Adam Kalkin's Quik Build Kit House

[fabadmin]

I have just added Adam Kalkin's Quik Build Kit House to Containerbay (listed under K).
This will be sold as a kit as of January '04.

[GaryR50]

Looks pretty sharp. I'm trying to figure out if he's using two halves of a container at each end, or if he's using panels cut from the sides of a container. It looks like the house is three containers wide by one 40' container in length, or roughly 40'x25'-6". The roll-up door is a nice touch, too.

One question: why are we just now finding out about this "Suburban House Kit" show? If Kalkin already has entered, it must have been promoted a while ago, right?

Gary

[fabadmin]

[industriallivin]

I'm confused by the lower container corrugations. Any idea on why they're running horizontal? I've never seen shipping containers with this pattern.

-Kristy

[fabadmin]

[GaryR50]

I see. Well, if it's an installation in an art gallery, it probably wouldn't be of much interest to most of us here, I suppose. I did have the impression it was going to be more of a trade "show," though.

Yes, I believe he is showing an Arm-R-Lite rollup door, there; possibly the same "Electra" model I have specified on one of my designs.

The reversed corrugations also caught my eye, Kristy, and that's why I think he's either chopped a couple of containers in half for the ends of the house, or he's cut out the sides and welded them in place in a different configuration to make up the volumes at the ends. In either case, it's a little confusing, both visually and logistically, as it would create a lot of extra hand labor that would raise the total cost of the house. One thing I've noticed about all of Kalkin's container designs is that he never shows the existing container doors (found on the ends) and he always shows the same corrugations all the way around each container, as if he's indicating a substantially modified container. This leads me to believe he isn't using an accurate 3D container model as the basis of his explorations, as I do, but is, rather, just "faking" the look of a container by showing a box composed of corrugated sides. If so, this doesn't accurately indicate just how he intends to deal with an actual container in the "real world," and thus, gives his designs an air of impracticality, to an extent. If it were my design, in this one, I would have taken a single 20' container and cut it in half to form the ends of the first floor, either leaving the original doors on the ends (which he doesn't show), or replacing those doors with some other material, such as glass. By indicating another corrugated panel there, instead, he's suggesting a modifcation that would require a great deal of needless cutting and welding, IMHO.

P.S.: Another thing always missing from Kalkin's containers is any realistic depiction of the top and bottom rails that compose the frame of the container box. If you don't know what I'm talking about, or you dispute my criticisms of his modeling, all you need do is compare his designs to any photo of an actual steel shipping container and you'll see what I mean. If you're going to use an industrial product as the basis of a design, then that product needs to be shown as it actually is, otherwise it either imparts the impression that you intend it to be heavily modified, or it imparts the impression that you're simply lazy about accurately modeling the container. Note, in my Surf Shack, that I show the ends of the container as they actually are in the real world, doors and all. Note, also, the top and bottom rails. This is because I carefully and painstakingly modeled an actual 20' container from the manufacturer's photos and dimensions before ever thinking about how I was going to use it in my designs. It's a lot of work, but it's necessary work if your objective is to show people something more than fanciful renderings.

Gary

[Bob Sheaves]

Gee, and I thought I was the only one that was critical of incomplete thought patterns....

I have to agree Gary, it is not an insignificant omission, but sloppy work.

Best as always,

Bob

[GaryR50]

No, Bob, you're not alone.

I think anyone, once they're done "ooohing" and "aaaahing" at this design will see the lack of attention to detail if they just compare it to the real thing; i.e., an actual shipping container. To be fair, Kalkin is not the only designer who has been lax in this regard. If you look carefully at a lot of the renderings in Container Bay, you'll start to notice the inconsistencies with reality.

Gary

[industriallivin]

Kalkin has designed projects that have been built out of the containers.

So... he must have some idea about what works and how the materials can be altered.

I'm not saying I'd build mine that way or that it looks like a cost effective approach, but I have enjoyed seeing photographs of some of his work as opposed to all of these unbuilt renderings.

[fabadmin]

Gary I would agree that Kalkin's renderings are somewhat stylized but so are many architects (have you seen Zaha Hadid's?!).
These types of renderings are not the only information a potential client uses to assess a design or an architect.

Kalkin has has built some container-based structures (as listed in Containerbay) and so has reference work to show details. Also working or construction drawings are available for review once a potential client engages in talks with the architect. I don't have Kalkin's monograph or his Butler variations book (yet) but maybe these have more details.

On the same theme, some of Lot-eks renderings are also highly stylized but the MDU book for example has quite detailed construction drawings - all of your questions would be answered.

You have to ask yourself what communication role an image was intended to play.

[GaryR50]

Yes, Zaha Hadid is one of the worst offenders. It's nearly impossible to tell what she is representing (is it transparent, and if so, what materials?!) in her renders. I would definitely use the term "stylized" in reference to her work. Where Kalkin's is concerned, though, it's not so much stylization as it is avoidance of detail, I think. But, that's his renders, and I have to admit, I haven't seen his construction drawings, or his finished works, which, no doubt, are more detailed. It is, to be fair, common for architects to leave out "extraneous" details in their concept renders. I do it, myself. Note that the doors I show don't have any knobs, usually. This has been a convention of architectural graphics for some time, now. I guess such discrepencies between the 3D renderings and the reality are forgiveable as long the details are correctly shown and noted in the construction set, and, obviously, in Kalkin's case, they are or he wouldn't be able to get anything built.

Gary

[fabadmin]

I have posted pics of the Quikbuild installation recently shown in New York.

They can be found here:
http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbay/063-quikbuild-kalkin/063-quikbuild-deitch-2004.htm

Thank you to fabprefab readers Antony Mott and Justin (modernlover) for supplying pics

Michael

[lavardera]

The photos are very interesting. The container's corrugated walls are clearly visible on the interiors. Sadly he has not advanced any solution to the question of insulation here. I was also surprised that he had to resort to these out-rigger braces to support the upper containers. When I have seen renderings of this scheme before it appeared to be fitting squarely on top of the containers below. Perhaps there was not enough budget for the containers he required and this was a work around?
_________________
Gregory La Vardera
architect www.lamidesign.com
modern stock plans www.lamidesign.com/plans
modern workplace www.workalicious.org

[fabadmin]

Yes Greg, the pictures almost raise more questions than they answer!

Those 'outrigger' braces are particularly inelegant compared to the renderings.

[modernlover]

Hi guys - I'm the one who shot most of those pics. Sorry about the quality, but it was SO dark in there! As for the quality of the house, it WAS an installation only (after all, it's in an art gallery), so the construction was incomplete. They installed just enough to give a general idea of what the house should look like. It can't be completed because it will be dismantled and shipped out (I believe the show ended today). I will say this: I was VERY impressed. After seeing the house, my head was spinning for days afterwards with ideas! Guys! It's doable! You CAN live in these things!!!!!!! I certainly would (but I'd build it myself, of course! )
_________________
Justin