Architecture

Used shipping containers turned into passively-cooled homes

Used shipping containers turned into passively-cooled homes
The Contenedores Franceschi project consists of three recycled 40 ft long cube shipping containers
The Contenedores Franceschi project consists of three recycled 40 ft long cube shipping containers
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes feature furniture made from scrap materials
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes feature furniture made from scrap materials
The Contenedores Franceschi homes have an identical layout
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes have an identical layout
The Contenedores Franceschi homes comprise two floors
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes comprise two floors
The Contenedores Franceschi homes have a space-saving alternating tread staircase installed
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes have a space-saving alternating tread staircase installed
The Contenedores Franceschi homes include balconies
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes include balconies
The container homes feature a bedroom and bathroom upstairs
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The container homes feature a bedroom and bathroom upstairs
Re Arquitectura reports that the homes don't need air-conditioning
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Re Arquitectura reports that the homes don't need air-conditioning
The Contenedores Franceschi project is located on a plot near a river in Santa Ana, Costa Rica
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The Contenedores Franceschi project is located on a plot near a river in Santa Ana, Costa Rica
The three container homes that make up the Contenedores Franceschi project were carefully situated to maximize passive ventilation
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The three container homes that make up the Contenedores Franceschi project were carefully situated to maximize passive ventilation
The Contenedores Franceschi homes have an identical layout
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes have an identical layout
The Contenedores Franceschi project consists of three recycled 40 ft long cube shipping containers
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The Contenedores Franceschi project consists of three recycled 40 ft long cube shipping containers
The Contenedores Franceschi homes feature solar hot water heaters
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The Contenedores Franceschi homes feature solar hot water heaters
The Contenedores Franceschi project consists of three recycled 40 ft long cube shipping containers
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The Contenedores Franceschi project consists of three recycled 40 ft long cube shipping containers
Re Arquitectura and DAO were commissioned by a Costa Rican family who wanted their three adult sons to be able to live on their property but still have their own space and independence
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Re Arquitectura and DAO were commissioned by a Costa Rican family who wanted their three adult sons to be able to live on their property but still have their own space and independence
Architectural drawing of the Contenedores Franceschi project
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Architectural drawing of the Contenedores Franceschi project
Architectural drawing of the Contenedores Franceschi project
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Architectural drawing of the Contenedores Franceschi project
Architectural drawing of the Contenedores Franceschi project
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Architectural drawing of the Contenedores Franceschi project
View gallery - 17 images

Re Arquitectura and DAO were commissioned by a Costa Rican family who wanted their three adult sons to have their own homes but remain close by. Three recycled shipping containers were used to create a like number of appealing dwellings on the family property that don't require air-conditioning to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Located in Santa Ana, Costa Rica, the Contenedores Franceschi project is made up of three 40 ft (12 m)-long shipping containers. The containers are heavily modified and installed into a structure that both provides a roof to shade them and raises them off the ground with concrete supports

The three homes include some nice semi-outdoor areas like a rear deck, balcony, and porch. Each sports a solar water heater on the roof too.

Despite the poor thermal performance of shipping containers, Re Arquitectura says that its homes don't have, nor need, any air-conditioning. They were positioned to make use of the prevailing breeze and the glazing was carefully situated to promote cross-ventilation. The firm used insulating paint too (which, we should note, is contentious stuff).

The Contenedores Franceschi homes feature furniture made from scrap materials
The Contenedores Franceschi homes feature furniture made from scrap materials

"The good management of the resources was key in this project, making the most of all the available local materials respecting their nature and modulation, in order to generate the minimum possible waste, on the other hand materials of low environmental impact were used, plantation woods, water-based paints and varnishes, solar heaters and passive climate control strategies to avoid the use of air conditioning," says Re Arquitectura. "The sewage system uses a double-stage septic tank with a filter that allows the treatment of all wastewater that is then drained into the ground."

In a nice touch, the waste material generated from the build, like wood and metal scrap, was put to good use as furniture, such as lamps and handrails, door handles, bath accessories, and planters.

Source: Re Arquitectura

View gallery - 17 images
2 comments
2 comments
Bob
Interesting design but no sound proofing,carpets or curtains. From a safety aspect this home looks like an accident waiting to happen from the death trap stairway to the deck with no safety rails. No thanks.
Douglas Bennett Rogers
I thought the back end of the shipping container would be buried into the hill side. That would actually be pretty energy efficient.