| Believe it or not there is a group of | | | | is. Architects strive to create a feeling of |
| architects that have developed some very | | | | openness, light and beauty using the prefab |
| stylish residences out of the humble shipping | | | | shipping containers as the foundation. |
| container. Not only residences, there have | | | | |
| also been hundreds of metal shipping | | | | Although his Push-Button house is only an |
| containers used for museums, restaurants and | | | | experimental project, Mr. Kalkin has built |
| weekend houses. You would not even realize | | | | houses that he intends to make available to |
| that these beautiful and creative structures | | | | the public, like his Quik House. He currently |
| were once hauling supplies across the | | | | has orders for ten. These modern prefab |
| country. | | | | houses are made from five shipping containers |
| | | | and are then loaded on a truck and delivered |
| The shipping containers are stacked, painted | | | | to the buyer. It takes less than a week to |
| and customized to form the outer structure of | | | | reassemble them on location. The Quik House |
| the houses. Glass ceilings, walls and windows | | | | sells for between 150 to 175 thousand |
| add light and give the structures a very | | | | dollars, depending on the distance to deliver |
| bright and airy look. | | | | the house and the options that the client |
| | | | chooses. There are many different options, |
| The Shelburne Museum, located in Vermont, | | | | including mahogany sliding doors and a full |
| features a Collectors House designed by | | | | stainless steel kitchen. |
| interior designer Albert Hadley and architect | | | | |
| Adam Kalkin. It was created by using 3 | | | | In addition to this deluxe version of a |
| overseas shipping crates that make a very | | | | prefab home Mr. Kalkin is also planning on |
| striking house. The building features glass | | | | selling a single shipping container living |
| garage doors, a large patio area, living | | | | space called an A-Pod. This will be |
| space, bedrooms and a full sized kitchen. | | | | equivalent to a studio apartment, and will |
| | | | sell for under $100,000.00. |
| Adam Kalkin has designed houses out of | | | | |
| shipping containers before, but his last one | | | | Humanitarian issues |
| is actually a luxury dwelling for the rich. | | | | |
| He unveiled his creation at the Art Basel | | | | Most architects have noted that the prefab |
| Miami Beach art show in December 2005 and the | | | | shipping container habitat is ideal for |
| attendants were surprised to see lavish | | | | setting up in emergency situations and for |
| furnishings and a beautifully designed | | | | humanitarian needs. These very structurally |
| interior inside a shipping container. The | | | | sound and durable homes can be moved easily |
| project has the interesting title of | | | | on the back of trucks and can be loaded and |
| "Push-Button House" because it can be loaded | | | | unloaded numerous times with no damage or |
| in the back of a truck to be moved and it | | | | need for repairs. They can be moved virtually |
| opens up like a Murphy bed to expose the | | | | anywhere there is a road and it is easy to |
| interior. | | | | hook up plumbing and electrical connections |
| | | | to the outside of the shipping container. |
| Jennifer Seigal is another architect that | | | | |
| uses shipping containers to create beautiful | | | | They are very dry, leak resistant and easy to |
| living spaces. One example is the Seatrain | | | | care for. They can be insulated to keep out |
| house she built for real estate developer | | | | the cold and, despite being metal, are |
| Richard Carlson, equipped with all utilities | | | | reported to be easy to cool even in hot |
| and featuring an indoor fountain. She | | | | climates. The shipping container homes are |
| indicates that these houses are much less | | | | virtually fire resistant and can be easily |
| costly to build than the traditional ones, | | | | cleaned or painted if necessary. |
| and that they are very modern looking and can | | | | |
| be customized to the individual needs of the | | | | While a shipping container home may not have |
| buyer. | | | | been an option you had previously considered, |
| | | | it might be something to ponder in the |
| While the use of shipping containers for | | | | future. The sky is the limit to using your |
| shelter is not new, the thought of making | | | | imagination in designing your very own low |
| architectural statements and unique creations | | | | cost prefab home. |