Front and Side Elevations

This image shows the front of the house which has the large screen porch. The side view shows how the three containers are positioned side-by-side. The roof for the porch was purchased to be used in another project which was abandoned. The roof panels are corrugated steel designed for a bolt-together, all-metal building.

Ingenium Engineering is doing the foundation and structural design work.

We are working conjunction with the Chesterfield County, South Carolina Building Inspection Department.

Floor Plan

This is the floorplan Chris created using three, high-cube 45' shipping containers. Two sit side-by-side and one is offset 8'. We are using a grade beam type foundation with concrete blocks.

The kitchen, dining room and den span all three containers. The bunk room, laundry room and guest toilet are within the width of one container. The bathroom is within the width of one container. The bedroom and hall span two containers. The walls of the containers are cut out to form the rooms.

Getting Started - A Slow Process

An old mobile home had to be removed from the lot. It was then several months before we began to clear the lot and prepare the foundation.

How It Started

After using used shipping containers for a number of purposes in a manufacturing operation, I became aware that others had converted shipping containers to homes. I was interested in creating a low-cost, attractive home that would be tornado and hurricane proof. An internet search showed that such living units had been created all over the world. I began to inquire if I could get this type of living space approved in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. I hired an architect (Chris Cook of CBL) and we approached the building authorities who responded positively. I was off on a new adventure.