Smart and functional container homes

Ever since the early Egyptians and Phoenicians, around 8000 years ago, humans have been transporting themselves and goods via boats. Around 2000 years ago, give or take, the practice really took off when it was discovered that shipping products was cheaper and faster than sending them by land.

It wasn’t, however, until the middle of the 20th century, with the invention of the standardised shipping container, that moving goods globally grew to the trillion-dollar industry it has become. By the 1980s, 90 per cent of shipping was containerised. However, with a useful life of 10–12 years, it is estimated that for every viable shipping container there are two that are no longer being used.

What to do with all those unused containers? As early as 1962, people were proposing additional uses for shipping containers, mostly with a commercial focus. Then, in August 1989, American Phillip Clark was granted a patent for his system of turning used shipping containers into habitable buildings — the first such system to utilise the ubiquitous vessels and the beginning of a global architectural revolution.

Cover image: ’Haven’ by Absolute Tiny Houses, is a custom-designed container home built on a trailer.

Since then, the world of converted container homes architecture has exploded, particularly in line with the growing popularity of the small house movement. Most shipping containers are either 20- or 40-feet in length, eight feet wide and either 8’6” or 9’6” high. Because they are standardised, shipping containers are ideal for use in modular house design.

Other advantages in using shipping containers for housing include their strength and durability, ability to withstand harsh environments, global availability and, perhaps not surprisingly, their ability to be easily transported to site. In New Zealand, container houses need to adhere to Building Code regulations, which means any container home you buy will conform to healthy living standards.