Self-Contained
Living - Mi Casa Su Caja
Global Nomadic Housing For Expatriates
- Living In A Shipping Container - Part Two
by Colin
Reedy
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The one common experience
of all humanity is the challenge of problems.
-- R. Buckminster Fuller
| Editors Note: I first
met Colin Reedy about 12 years ago. He had just returned from studying
design in Milan and I had just returned from Rio de Janeiro. We found
ourselves stuck in Portland, Oregon, I as an owner and designer of artist
lofts, he as a struggling designer of furniture who happened to end up
living and working in one of my lofts. It was apparent from the first moment
I saw Colin's designs that he was a maverick genius. A lot of artists passed
through those lofts over the years. Some of them went on to a great deal
of fame. I can think of few whose work was as immediately exciting
as Colin's. Colin Reedy carries with him an enthusiasm for creativity and
for his work. He has had a good deal of success, all of it deserved. He
travels frequently and has lived much of the past 20 years outside of the
United States. He first presented the idea of a nomadic house to me several
years ago. I've been pestering him for the past two years to put the concept
into a written form for EscapeArtist.com Here's the second installment
in what we hope will be an ongoing series. We fully recommmend that readers
visit Colins website to see his furniture designs. There is a 'workshop
tour' on the site. Take the tour. MetaMorp
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Creating A House To Roam The
World
In Part 1 of this article I introduced
the idea of a portable dwelling based on a standard international shipping
container. As a housing alternative to renting or buying, it¹s
one that offers a high degree of portability, customization, and security.
In the second half I want to get specific and lay out plans for moving
the idea closer to reality.
For starters, how many containers
make a suitable "home"? After walking inside several and imagining
the possibilities, I¹ve long thought two 40 foot containers would
be good. I foresaw one container as a living space and another
as a work studio with tools and storage. But I now think just
one container would be an appropriate challenge.Perhaps a second container
could be acquired locally at new destinations and used for additional space
as needed. I still want to discuss arrangements with more than
one container, but I see a different level of customization for each container.
For instance, the primary container might be equipped with plumbing for
bathing, a toilet, and a sink.
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| It would also have electrical outlets
connected to a fuse box and a propane system for a stove, refrigerator,
and heating/cooling. A secondary container might only have
basic electricity (maybe just an extension cord running through the wall)
for lights and a few appliances. So how do we start with a huge metal box
and not end up feeling like we¹re living in a huge metal box?
For a true rugged global nomad, this would not be an issue, because they've
learned to sleep in stranger places and live out of backpacks for weeks
and months on end. I've been there. But I want to create a
level of comfort and security closer to "home", just without the mortgage
or rent to tie me down. Ideally, this container home isn't
just a cheap place to sleep, but a place you enjoy spending time and can
live comfortably. OK, here goes, let's design! |
What you start with...
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...What You End Up With
C
L I C K I M A G E T O E N L A R G E
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Electric power.
To run lights, tools, some appliances, computer, and a stereo.
The idea when planning all utility systems for the container home is to
be flexible and prepared to handle as many diverse situations as possible.
Obviously, broader flexibility and or adaptability will create more opportunities
for locations. Access to a local electricity source would be
the easiest solution. A small opening on the outside of the
container to accept a heavy duty extension cord would allow the whole plug
inside and secure it so no one could accidentally or easily unplug you.
Two or three of these plug-ins could create different circuits to keep
the computer and stereo power separate from tools or charging batteries.
Surge protectors and a power converter
are basic electrical accessories to include. A small
fuse box with 2-4 breakers would be great if you planned to have a more
direct power source. But I think well-placed standard "power
strips" (multiple socket rack with a built-in fuse) and extension cords
can offer just as much function. |
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Locations away from local power
means generating your own. This is where you realize which
appliances suck up power and which don't. I'm not going to
recommend specific solar power systems because a huge array of products
exists. There are options from reasonable to expensive that
will keep your lights, music, and computer running.
Power tools and any heating or cooking
appliances will probably demand more than reasonably priced photovoltaic
solar power will deliver as far as I'm aware. Gasoline or propane
powered generators might be considered if your situation really needed
the electricity and you had the space and could tolerate the noise.
My choice is to be ready to plug into local power and also capable of solar
powering the necessities like lights and computer. Television
is not a necessity.
Water: arguably
the most important utility and one of the main factors determining the
placement of your container home. Any decent water system requires
a source, pressure, maybe storage, heating, and the plumbing to deliver
it where needed. The easiest situation would allow you to hook
up to a municipal water source. All that'd needed is a range
of fittings and a hose, and the fittings could be purchased locally since
they'll undoubtedly be of local size standards. That'll give
you the source and pressure you need, but not a hot shower.
Storing large amounts of water and continually heating it for immediate
use is amazingly stupid no matter how much space and money you have.
I can¹t believe this is the standard in the United States well, maybe
I can. I once lived in an apartment in Milan, and we had a
box on the bathroom wall with gas and water pipes running thru it.
Gas flames jumped to life and heated the water pipe immediately upon turning
on any hot water faucet. I was amazed. So smart.
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