Container Housing in the Tropics

[blackie]

Hi all,
has anyone built container houses in the tropics?
I live in Thailand, hot, humid and wet most of the time.
Stilts would be a priority and disassembling important as Farangs cannot own land, only 30 yr leases.
Stainless steel craftsmen are everywhere and labour costs are very low.
Any links would be welcome.
cheers,
blackie ... aged 60 and three quarters

[Mariah Nasir]

I am picking your brain as to what info you received about container housing in the tropics. Do not want to reinvent the wheel. I'm 55 and want to retire on to my block of land in rural Darwin (also tropical and hot).

I look forward to hearing what you found out etc. and did you go ahead with the project?

Regards Mariah
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I am planning to erect a 'container house' on my rural property in NT Australia. We are in a very high cyclone region and in a very hot, tropical climate. Like 'green' features on my proposed house.

[blackie]

G'day Mariah.

Nope, nothing, nada, zilch.

You are the only person to respond.

Our climate is the same.

blackie, now 62 & 3/4

[paulsaw]

Here's a few thoughts -- plans built on various I-beams or large timbers to keep the dwelling above rising water threats....

Depending on how large of a structure you want, if using two 20ft units side-by-side, you can simply clamp them together with a Tandemloc Horizontal-Use clamp - or, for 40ft units, construct the appropriate I-Beam scaffold that will fully support both. Employ form tubes to pour the concrete pillars for support of the framework.

Hot/humid climate --- I would install a simple corrugated tin or lumber built roof on the building (tin roof shown in the photo is slightly more advanced in design - perhaps something the local craftsmen you mention could handle). A roof will reduce the heating effects of direct sunlight, and also help keep out moisture. Besides windows, I would add extra vents (marine supply - solar cabin vents), and utilize 5lb. Sorb-It style silica gel sacks to combat mold & mildew (silica gel is reusable forever - heat in the oven to regenerate it).

You can make fine adjustments to the building's inside environment by installing more windows and vents in the future.

Finding I-beams is easier said than done - you might consider cannibalizing an old 40ft unit to get your beams? Encasing the I-beams inside giant (2ft x 12ft) concrete pillars would be better - it all depends on the material available and money you want to spend (I don't believe concrete is used much in that region is it?).

When all is said and done, it would probably be cheaper & easier to just stack your containers on top of "sacrificial" (same size) units - these would contain lawn/garden stored stuff. That way if the water level goes up 8ft - at least your TV, bed and furniture in the 2nd floor living units won't be destroyed by water damage.


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Paul Sawyers

[Mariah Nasir]

Thanks for the ideas - will read in fine detail with a coffee this morning. Please keep in touch if you come up with anything else - really appreciated. Have you build one yourself yet? Wanting to find out what has been built in Australia so far.

After reading I will contact you with any questions.

Have a good day. Mariah
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I am planning to erect a 'container house' on my rural property in NT Australia. We are in a very high cyclone region and in a very hot, tropical climate. Like 'green' features on my proposed house.

[blackie]

Hi Paul.
Many thanks for your response.

I'd like to use 4 x 40' containers , square design with them elevated 3 mtrs on a ( 40x40')? concrete base.

Shaded Patio/verandah on the 4 sides 'a la qld style', if unsure of qld style, I'll post a pic of old qld style.

High winds are unheard of in Thailand, just the Monsoon and intense heat all year round.....
cheers,
john

[paulsaw]

Hi John,

I did a quick google search on qld style houses... it's short for Queenslander styling correct? Found several Aussie realty websites with photos and such. I agree - this would be a top design for extreme heat - very open and airy. You could position units so that all 4 cargo doors face one direction providing something close to a 32ft wall that can be opened up.

I threw a quick floorplan together based on your general specs (pic below)... of course you would need to establish a concrete footing pattern below each intermodal unit and also some type of roof to provide shade (to keep yourself from baking like a potato inside). True to the qld style, the roof will extend to the edge of the deck creating a shady porch all around . I like your plan. Take care.



