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Atypical Housing: Shipping containers contain a housing idea

prefab boxoffice1
Some people might agree and some may not if I say that the shipping container buildings are nothing new. Conceptually, these continue to appear on a regular basis. The “Box Office,” a shipping container structure modified into an office, is one such novelty for the eco-fanatics. Standing tall and proud in Providence, Rhode Island, this prefabricated construction touts meticulous stacking of 32 shipping containers. Designed by Joe Haskett, the Distil Studio principal, this building ensures a creative and environmentally conscious development.

The Box Office, basically, reuses 90 tons of upcycled steel, and flaunts rain gardens, non-petroleum based insulation and low-VOC interior finishes. In addition, there are high-performing windows, doors and an HVAC system to filter pollutants from surface excess water and provide a responsive environment to the inhabitants. The building will use 25% less electricity when compared to the conventional ones. It provides a better insight into the recession-hit construction tactics where prefab and recycled is surely going to rule, says Peter Gill Case of Truth Box.

Making waste usable in building strange abodes:

Anyhow, it’s always better to recycle rather adding nuisance to the environment. The designers and innovators have done a remarkable job in refashioning and lending trash with some usability. Taking the theme of recycling a bit further, here we’ve tried to draft a complete line-up of some wondrous structures reprocessed by redundant materials that have been put to a sensible use:

1) Future Shack
futureshack

Architect: Sean Godsell
Year of Completion: 2004
Green Factor:
– Made from a ready-made, re-used shipping container and
– Fully solar-powered.
Peculiarity: Being entirely self-contained, the units can be shipped to where they’re required.

2) Detroit Container Condo
condo

Architect: Steven Flum
Year of Completion: 2008
Green Factor: Containers reused in fashioning windows and doors out of them.
Peculiarity: Costs about $1.8 million, about 25% less than a normal condo project.

3) Miranda Homes
miranda homes 2
Architect: Rob Boydstun
Year of Completion: 2009
Green Factor: Junked cars morphed into green manufactured houses
Peculiarity: It limits the whole process of building a house down to 45 days. Mind you, a standard home takes an average of six to nine months for completion.

4) Recycled Rococo
recycled house
Architect: Mary Jane
Location: Antonito, Colorado
Green Factor: Made from recycled boards, windows, rocks, glass, pieces of metal and aluminum cans.
Peculiarity: The entire construction looks like a church.

5) DasPark Hotel
pipehotel1
Location: Germany
Green Factor: It is made from recycled pipes and each unit contains a double bed, storage space, light, mains electricity.
Peculiarity: Hands out a strange experience and the Danube, flowing close by, adds to the pleasure of residing in such bizarre cabins.

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