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