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Paul Sawyers

[blackie]

Paul,
spot on..... but the airyness is not a (special) requirement.

The roof/verandah shading is, as it keeps the sun off the walls, windows and aircon exterior motors.

I had figured to put the 40 footer across the front and take out most of the container walls of that front container, whether this is practical or not is to be seen.

The original settlers in Qld could only use corregated iron sheeting for the roof.
In Thailand it's either tiles (expensive) or palm leaves (cheap) but maybe a fire hazard

Any visual ideas about the qld roof?

Are you using 'Sketchup4' ?

I'll order your book soon.

[paulsaw]

Whats happening in New Orleans (and the rest of the gulf coast) this past week has got me thinking about this topic once again. What a mess down there.

They are saying it will take at least 36 days after the pumping stations are back online to drain the city. What's really scary is the thought of what they will find in 3 weeks when the water level begins to drop down to a few feet. Horrible.
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Paul Sawyers

[moggy]

please look at renheremote.com.Its a steelframe unit able to be closed up if necessary.

[kurt]

Paul,

I purchased your book and have been enjoying it. I am a newbie as far as container housing is concerned and was really interested in the nuts and bolts and all that boring stuff that everyone seems to already know -- all those initials. But I'm learning!

What I was really interested in, and what you covered, was the component issues, sizes -- overall and interior. Since I am a designer, not an architect this has really helped me with the boiler plate issues involved.
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Kurt
www.kurtcyr.com

[paulsaw]

Hey Kurt - thank you.

I was thinking about this last night ... since you are an interior designer I thought I'd put this idea out there ...

What do you think about keeping containers in their raw state (paint, serials numbers, the whole nine yards) when creating a container-based structure.

I was thinking, why try to conceal the fact that it's a shipping container? Why not make that part of the charm. Perhaps make a point of using containers that are different color, one orange, one red, one blue etc. Maybe even minor dents could add to the charm. Of course all new aspects of the building would be extra shiny and new.

Port holes in the side-walls might be cool too. Landscaped with a nautical theme of large logs with marine ropes tied around them etc.

I'm thinking of something akin to Container City only on a small scale (1-4 containers) and with containers in a raw state fresh off the boat. A sailboat inspired teakwood interior (ala the original Chuck Houses) would be a nice touch too.

I'm not schooled in design, but is there a term for this? The hot and cold. Yin and Yan. Junk metal meets sleek stainless steel. Dented panels bonded to exotic hardwoods.

Not really in the budget building arena, but it's enjoyable to ponder nonetheless.
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Paul Sawyers

[fabadmin]

IMHO there is a segment of the market that would enjoy an industrialist aesthetic. In fact for some designs you could really play up a BladeRunneresque post-armageddon look. However this is a niche market.
Somewhere is a middle ground that benefits from the economies of containers without the raw untreated industrial look while also not trying to turn them into Tuscan villas. There are lots of configs that can work.

[dcross]

I sure wish we could find that niche! Most recent requests have been for carraige houses here in Charleston (A small home say 12 x 40 1 or 2 stories that go in the driveway). They all want it to look like a carraige house with Tons of trim and ornamentation, and somehow think the container / ISBU is the low cost solution. The ISBU is really just the framing package (clearly superior framing package) when all is said and done.

Where do these bladerunner industrialist types congregate?
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David

[paulsaw]

You are correct and I never really thought about it but movies are an influence. I think this (and other shipping container buildings) have Steve Zissou inspired design aspects - of The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

Watched it Monday, didn't immediately like the film, then found myself strangely thinking in nautical terms by Wednesday. Somewhat of retro/modernist combo. Perhaps it's effects were subliminal? Not sure, but that's probably what got me thinking about a nautical landscape design. Anyways... this reminds me how the effects of things (music movies design) take awhile to sink in. Weird phenomenon like dejavu.
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Paul Sawyers