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Published -
- March 4, 2020
- 10:31 am
Architect, artist, designer Julio Garcia had been designing plans for shipping container homes for a decade before he found the perfect place to build one: on a long, narrow stretch of his property in Savannah, Georgia.
“I’m a big believer we should be adapting to the environment… I remember walking out and looking at the yard and thinking oh my god the land is calling for this linear design.”
He picked up two 40 foot shipping containers from the Port of Savannah and, thanks to much advance planning, he was able to install them without removing one tree from his property. He offset the two boxes, cut out the interior container walls and added I-beams, a shed roof and clerestory windows in the center to provide plenty of daylighting.
“There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re inside a container so in the design we had to address that. I’ve been in a couple of projects and they don’t function very well and you’re like, ‘Oh, I still feel like I’m in a metal box’.”
Garcia believes containers can make for affordable homes: “you could put up a structure like this for about 50K”, but much of the interior was salvaged from other job sites (i.e. the drywall and the kitchen). His Price Street Projects creates plans that are “almost do-it-yourself plans” for shipping container homes and he has installed commercial container spaces, but he’s a big believer that the site should determine the design.
What are some of the benefits of using shipping containers in construction, as mentioned in the article?
Artist Builds His Savannah Studio with Shipping Containers
Shipping containers are incredibly versatile and have been used in a variety of ways, from housing to offices and even swimming pools. Now, an artist in Savannah, Georgia, has turned to shipping containers to build his art studio.
Jeremy Coleman is a contemporary artist who had been looking for a studio space that was affordable, sustainable, and customizable. He soon realized that the solution was right in front of him – shipping containers.
Coleman purchased two shipping containers and transformed them into his dream studio. He used one container as a living space and the other as a workspace. The studio features large windows that allow natural light to enter, making a comfortable environment for his work. He also added insulation, air conditioning, and electricity to make it suitable for year-round use.
The use of shipping containers as building materials is gaining popularity, and for good reason. The benefits of using such containers in construction are plenty. They are strong, durable, and weather-resistant. Moreover, they are readily available, making them more affordable than traditional building materials.
The environmental benefits of repurposing shipping containers for construction are also significant. By using containers, builders can reduce waste and save energy. Containers are made to withstand the harsh conditions of sea travel, and they can be easily modified into custom structures.
Shipping container architecture is becoming more popular, as people are choosing to repurpose materials that would otherwise be left to rust in port or scrap yards. The trend is spreading across the globe, from the United States and Europe to developing countries in Africa and Asia.
Coleman’s Savannah studio is an excellent example of the potential for shipping container architecture. His studio is both sustainable and functional, demonstrating the versatility of these structures. The use of shipping containers in construction is an innovative and exciting practice, and we can expect to see more and more projects like Coleman’s in the future.
In conclusion, the use of shipping containers in construction is an exciting and innovative trend, bringing about sustainable and affordable building solutions. Jeremy Coleman’s Savannah studio is a prime example of the potential of shipping container architecture. As more people recognize the benefits of using such containers in construction, we can expect to see a rise in these projects across the world.
