Container Homes: possible safe housing??

[Guest guest]

I saw this story on television and thought it was interesting. Sadly,

due to the U.S. receiving many more goods than it ships out, we have

many shipping containers coming to this country with nothing to use

them for, i.e. nothing to ship out, so people are turning them into

structures for homes, including architects. Some of them were VERY

attractive. Now whether they would make good starter material

for " safe housing " , don't know but at least they aren't subject to

mold like particle board and withstands rain.

A Google search turned up this links. First link had some attractive

pictures:

<http://www.google.com/search?

hl=en & q=%22container+homes

%22 & btnG=Google+Search>

[Guest guest]

This is one thing I agree with you on, Barb.

I liked those (British/Australian, etc.) houses.

(off topic warning.. also, a touch of dark humor ahead..)

However, I wouldn't be surprised if the American manifestation of them was

quite different. i see the containerized modular, EASILY MOVABLE house as

offering another opportunity for business to commodify and commercialize

something which has a very real cost, but which many take for granted. (I am

talking about physical space and air versus time, which are increasingly

costly commodities in cities.)

So, Barb, you bring up a good point. There is a very large need for

affordable and mass-manufacturable housing that

is durable, warm, and mold-food free. Homes built on a standard shipping

container frame could use the huge infrastructure that

is already in place to handle and move them. " This is an idea whose time has

come "

Another thought. Right now, renters rent apartments and people 'own' houses

but if they fall behind on their rent or mortgage, it is difficult to

extract them from (stealing) the precious space so that paying customers can

pay to live in it.

But housing is a scarce resource and these delays represent losses for the

landowners. With containerized housing, the entire home could be moved

(away?) very quickly without much of a legal fuss. Also, if your income went

up, it would be easy to 'move' to a nicer neighborhood. It could all be

automated. Just punch in a code, have your retina scanned, and woosh.

Or, people could pay with a credit card and an automated driver could move

their home to the nicer neighborhood during the daytime while the occupants

were at work or school. or even while they were inside, having their dinner.

People could pay also to have their containers stored when they weren't

being used, in complexes that resemble the new automated parking garages.

They could own or rent for the physical space could be debited from their

bank accounts. It would all be electronic. No personal contact necessary.

Even the credit check would be electronic. They have hotels in Japan now

that offer affordable housing for businesspeople on a timeshare basis, in

shifts. Bargain sleeping accomodations, which resemble lockers in a bus

station, are even coin operated and mechanically cleaned with hoses. Sheets

are dispensed from a continuous roll. This cuts down on costs.

Its the magic of the marketplace.

Using automatic lifts and conveyor belts, peoples homes could be rotated

into the sunshine and air so that people could get more sun if they wanted

to pay for it, or less if they wanted to save a few bucks. This would all be

automatic.

Lets face it, the 24 hour a day, 7 day a week " home " of the past is

increasingly a luxury many can't afford. The kind of jobs we had in the past

are disappearing and since we are sort of abandoning ship on education, etc,

there are really no chance of new comparable jobs coming that can replace

them, so we need to adapt to a new economic climate in which most wealth

will be from inheritances or investments. (especially if we eliminate the

estate or 'death' tax)

That means that people who aren't part of 'the investor class' as our

President calls it are going to need to learn how to live on less, a lot

less.

One way to do that in keeping with " The Ownership Society " would be

modular housing that could share three dimensional space temporally. This

would make The American Dream affordable to many.

For example, while you are at work, your house doesn't need expensive sun or

air. It could be stored miles underground at a low fee during those downtime

hours. You would only pay for the sun and air time you actually used.

Just like your car..

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/vws-automated-parking-garage-173049.php

[Guest guest]

Here is better link to container homes:

<http://tinyurl.com/37mznj>

>

> I saw this story on television and thought it was interesting.

Sadly,

[Guest guest]

Gee. I thought container homes was a story about homes going up here

with these extra containers from imports. So homes you saw were from

Britain, huh? Story I heard on television was about homes going up

here. You are creative though...lots of ideas. I was hoping I could

afford a container all to myself though. Maybe too ambious you

think? I wonder if those storage PODS that have become so popular

were shipping containers at one time also. They look like it. I

thought it sounded like they might be good for structure instead of

the particle board in today's new homes. These look strong and no

wood. Just an FYI. Like the jokes though.

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> This is one thing I agree with you on, Barb.

>

> I liked those (British/Australian, etc.) houses.

>

> (off topic warning..

[Guest guest]

Barb,

I was kidding about most of what I said, hopefully it was obvious, but

actually, I have seen a bunch of very innovative homes based on single and

multiple containers.

Hopefully, they can be permanent and not have to 'rent' sun and air..

A Google search should bring them up. They are very nice looking, eco

friendly (what could be more recyclable?) and

they can be insulated very well, despite their use of metal.. They are water

tight so ventilation needs to be handled explicitly..

As far as installation, they are typically lifted into place by a large

truck made for the purpose of lifting and moving containers or by

helicopters. (they can be flown and dropped off almost anywhere - for a

price..)

And also many companies have developed modular

faclilities that are based around containers, including Google, Sun, etc.

(extremely compact data centers, etc.)

[Guest guest]

I didn't know about the container homes until this week. Seems like

they would make a good start for safe housing. There are Air cretes

that can be used also, sturdy but easy to cut and lift apparently, can

be used as a floor. Interesting and creative.

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> Barb,

>

> I was kidding about most of what I said, hopefully it was obvious,

but actually, I have seen a bunch of very innovative homes base