Containers to the rescue!

I’ve always been an admirer of small homes built out of containers. I think this metal box is a sound enough structure to be turned into a dwelling. 

If I were younger and starting up in life, I’d certainly consider it for my first home. In fact, thousands of steel shipping containers arrive at Western ports each year from China and are discarded. Their availability has resulted in what is known today as “cargotecture,” or turning the rectangular containers into office, retail and residential spaces. 

That’s how we’ve seen containers used in building single-family homes and accessory-dwelling units. A small Salt Lake City firm called Little City offers refurbished shipping containers for office spaces. But stacking them this many stories high for residential purposes is new. 

I discovered it last night when I was watching the news and learned that a six-story, 83 apartment complex including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom options is being completed right now in Salt Lake City and will become available for rent this summer. 

Like many other metro areas, the Salt Lake Valley is facing a serious lodging shortage and, as a result, soaring rents. With lumber prices skyrocketing and in short supply, the project developers say their design using eco-friendly materials will save renters hundreds of dollars each month. For example, rent is targeted at $950 for a two-bedroom apartment, a price impossible to get anywhere in Utah for brand new apartments. 

The design process began in 2017 and ground was broken early last year. Steel containers are extremely sturdy and are earthquake-proof. Eco Box Fabricators is building the project, and its owner, Rod Newman said that he was inspired by similar projects in Amsterdam, and hopes this one will help people rethink the way affordable housing is built. 

It’s nice to see people “think out of the box!”