14 September 2006
No access to American TV or News-
As I begin posting you must realize that living in China and Hong Kong for the past 2 years I have virtually no access to and U.S.
TV news, TV shows, newspapers or magazines. Plus, I've been very busy working on quite unrelated projects here.
I began my interest and Research project in June of this year after seeing ISBU prefabs at the factories here in China which were
being sent to the UK and the Netherlands. I was only following the ISBU technology that was in front of me here in China. It was only
after getting more serious about ISBU shipping container housing and construction that I went to the Internet.
Much of what I am posting now is only what I've seen on the Internet since July and August, but quite frankly there is still very little
real information or progress from the U.S. and is still in a very primitive state compared to the UK, Netherlands, Australia and even
New Zealand. But ironically, I seem to have chosen the most explosive year to begin my research. The U.S. seems to be very ripe
for this new building concept.
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LINK Verbus Systems, UK
My first contacts and communication have been with an employee for the manufacturer
and developer in the UK named Verbus Systems. However most of their projects utilize
new ISBU and not recycled shipping containers.
This is an excellent company and seems to be quite large and well funded in the UK.
According to our conversations they are expanding globally but most of the ISBU work
right now is focused in the UK.
Verbus manufactures in China then ships to the UK or other project sites.
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LINK Buro Happold
The Verbus contact introduced me to this company which is very advanced in the ISBU
shipping container development and construction. They are structural engineers and
understand the shipping container properties very well.
These type engineers are actually the people who instruct and consult with the architect
in the design process. The architect may have great design abilities but must consult
with a structural engineer to design a feasible structure.
Most architectural ISBU designs I'm seeing on the internet are not feasible according
to the engineers at the shipping container factories in China.
LINK Urban Space Management
1998 Project-
An employee at Buro Happold has introduced me to another UK company named
Urban Space Management (USM) They told me that USM was the best resource and
example of shipping container housing utilizing recycled ISBU. They said their first main
project was introduced in 1996 and with the blessing of the UK government began
construction in 1998. The name of their first project was Trinity Buoy Wharf.
I'm not going to tell you I'm the biggest fan of their chosen design. But having done
business in the UK for the past 25 years I must take into consideration the culture there
and also the time of 1996 when it was designed.
This is probably not a design that would be well accepted today in the US but most
importantly it is a very standard and solid beginning for ISBU housing and construction
and fully approved by the UK government. I only hope the US state and city agencies
will be so well informed and versatile. After all, what part of safe building code does an
ISBU home or office not meet?
This is a very normal and attractive interior for any home.
I've had many good conversations with these people regarding their construction
process end-to-end. Also the new ceramic paint insulation I saw used by the Saudi
shippers and importers is very accepted and widely used in the UK.
LINK Nicholas, Lacey Architects
Urban Space Management has done many projects in the UK to date, all of which I
believe were designed by architects Nicholas, Lacey Architects in consultation with
Buro Happold engineers.
I really haven't had much success contacting these people regarding their work, but
USM told me that is often typical of architects. Well, I appreciate their creativity anyway.
The bulk of information in need is really from the engineers, actual building contractors
and ISO shipping container factories anyway.
LINK Here is the factory in China where I learned of the TempoHousing projects in the
Netherlands. This factory manufactures new ISBU modules for TempoHousing and
other companies globally.
When I spoke to TempoHousing I asked why they didn't just use recycled ISBU sitting
in Amsterdam? He made a very good point that most people don't realize. Not all of
the countries and areas of the world have a surplus of used shipping containers like we
see in the US.
They want the safety, strength and flexibility of ISBU for their housing construction and
since even new shipping containers are recyclable they buy the new ISBU from China
and still have strong eco friendly construction in the Netherlands.
He also made a very good point I did not realize. Not all shipping containers people see
in their ports are surplus. They are waiting there as a necessary inventory to be used
when sending cargo to other cities and countries. Stacks of shipping containers don't
mean surplus or pollution. They are simply warehouses for shipping containers used by
the shipping companies.
So there are two types of Eco-friendly ISBU shipping containers, ...used, and also new.
Both types are safe, strong, versatile and 100% recyclable.
Designs
As I will mention often, I believe designs a exterior trim is critical to the success of ISBU
home construction and acceptance.
So often I would see housing projects in the US even side by side or only a few blocks
apart. Both projects were basic square type construction but one would have some
slight trim or detail, the other project was just un-creative and plain. I don't know how
some housing projects were ever sold they were so plain.
The same with ISBU shipping container construction. A bad design or floor plan is
usually the same price as a good design.
Regarding the TempoHousing, I think the interiors could be a better design and both
the UK and Amsterdam projects seem to like the "chain link" fence look for their stairs,
balconies and railings. I believe most of the wold would say that is probably the most
detracting part of their projects. To me the "chain link" look is instant ugly.
Chain link balconies, ...the kiss of death. I would at least paint them black.
