The fi rst two-storey shipping
container home in the US was
designed by Southern California
architect Peter DeMaria, in 2006
and subsequently recognised as
an approved structural system,
under the strict guidelines of the
nationally-recognised uniform
building code (UBC). The concept
of shipping container architecture
may be defi ned as 'a form of
architecture, utilising steel
shipping containers as structural
element, because of their inherent
strength, wide availability and
relatively low cost.'
Shipping containers are an
ideal construction material,
as they are designed to carry
heavy loads and resist harsh
environments. They are made to
the same standard measurements
(a 40-ft container is 40 feet
long, 8 feet wide, 8 feet 6
inches tall, and so provides 320
square feet of fl oor space) and
as such, they provide modular
elements that can be combined
into larger structures. This
simplifi es design, planning
and transport. Used shipping
containers are easily available
across the globe, as shipping back
used containers to their places
of origin is a cumbersome and
expensive affair (in 2007 some
7 million containers arrived
in the US, but only 4 million
were needed to ship American
exports!). Construction involves
little labour and used shipping
containers, requiring only simple
modifi cation, can be purchased
from major transportation
companies for $900 for an
older one, $2,500 for one that is
essentially new.



