Life Box
The Project
Architecture and Interiors took a worn out second hand 40ft shipping container and transformed it into a new multi use space/house for its next leg of life, donating all profits from the sale to the ‘Look Good Feel Better’ charitable organisation that helps people with cancer to feel more like their normal selves through the programmes they run. The idea was that, through involvement of the community and with companies (many came on board) and volunteers who understood the impact of cancer, they could help raise money for this cause by selling a container that embodied the idea of looking good and feeling better.
The Life Box container home is 12.2m long x 2.43m wide. It has a bathroom and bedroom at opposite ends of the house with a living-dining-kitchen area in the middle. A laundry and storage area is located behind the bathroom wall with the shipping container doors being retained as a means of access.
The living-dining-kitchen area was designed with a deck in mind; the large sliding doors can be pulled back to create a flow into the outdoors. The idea is that an indoor/outdoor sliding island could be incorporated allowing the spaces to become a single larger space that could be used when the weather is good. Further features to mention are the sliding shower door and the bedroom’s wardrobe door, which both double up as entrances to the respective rooms.
The structure of the Life Box is steel. It is fully insulated, with a Viking Enviroclad roof system which essentially adds an insulated roof over the shipping container’s existing roof to boost the overall insulation in the home. The interior is lined with plywood and the flooring is vinyl. The kitchen has an internal vacuum system located in one of its cabinets, a cook top, fridge, and built-in microwave. The Life Box is fully wired and plumbed.
Low Cost
The reason that this build was low cost is primarily because it is small, which means that less labour and fewer materials were used than a larger build of a similar nature. Shipping containers themselves are relatively cheap, but converting them into comfortable homes can involve quite a lot of work; dealing with steel introduces unique challenges, which in turn can cost a fair bit of money. If people are willing to do the work themselves then quite a bit of money can be saved.
About Architecture & Interiors
Architecture & Interiors has been in the architectural design business for over ten years. Director Melissa Burne has been in the industry for almost 20 years. The company’s passion is to apply creative innovations to new homes, additions and/or modifications, commercial properties, interior design, and alternative building systems.
All their work is custom designed and they note that they are always open to a challenge. They pride themselves on their processes that help make the experience for clients smooth and palatable.
Contact
If you would like to check out other projects that Architecture & Interiors are involved with or want to get in contact with them you can at architectureandinteriors.co.nz
