons you might find this less expensive and potentially separate living space appealing.
But these containers, being so small, couldn’t possibly provide permanent housing, could they? Consider this; a 20foot standard shipping box has 145 square feet and a 40 foot box, approximately 295 square feet. For this palatial dwelling you can expect to pay less than two thousand dollars for the box itself, and then a moderate amount for the renovations which can be as simple or elegant as your dreams can dream and your pocket book will pay for.
Sounds far too small at first glance you may think, however, a young writer lives comfortably in New York City in a 90 square foot apartment that she pays $800 a month to rent, and in 2009 a New York couple bought their 150 square foot apartment for $150,000.
Whether you choose to evaluate your home by dollar signs or square footage, there is a shipping container home design that might very well measure up and meet your needs.