Shipping Container House

Hi, I am Tyler, I will be sophomore at Weber High School in the 2022-2023 school year. This Instructable is for the Make it Modular Challenge. Thank you to James Develin and Autodesk for this opportunity. For the models I used Fusion 360 and Tinkercad.

In the United States and around the world housing is becoming more expensive. In my city by the highway entrance ramp there is this neighborhood that I pass by often. The neighborhood doesn't have traditional houses but instead RV's and other portable houses. There are also an increased number of homeless individuals living around the area. This was the problem I wanted to solve. I wanted to create a house that was easy and fast to produce while still being cheap to make. But I still wanted it to be a nice house. My house incorporates two shipping containers in the design. I choose to use shipping containers because of how common and cheap they are. They are also very durable and can withstand the elements.

Materials:

• Cardboard
• Felt
• Gorilla Glue 
• Insulation Foam Boards
• Newspaper 
• Paint
• Paper
• PLA 
• Spray on adhesive
• Super Glue

Tools:

• 3D Printer
• Cardboard Cutter 
• File
• Miter Saw 
• Paint Brush 
• Pencil/Pen 
• Ruler 
• Sandpaper
• Scalpel
• Scissors 
• Stationary Belt Sander
• Swiss Army Pocket Knife
• Tweezers
• X-Acto Knife

Note: Many of the tools listed are not needed.

I started by brainstorming by creating multiple models on graph paper. I then used a design matrix to determine the best option.

Design 1: My first design used one shipping container. It has a bathroom on the right side, kitchen in the middle and a living area on the left side. It also features a loft where the bed is located.

Design 2: My second design also used one shipping container. Like the first design it has the bathroom on the left side and a kitchen in the middle. However, instead of having the bed located in a loft it's on the left side.

Design 3: My third design used two shipping containers which are stacked perpendicular. In this design you have a bigger kitchen occupying the right and middle of the base container. On the right side of the container it has a living/working area and stairs that go to the upper floor. The bathroom is located under the stairs. The top floor was divided into two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and one with two twin beds.

Decision: I decided to go with my third design because having two containers dramatically increases living space. The smaller one story houses while nice lacked space for more than the barebone necessities. While those houses are a great choice to house homeless individuals I wanted to create a house that targets couples and small families or multiple homeless individuals. Adding another container opened up so many opportunities for the space. By stacking it on its side perpendicularly it allowed for a deck on top of the bottom container (The container stack is inspired by the Infinity Room at The House On The Rock).

I first made a physical model out of insulation foam and cardboard (1:24 scale). To make it I first cut the base for the model out from a cardboard box. Then I cut my floor plan from above and used spray on adhesive to glue it to the base.

After having the base set up I framed the base containers walls. To do this I first used a bandsaw to cut Insulation Foam blocks into strips. I then cut the strips into pieces to use as walls. I then glued the pieces to the base using Gorilla Glue. After the walls were glued down I cut out windows and doorways. I then cut out another piece of cardboard to top the base container. Next I built the second container using the same method as the bottom. After the containers were in place I made some railings and support beams.

(Helpful article on how to cut foam with bandsaw)

I then created a Cad Model of Design 3. To create the design I used Fusion 360. I used the shipping container model on the challenge page after some scaling. Watch videos bellow to see how I modeled it.

After creating the two models I wanted to test the model. I wanted to make sure that is was a house someone wanted to live in. I also wanted to test how well it would withstand the elements and what could be improved. I surveyed my peers in my classes by showing them the models and getting their feedback. I also asked the Construction teacher at my school on how sturdy it was and how I could improve the structure.

I can't recount everything people said about the house but I will summarize the key points. They liked how it was perpendicularly stacked and how it created a deck on top of the base container. They didn't like how the bottom deck was so small and thought it should be extended. They also said that stairs inside took up a lot of space and a ladder would be better. They also all asked where they would park their cars.

Same as above I will try to reiterate the main points on the structural integrity. He said that the sheet metal is very durable but doesn't insulate well. Also that a flat roof has a lot of snow, water, leafs, etc. build up. He also asked how I would get electricity and water. As well as what I would do with the sewage

After getting all the feedback I went back to make a new model. I decided to keep a two container design because it had a good amount of space while still keeping costs low. I also decided to extended the deck and change the position of the stairs. I also added a roof so nothing piles up like it would on a flat roof. Also by adding a roof it added more surface area for solar panels which would help solve my energy problem. I also added a place to park your car.

To create the second model I used fusion 360 and worked off my original model. See video below for more details on how I made it. The new model has a moves the stairway outside and keep the bathroom under the stairs while still having a ladder inside for bad weather when you don't want to go outside. This allows for more space inside while keeping a pathway upstairs. The bathroom is under the stairs which is accessed from inside. I also split the upstairs into two bedrooms with one bedroom with two bunk beds and one with a king bed. I also added a toilet and shower in the bathroom and added the kitchen. Finally I added a place to park your car.

After creating my second model I took another survey. The majority of people said they would live in the house. The house will have a sewage line that runs to a main line under the road. WIth the sewage line it will also have a water line and a line that brings electricity. The house can also be outfitted with solar panels.

I also ran simulations on the model using Fusion 360. I mainly ran static stresses to insure that it could withstand the weight and wouldn't collapse.

After finalizing my CAD model I created my final physical model. To create this model I first broke it into 3 different pieces to 3D printed. I first printed the base container, then I printed the top container, then the roof. I used Simplify3d to slice the model.

After it finished printing I painted each piece separately. After painting I glued them together with super glue.

I wanted to create a framing model for the shipping container. Framing the inside is essential. By framing the walls you will have a place to put the drywall and insulation. The insulation will keep the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I created this by cutting wood strips with mitre and table saw then nailing them together.

I wanted to create a house that is affordable and nice. Using shipping containers allow you to have a reliable exterior which is cheap and durable. Shipping containers are everywhere and people who need houses are also everywhere. This house is targeted for couples, singles, or small families. Two containers give the perfect amount of space for a small family. Though this container directed towards small families and couples it can also house multiple homeless individuals. I hope with cheaper houses less people will go homeless and homeless people will be able to rise again. Because everyone deserves a second chance. Having a nice place to live, a home, shouldn't just be a dream it should be a reality for everyone.

Thank You to Mr. Gross for letting me come in after school to work in the shop on the models and introducing me to this challenge.