Green Seas, part II
Welcome back! Today’s post is part two of our container housing miniseries. We normally don’t write about the same subject for more than one post, but anything less on this topic would be a shame. Today we’ll introduce you to more of the pioneering architects and designers implementing container housing throughout the world. So grab some soda and a bag of popcorn - just make sure you recycle the bag and the bottle when you’re done!
In Shelburne, Vermont, on the grounds of the Shelburne Museum, sits The Kalkin House. This house was designed by Architect Adam Kalkin back in 2001, when only the true pioneers were building with containers. (Remember Container City I, which was designed and built around the same time.) The house is not built entirely of containers, but it is an interesting mix. Three shipping containers define the interior spaces, while the outside structure is comprised of a metal shell similar to the style of a traditional warehouse. The home’s oversized glass garage doors, metal grid balconies, and uniquely designed outdoor patio space are some of its most distinguishing features. Though we don’t consider this true container housing, its timing and originality make it worthy of study and it serves as the basis for homes made entirely of containers.
Let’s travel further north in Canada, specifically to Fernwood, Victoria in the province of British Columbia, to find a company called Zigloo. Sounding similar to igloo, in a city that’s cold enough to have both, custom home architect and designer Keith Dewey has completed a project called Domestique. The 2000 square foot single family home shares a driveway and green space with other homes on the street. The house features bamboo floors throughout, a smart choice for sustainability, and pays a lot of attention to day lighting. Specifically, four of the five balconies face east, the stairwell has skylights above, and the east façade is almost entirely covered with large sliding glass doors so that the light pours through in the morning. Keith specifically left all container decals unpainted to maintain the identity. Additionally, Keith was smart enough and kind enough to provide step-by-step photos of the design and construction of this house. You can follow his thoughts and the building process step by step on his website, which we highly recommend you do.
Just south of Keith, in Washington State, is a company called HyBrid Seattle. This architectural firm has designed a number of container buildings for different uses. Among those that caught our eye were the mobile medical center, a residential “mini-tower,” a small, detached studio, and a three story single family home featuring solar panels on the roof and many a green space. Their website, like Keith’s, has an interesting rendering of the single family home where the three floors are pulled apart in space, making it easy to identify each of the separate pieces of the home, and making it easier to understand how these types of homes are built. Hats off to HyBrid Seattle for one of the most innovative homes we have seen in a while, and certainly one of the most innovative renderings!
Though today’s post was a little "cold," we felt it important to show that no matter what climate you’re in, container buildings can and will provide a structurally sound and comfortable home for anyone to live, work, and even receive medical attention in. With so many uses being explored by architects, designers and developers around the world, there is really nothing that can’t be done with a few cargo containers and a lot of creativity. Come back tomorrow for part three of our miniseries, as we explore some hotter areas!