7 ISBU House Prototype - Click Images for Enlarged
View
|
|
7 ISBU
House - 3D Model (2009) (This is the link to open the 3D model in the
Hypercosm viewer. It will open in a new tab/window.)
Due to limitations of the viewer I'm using, you will not be able to see layers,
or the inside of the model. I'll have to create separate models to accomplish
this. When I get time.
Description:
Shipping containers are officially called ISBUs (Intermodal Steel
Building Units) . There is a growing movement across the globe for using these
units as building components for houses. (ISBU
Quick Facts)
This particular model is one of my ISBU house prototypes. My "prototype" classification
means I'm only playing with the structural arrangement of the ISBUs, not depicting
a complete house model (doors, windows, etc.).
This model utilizes 7 containers. 2 40' units and 5 20' units. As you
can see in the images, my arrangement uses the units as a perimeter for the
first floor and the units on the second floor are both the first floor ceiling
and the roof for the second floor. Because of the steel beam structure
free spanning the open area is not a problem. And there is no complicated structure
or engineering required for this house.
The little wood slab you see on the second level is a neat idea that's simply
a result of using these units like this. It's a 8' wide wrap around deck on
the second floor! The structure is already there, just add some pretty planking.
Another item you may question is the interior steel walls, and the narrow rooms
that could be placed in a unit. The ISBU is a standard 8' wide, exterior measurement.
The walls are corrugated steel. The metal itself is approximately 1/8",
the corrugated shape makes the wall occupy approximately 3". However,
the panels are not structural. This means as long as you leave the
steel columns and horizontal elements alone, you can cut and remove the panels
all you want. Some of my designs are engineered so the steel that is removed
from the interior area is then re-used (welded) as a covering in other areas.
In fact this design could go that route. Omit the center second level unit
(it's structural overkill anyway). Cut the interior walls of the remaining
two units, and weld that steel as the roof and end walls in the center. Trust
me, the measurements work out. I should however point out that this design
does require the welded addition of support for the top units (along the
ends). As it is shown, they are actually floating and not resting on the lower
units.
Here's some numbers to contemplate: Average price for a 40' ISBU is around
$2000+/- delivered. A 20' unit averages a few hundred less. That's retail price
mind you, buy in bulk and I'm sure you could get them a lot less*.
Let's just round it all up and say $2000 each. So in this model that's $14000
in ISBUs. As shown, it creates 1920 sq. ft of interior space with 8' ceilings.
And in the center that's 896 sq. ft. free spanned! You could do anything
you wanted there without concern of load bearing walls. Of course there is
still the cost of the concrete slab, and the rest of the details, but I challenge
you to find a modern plastic and glue house selling for anything even close
on a square foot comparison.
*There is currently a global surplus of these units due to global economic drop. They are sitting defunct in ship yards by the millions.
All images on this site are property of ScottPod.com and may not be used by anyone else.
Home : Contact : Glossary : ezCandlesticks.com (Austin's Other Site)