LWarchitecture

BOUCHER GRYGIER SHIPPING CONTAINER HOUSE

Summary
The shipping container is the standard for shipping goods from place to place.  Built to exacting specifications to withstand tremendous loads and, with refrigerated units, to maintain low internal temperatures efficiently, these vessels of commerce make excellent building blocks for architecture.  Even after many trips around the globe, they still easily meet or exceed the building codes for construction. As a net importer, the US ports are filled with them.
This house incorporates three insulated containers into the design of this airy yet compact 1350 square foot, three bedroom house. Two forty-foot containers are stacked on one side and a third is cut in half and stacked on the other creating protective walls for a two story atrium living room in the middle.  Bedrooms in the upper containers are given added width with bay windows.  A stair and a bridge through the atrium connect the two upper containers to the space below.

Details
Repurposing used refrigerated shipping containers is extremely resource efficient.  The containers act as a weatherproof exterior siding, insulation, and structural frame.  Minimal insulation needs to be added at the roof and floor.  Framing is only needed were bay windows and interior partition walls are added.  Waterproofing is only needed where windows and doors are added.   Aside from the containers, which make up most of the building, green materials include:

  • blown in cellulose insulation at the roof,
  • 50% flyash concrete foundation,
  • “green seal” low-voc paint on the interior,
  • water-based urethane finish on the wood, and
  • 100% wool carpet and bamboo flooring.

The house was also designed to minimize energy use through passive solar design.  Deep eaves minimize summer solar gain, while allowing winter solar heating.  Well placed windows supply excellent daylighting and summer ventilation.  Additional energy and water saving features such as stacked plumbing, roof rainwater collection, high efficacy lighting, and solatubes further reduce ecological impacts.   

Visit Jan Grygier’s container house website to view film footage and a library of construction photos:
http://www.shipping-container-house-yurt.phanfare.com/ 

Construction by Scott Bailey

Photographs by Leger Wanaselja Architecture.