Think Inside the Box

Photo Source: DeMaria Design Associates

I’ve been seeing these interesting little blurbs lately about “container” housing, one of those quirky little trends that started in California. People are making their homes out of recycled containers! These homes, touted as eco-friendly and affordable use 8 x 40 foot steel containers to construct the rooms of the home. By stacking anywhere from 4 to 8 of them, you can add solar panels, radiant heating, and other amenities and there, you’ve got your new home.

Reportedly, there are about 75 of these box type homes around the country, and they cost 20% less than traditional construction to build. Home designer DeMaria Designs offers homes beginning at $150/square foot, and has received the 2007 AIA Honor Award for Design Excellence/Special Innovation for one of their homes.

It sounds like these mavericks who were the first to give this concept a chance might be just a little quirky themselves (and maybe it’s a requirement of unconventionalism). The Pirkls, the owners of DeMaria’s award winning home describe themselves as sports fanatics, and they don’t sound like your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill sports fanatics either. The Pirkls planned to put a zip line down a hallway for rides to the next room. Also on their agenda–swings, and gymnastics rings!

Further discussion about these container homes includes the potential for using them anywhere from housing for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, to emergency housing, to low income housing. Maybe these homes are the innovative solution to housing and recycling issues!

In case you’re wondering what else can you get for the same price/sq. ft. on the Eastside–I wondered the same thing and found these properties for around $150/square foot (land included!):

7720 139th Pl NE, Redmond
4 br/2.5 ba, 3,080 sq.ft.
Price: $410,547 ($133/sq.ft.)

12921 NE 192nd Pl, Bothell
2 br/a ba, 1,000 sq.ft.
Price: $133,000 ($133/sq.ft.)

20424 128th Pl NE, Woodinville
5 br/2.5 ba, 3,618 sq.ft.
Price: $550,000 ($152/sq.ft.)

503 157th Ave SE, Bellevue
5 br, 2.25 ba, 2,920 sq.ft.
Price: $445,950 ($153/sq.ft.)

14725 149th Ave NE, Woodinville
4 br.3.5 ba, 4,150 sq.ft.
Price: $699,900 ($169/sq.ft.)

13730 SE 23rd Ln, Bellevue
6 br/2.75 ba, 3,140 sq.ft.
Price: $549,000 ($175/sq.ft.)