Container living: trendy or strange?
We’ve all heard the term, “tiny living” or “minimalist living” but have you ever considered living in a shipping container? A recent architecture trend called Cargotecture, which is the upcycling of shipping containers (steel boxes that are 8’ wide, 8.5’ high, and between 20-40’ long) into living spaces, restaurants and offices, is becoming more popular than ever. The expected market growth is about 6.5% a year between now and 2025 according to Allied Market Research.
What’s the appeal of cargotecture?
Cargotecture can be cheaper (sometimes), less wasteful, and faster to build than traditional architecture (some done in 4-6 weeks). They are off-grid (featuring composting toilets, wood stoves, solar panels, jug sinks, etc.) but also easily movable (placed on gravel instead of a foundation). They can also be used as temporary lodging, guest houses, or getaway homes. Companies like Contanium are able to mass produce these container homes, offering them at $12,000-$52,000, depending on the size and features desired.
What if living minimally isn’t for me?
Cargotecture isn’t just for those who want to experience living minimally, it can also be used for luxury container projects, like a two container Art Studio in the Hamptons, or the Media Lab at Bard College (made from four). A 1,800-square-foot home in Amagansett consists of a four-container living space (double-height), a one-container cantilevered bedroom, and a one-container guest suite connected by a small passage, all wrapped around a tree. Yet this seemingly expensive project, costs about 30 percent less than conventional construction. These luxury developments have been listed as high at $5.5 million (The Carroll House in Williamsburg, made of 21 containers), appealing to an audience who may want an unconventional living style without sacrificing comfort.
Are there downsides?
There are downsides to this new trend, one in particular is a “green myth”. Some people are using brand new containers rather than recycling old ones. To make the containers habitable, a lot of fossil fuels are required to make modifications to the structure. It’s also not uncommon to find recycled containers with lead-based paints on the walls and arsenic in the floors. Most mass-produced containers are already installed with insulation, but if you have decided to DIY your own steel paradise, you have to think of insulation control. These large steel boxes are made to absorb and transmit heat and cold, which means controlling temperature inside can be tricky. With cargotecture being relatively new, the building codes haven’t quite caught up yet, so if you do choose to invest in a steel home, you should always check to make sure you are meeting your local regulations.
This new trend in cargotecture begs the question: Is “off-grid” and “zero impact” is the new American Dream?