Unlimited Potential For Shipping Container Conversion

Shipping containers are becoming the new way to construct modern dwellings. They are sturdy, stackable and made to stand up to the most severe weather conditions. This was recognized by Erick Haglund, owner of Modern Dwellings, and he has since begun to sell converted shipping containers to homeowners and small businesses.

Haglund saw the potential in using shipping container conversion to create spaces that could shelter people and host small shops or workshop spaces. Many of his creations are perfect for people that want to add a small guest house to their property or a studio space in their backyard. There are also many businesses that are scrambling to get one for pop-up shop spaces. Haglund, who originally designed homes for a living, recognized this need and has found himself a new position filling it.

A storage container is inherently built to stand up to the harsh elements. They are made to ride across the ocean on the backs of freight ships or through the backwoods of a country on an inter-modal freight train. This means that they are already designed to be durable and waterproof, which is a great advantage when it comes to using them to shelter humans.

They are also perfectly fit for modular designs. Similar to using giant building blocks, shipping containers can be stacked and re-arranged to fit together in countless ways. This makes it very easy to create spaces that are unique and perfectly formed to their environment.

However, there are some challenges to using shipping containers for building as well. There is some difficulty in insulating the giant metal boxes, which makes controlling the heating and cooling of the space much more difficult. There are also issues with rust over time. Most of the shipping containers used for building have already lived a full life travelling around the world, which means that some cosmetic fix-ups are usually required before they can be used.

Another challenge to shipping container conversion is the aesthetics of a shipping container. Many people don’t want to feel like they are living in a storage yard at a port, which presents a challenge when designing a new building for someone. However, Haglund has put forward ideas on how to make the appearance of his shipping containers as appealing as their functionality. He has clad some of his projects in wood to create a rustic feel that is very popular on the west coast of the United States where his company is based.

Haglund’s shipping container creations come at a starting price of around $75,000 USD, but they include all types of amenities including a kitchen, living spaces, bedroom and bathrooms. Every project has its own details and the beauty of converting shipping containers is that it is easy to make custom designs.