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Why converted container homes are a solution for Cape Town ?
a used container graveyard near Cape Town harbour
Converted containers could help out with our housing shortage because Cape Town is a port town, and in most ports the containers pile up, because they have a limited life span. Brad from Berman-Kalil who produce affordable designer container homes, informed me that shipping companies are fined for abandoning old used containers, and many are traveling the seven seas, empty of cargo, from port to port. When they are no longer useable for shipping, converted containers are still sturdy and easy to lock up, and have many uses on land, as store rooms, micro-retail outlets, classrooms and offices, mini hospitals and police stations, and also as homes.
a built in kitchen in a container conversion by Berman and Kalil
Secondly, building materials account for 1/3 of global carbon emission, and converted containers are recycled, reducing the carbon footprint of the new home, which is enormous if new bricks, tiles and cement are used, as they are all produced with firing processes.
Thirdly we have one of the worst housing crises in the world and need quick and cheap and sometimes temporary solutions, to get roofs over the heads of all people living in poorly constructed homes, and those unfortunate enough to have no homes at all. But this also means we lack other kinds of functional spaces. Containers can serve multiple purposes, outside of dwelling space, enabling the reduction of overheads for new businesses, and the cost of service provision for the state.
Fourthly: containers have already taken on here in a big way and are so much a part of our culture already, they have their own name…Zozo huts.
Then, containers can be arranged in a multitude of configurations and bring out the creativity of the architect or home owner.
Also, because of the basic unit of container architecture being consistent and standardised, it’s a form of modular building, and leads to the possibility of easily copying good configurations, making great architecture within everyone’s grasp.
and lastly adding to that idea of consistency:
A village feel can be created by modular building. I remember the caravan village I lived in in Germany when they didn’t have enough student accommodation. It had a lovely feel about it, a consistency, all these caravans crowded together on a parking lot in the forest. The consistency of the units in a village of converted containers will give a whole settlement visual consistency and is more likely to be beautiful. Look around you, the most ugly parts of suburbia get like that because there is such a mix of architectural styles and building materials, but where there is only one basic material, there is harmony. Think of some local examples like the gorgeous old parts of Sutherland built with stone.
If you are interested in acquiring a container home, there is a company in Cape Town making designer converted containers, produced to be as affordable as possible. Please visit the website of Berman-Kalil.
Thirdly we have one of the worst housing crises in the world and need quick and cheap and sometimes temporary solutions, to get roofs over the heads of all people living in poorly constructed homes, and those unfortunate enough to have no homes at all. But this also means we lack other kinds of functional spaces. Containers can serve multiple purposes, outside of dwelling space, enabling the reduction of overheads for new businesses, and the cost of service provision for the state.
Fourthly: containers have already taken on here in a big way and are so much a part of our culture already, they have their own name…Zozo huts.
Then, containers can be arranged in a multitude of configurations and bring out the creativity of the architect or home owner.
Also, because of the basic unit of container architecture being consistent and standardised, it’s a form of modular building, and leads to the possibility of easily copying good configurations, making great architecture within everyone’s grasp.
and lastly adding to that idea of consistency:
A village feel can be created by modular building. I remember the caravan village I lived in in Germany when they didn’t have enough student accommodation. It had a lovely feel about it, a consistency, all these caravans crowded together on a parking lot in the forest. The consistency of the units in a village of converted containers will give a whole settlement visual consistency and is more likely to be beautiful. Look around you, the most ugly parts of suburbia get like that because there is such a mix of architectural styles and building materials, but where there is only one basic material, there is harmony. Think of some local examples like the gorgeous old parts of Sutherland built with stone.
If you are interested in acquiring a container home, there is a company in Cape Town making designer converted containers, produced to be as affordable as possible. Please visit the website of Berman-Kalil.
a neat container conversion by Berman-Kalil
Sizes and space for the containers on your property
According to Brad, of Berman Kalil, the shipping container sizes were standardized a while back, globally. Internet research showed me that containers come in only one width, 2.44 meters, two lengths, 6 and 12 meters and two heights, 2.62 and 2.93 meters. Narrower and wider containers are unusual, non standard, and about twice the price.
Parking the containers in a yard requires a little space, but so far Berman-Kalil have inserted some in very small properties, with the trucks extending the full length of the property. There has to be room for cranes, a space about 5 meters wide is needed to bring the truck in and offload the trailer from the side of the vehicle with cranes. Hopefully one can often use the street for this, but I realized that its not going to be possible in my narrow 2.16 meter concrete driveway, which is 18 metres long, but wedged between high walls, unless I cut down the olive tree….. as Brad said, containers are not for every situation.
Parking the containers in a yard requires a little space, but so far Berman-Kalil have inserted some in very small properties, with the trucks extending the full length of the property. There has to be room for cranes, a space about 5 meters wide is needed to bring the truck in and offload the trailer from the side of the vehicle with cranes. Hopefully one can often use the street for this, but I realized that its not going to be possible in my narrow 2.16 meter concrete driveway, which is 18 metres long, but wedged between high walls, unless I cut down the olive tree….. as Brad said, containers are not for every situation.
future dreams: villages of converted container homes
I found that Brad has an eco village project in mind, using shipping containers. It will be a retreat centre and they are looking for the right place. It will be off grid with permaculture and organic farming.