LOT-EK Container Housing Coming to New York

Damn, that building is ugly. I like the idea of re-using shipping containersa and installing solar panels, but the building is totally out of scale for the neighborhood and shows no sensitivity to the adjoining buildings.

Really? I thought it was really cool looking. I like the modern look of it, and my first thought was how I would love to live in a building like that.

Yes I too love that building and wouldn't mind living in it. But as for the surrounding buildings I dont think that it really matters. Its nice to see a more contemporary building surrounded by something more traditional, its a nice relief for the eyes.

I agree that the building is a bit odd; however, using exisitng materials, in particularly shipping containers, to help reduce our already overabundant use of raw materials greatly outweighs the aestheitc value of new arhcitecture. [In my humble opinon.]

Plus, we ALL (myself included) need to become more creative and imaginative, so although odd, I support the porject all the way!!

The building is a little different, however it could serve as a breath of fresh air that could remind us of the of the sensative nature of our planet. As such, it does make a statement and a very good one at it.

Here are some other interesting facts and figures concerning shipping containers as they relate to the environment. We have estimated that over 10 million tropical hardwood trees are cut down every year in order to make container floors. These are trees that take 40-60+ years to mature.

Having said this, wood is also a less then perfect raw material due to its inherent natural characteristics when it comes to this application.

Considerering that 90% of world trade measured in dollar volume is transported in shipping containers, it is no wonder that the tropical forests are being decimated in record numbers.

We hope that with our Eko-Flooring product, we will help curtail the use of tropical hardwoods in the vast transportation industry.

Conforce International
www.conforce1.com

For me..it will make people wonder about it.. then by wondering..ask questions and with questions comes answers. bravo!

Where did any of you read that these would be recycled containers?

Cool stuff. Lotek and the guy out in LA, DeMaria are kicking the containers into mainstream, slowly but surely.

The building does look cool. BUT As mentioned above though, where was it stated that containers would be recycled?

If anything, I'm guessing that containers without a use (damaged, structurally unsafe) would be unusable in this context too. In fact, if I made shipping containers, I'd see this as a whole new business opportunity - either selling them direct or buying back 'slightly worn' from the shipping co to re-sell to a developer. Technically that's recycling, eh?

So, cool building, tenuous claims.

And please, can SOMEONE go taze the next person who uses the term 'environmentally friendly' to describe a large construction project or hybrid car - it's not environmentally friendly, it's just a little less damaging than what you've been used to.

How do they expect to get zoning permission for this?

I agree with Frank, this building is unnecessarily ugly and shows little respect for its surroundings. I've loved the idea of container houses ever since reading about them on Treehugger, but so far I don't like this one.

Absolutely people are going to see this and ask questions, but I wonder how many will hate it, and by association hate the idea of container buildings. In order to get these things accepted they've got to look good and not create bad press--just building them to build them will only hurt us in the long run, in my humble opinion.

Here is the thing of it. Container construction, so least as far as I can tell, is sort of a lie. I have been pursuing architectural firms who supposedly want to go this route for the last several years now, but it seems like they don't want their own products to flourish. One architect I traded emails with almost made it out to be a bait and switch tactic: we get your attention with shipping containers, and then try to sell you on our own triple priced modern designs.

It seems to me through my research that even if I had the money to build a container home (which, by the way, seems to be just as costly as stick built construction) none of these architectural firms wants to see it through. The financing companies need plans before they will lend, but the designers need money before they will give plans, and they also want land information, which I cannot buy until I have all of the information from the architect (blah blah blah blah blah). It is a circle that sure seems to explain why it is we in the lower middle class are doomed to apartment living forever.

Oh, and on the above comment about recycled containers: most of the containers sitting on the docks around the US have been used ONCE! China doesn't want em back and we don't have much to ship out in them, so they sit there, structurally perfect, waiting for the rest of the US to catch up with the modern age.

If ANYONE has had any luck in pursuing the CHK (Container Home Kit) from LoT/EK and thinks they have hope to bringing it to fruition, please post a link to your details here. I'm sure we'd all like to see it.

Max - Your post was invigorating to say the least. You're right, the containers are an incredible resource and many of the architects that utilize them or draw pretty pictures of different designs are full of hot air. I guess that it is hip and cool to do container designs because they can be somewhat radical. Putting people into boxes that maybe once transported Barbie dolls is kind of odd and definitely grabs headlines. In my mind, the only real container based designers are out in LA. DeMaria Design has built a real home, in a real neighborhood for a real couple. They also have a few other projects that are under construction for real clients. I mention this because so many of the designs I have seen posted by other Architects or about other container architects are either pretty drawings that cannot be actually constructed or the container projects are built as an experiment and are probably in some back alley parking lot collecting rust. Maybe Shigeru Ban's traveling container museum inspired a few people out in LA, who knows? But apparantly, DeMaria is pushing the containers to the next level as you were requesting. He has created Logical Homes - a container home company but I don't know that it is open for business just yet. I saw an ad in DWELL and read a tiny bit about it online. Coming from DeMaria, it must be taken as a serious attempt to legitimize the container based home. His track record makes me an optimist. Hopefully it will establish itself and continue to develop this untapped resource... containers.

Sorry about that last post, it was directed to Bear and not to MAX.

Max if your interested I have a proposition for you. I am a Canadian living in and studying in South Australia. I have completed a Bachelor of Architecture and I am halfway finished my Masters of Architecture. I was the recent recipient of the Design Inc. ESD Scholarship. I am extremely interested in the idea of container living. If you would like to pursue your dream of building a container home then email me at grahamcharbonneau@hotmail.com and we can talk further. I can produce plans and other things you need with no upfront costs etc. I look forward to hopefully hearing from you

I think this building looks awesome. I personally love the look of modern mixed with traditional designs. Really, does everything have o be made with a cookie cutter for some people to get it?