FutureShack by Sean Godsell
by TreeHugger 
on 09.29.04
Aussie architect Sean Godsell's small masterpiece is a refugee housing unit made from a ready-made, re-used shipping container. Super-efficient and simple, but made to last and protect, the unit uses a bare minimum of industry materials. Since it's entirely self-contained, a number of units can be shipped together to their destination of need. It's solar powered, too. On exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt in NYC through October 10. ::Godsell
The refugee and homeless housing unit was also a top entry in a contest held by Architecture for Humanity, a non-profit group that was organized to bring design smarts and efficiency to displaced peoples in areas of need. FutureShack marks not only the latest revolution in this type of architecture, pushing the boundaries of thought regarding "domestic" structures, it also marks the first solo exhibition of an Australian architect in NYC. The mobile nature of FutureShack is also what allowed it to be exhibited in New York.
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Dear Sean
im a 4th year interior design student in Sydney (UTS)and am writing my dissertation on refugee housing and multifucntional interiors, as inspired by your amazing future shack which i saw in NYC last oct. Do you have any relevant references or images that inspired you in the creation future shack?
Massive Fan
Anna Biddle
I have seen many new ways cargo containers are being used in the middle east by the us army as offices and living areas. I am wonderthing though as why most of the containers used are the uninsulated stell containers instead of the insulated ones. Being in a very hot climate I see the need for insulation to reduce electricity consumption of air conditioners.
Also I am wondering why is there no viable options of siding and trim matierials to make the container look less like a contianer. most of the designs I have seen in my extensive search all seem to be missing proper trim or diecent siding. There has to be a way to convert containers in a cost effective way and still look peasingly asthetic.
Dear Sean, I'm in new mexico and was trying to use containers as a Alt to high priced houseing any comments or florr plans would be of great help
:) david
Does any one know where you could buy a shipping container? I live in Delaware, and have no idea how to go about buying one. I assume it would have to be local if I didn't want to pay an arm and a leg to ship it. Any idea how much the cost? Thanks!