Shipping Containers, Part II: Affordable, But...?

As a follow-up to the previous post on shipping containers, I did come across a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Georgetown, SC that is trying to develop extremely low cost housing using shipping containers.  In order to meet the needs of very low income seniors, they have had to think outside the box, which led them back to the box.  The article states the following: 


"The nonprofit expects the cost of creating a container home to come in around $25,000, covering everything but the full-size appliances, which are donated. With the cost of land, site preparation and moving the container home, the final cost is projected to be about $65,000."

Kudos to them for trying a new approach.  If the numbers hold and they can deliver a one-bedroom for $65k, including land, then they may be onto something. Based on their numbers, this would put their actual construction costs at $90/ SF.  With that said, most of the critiques from the previous post exist here.  How functional will it be to actually live in such a space?  The greatest challenges appears to be dealing with the size, proportion and construction of the shipping container itself.  Will seniors living in this house appreciate and value the uniqueness of it?   Will they be okay with spaces that have such tight dimensions, especially for folks who may require more room to get around (walkers, etc.)?  As the picture below shows, the space is even more limited once it gets furred out with 2x4’s.  

Furring out the inside of the shipping container with 2x studs

And while it doesn’t sound like this was the driving factor, one benefit of this is that such a narrow building could potentially be utilized on smaller lots that may not be able to receive a traditional building or construction.  Depending on local zoning regulations, the prefabricated element could also make building houses in tighter locations more feasible, whereas tiny homes (on a trailer) would not be feasible (or legal).  

While I would like to see how this house performs once it is completed, surely there are better ways to build houses for under $100/SF.   Stay tuned for an upcoming post on how manufactured housing can deliver construction costs at this level, but with many more design options.

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