How do you build a house out of 40ft Shipping containers?

Question

I'm wondering how people do this. Any links would be great!

Answer 1

I have thought this was a great idea since I heard about it. As long as there is a place for bookshelves, a tv and a bed I don't care what the outside looks like. I bet the metal roof would sound really cool in the rain.

Answer 2

It's quite common, actually.  Hunters use them as base camps and folks who can't afford a mobile home can usually manage to afford even a brand new shipping container for a few thousand dollars.  A good welder can add doors and windows, a sub contractor can help with installing interior walls and flooring and foam insulation on the ouside can be painted to make the inside quite cozy.  Very similar to a travel trailer without wheels and much more room.

Answer 3

put them in a square like a roman villa with a patio in the middle and 2 openings .

if you got lots do a second story  on top ,you only have to build the walkway .with the stairs

Answer 4

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/01/...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65C9OLvmj...

http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/Bob_Vila/Vid...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...

http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/Con...

my plans are to take 3 40 foot containers and put them on a slab20 feet apart and put a concrete slab on top.

build walls around the slabs and cover with 60 mil plastic.

then bury with about 4 foot of dirt leaving one side open with a south facing retaining wall for the doors.

two container and the space between will be the house.

and the space between the house part and the third  container the garage and the third container will be my shop.

running a few 2 foot pipes up from holes in the roof and putting plastic domes on them will give me sky-lites

a couple wind turbines and some solar panels for power.

and i will have a nice green house.

plus it will be tornado proof. or WW3 PROOF