Design of a Shipping Container Home

Shipping Container Housing Minimal Dwelling / Michael Fifield Camden Santo Group 1B

Shipping Container Housing Design Issues

Primary Ideas

- Design is fixed about a set dimension - Removing or adding square footage requirers one of two things: addition or subtraction of a module or the switching of different sized modules - The width of a container is only 8 feet wide exterior dimensions - Turning a container into something that is livable - Container must be reinforced if holes are to be cut into it for windows, doors, and passageways - Containers must be connected together and to a foundation

- Maximize natural sunlight in the building - When possible get light on two sides of a room - Create a Through axis through the building to give the feeling that the house is extended - Create a transition space between the interior and the exterior - Create for both public and private outdoor space - Create good circulation throughout the building

Design Solutions - Used an 8x40 container in order to maximize the interior space - Connected multiple boxes side by side to create proper interior dimensions - Created passages through the building to create the illusion that the space is bigger - Open up ends of the container to remove container doors and extend rooms to the exterior - By offsetting the containers, a unique shape can be given to an otherwise rectilinear shape

Shipping Container Housing Precendents

Shipping Container Housing Research Making Modifications

Insulation, Framing, Plumbing, and Electrical

Initially, shipping containers by themselves are structurally sound. The corrugated metal walls and roof along with the reinforced floor system and top steel rails allow the container to carry much greater floor loads then a typical house is required to carry.

When cutting holes in the container for windows and doors, it weakens the containers structure, thus steel reinforcement must be installed in order to keep the containers structural integrity.

Electrical conduit and interior plumbing are ran throughout the container. Then spray foam insulation is sprayed all over the walls, ceiling, and floor to insulate the container to the proper R-value. The interior walls are constructed using steel studs and the whole container is finished off with drywall.

Securing Containers When the containers arrive on site, they must be both fixed to the foundation and to each other. To do this the container is first welded to steel plates that were embedded in the foundation and then the reinforced corners are welded together to lock the containers together.

Install Windows and Doors Windows are installed into the pre-fabricated openings that were cut into the container. These openings should be reinforced with steel box beams in order to reinforce the container. All this work should be done previously before the containers arrive on site.

Container Dimensions

Shipping Container Housing Drawings 1600 SQ FT - Large amounts of circulation space - Through Axis - Generous Room dimensions

1280 SQ FT - Less circulation - Generous Room dimensions - Private Office is now connected to master bedroom - Private Deck now only accessed through master bedroom

Plan View

Plan View

Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0

Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0

Shipping Container Housing Drawings

Front Elevation

Side Elevation

Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0

Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0

Diagrams

Raised on Concrete Pile Foundation Allows this container home to be placed in multiple different locations. Flat Ground, Sloped Ground, and Potential Flood Sites.

Square Footage 5 8’x40’ = 1600 sq ft

Public vs. Private Public Private

Extended Views

Shipping Container Housing

Shipping Container Housing

Shipping Container Housing