DeMaria's East LA Project

[honus]

Just found the latest/most current on what is happening in Boyle Heights/East LA from the DeMaria people.  Hopefully someone can post these images.  I'm still computer illiterate and maybe that's why I like the containers, sort of a low tech solution in our high tech world.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2007/10/shipping_contai.php#more

[lavardera]

got you covered:

[honus]

I still am too darn lazy to figure out how to post an image (and maybe not smart enough either!) but I just went back to the DeMaria website and found some progress construction photos of this project.  Looks like another winner!  Can anyone with superior picture posting intelligence please post this?  Once it is up, I've got a ton of questions.

http://www.demariadesign.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21

[modernlover]

You mean these?

[PS]

Just snagged these images from la.curbed website

[honus]

it's back, it's done and it's awesome...  here is the link to the latest on this project

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/12/finished_shipping_container_project_in_boyle_heights.php#reader_comments

[honus]

I thought we were the only container lovers, the container craze is spreading, check this out commercial:

www.thepowerofh.com

[PS]

LA Curbed ran this over a month ago.  this project got "LA Building of the Year Award".  fabprefab has been on this thing for almost two years - cutting edge info starts here!


http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/12/year_in_review_2008_architecture_awards_jean_nouvel_ennis_house_building_of_the_year.php

[PS]

Just when I thought the world of container architecture was converting into homeless shelters I get these links below.  The entire container world has been impacted by the economy but Demaria keeps forging ahead.  He wins another AIA award for a container building and now has a hotel project?  Any news on this?  I'm excited by container work and the possibilities that this architect promotes but I'm beginning to wonder if it's just me and the few fabprefab followers who are really into containers.  I lost track of this project over the past six months and I don't check into fabprefab as often as I used to     I'm trying to figure out why I like this stuff so much and how come only a few architects keep creating the most impressive work with containers.  Does the architecture profession "look down" on this type of work? 

http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/peter_demarias_shipping_container_church_wins_aia_award_15430.asp


http://gliving.com/lexus-features-architects-using-shipping-containers-as-building-blocks/

[sailboatescape]

I'll take a stab at a response.  Whatever market exist will always be only a niche.  Some are attracted by the uniqueness and "funky" look.  However, I believe most are attracted by the idea that they are simple to use in creating inexpensive structures.  Neither is true.  Converting them to habitable structures (as opposed to conceptural drawings) is far more complicated and costly than you can imagine until you get fully into the process.  However, having said all that I do believe the market will continue to grow and people will find varied and creative ways to build with them.  What is always true is that as more people do it they will find ways to bring the cost down somewhat.

[alaskasail]

This one is going on in Phoenix:

http://www.upcycleliving.com/projects.html

When I last checked the price for containers in Phoenix was around $2,600.  That's over $80 a square foot sitting in the yard.  By the time you get it modified and set in place, you have a steel box that's hard to work on for well over $100 square foot for forty-footers and a lot more for 20 footers.  It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.  Now, if you use the strength of those containers by stacking them up, burying them, or dropping one on the top of a mountain yer talkin'  I've done probably 50+ designs utilizing containers, but I'm going to do my part using Rastra.  The guest houses are going to be half-buried containers and I'll have a security container hooked up next to the house with a car-park in between.  What I mean my a "security container" is a place I can put the cars and valuables when I'm gone for awhile, which is a lot.

Anyway, I've had a great time fooling around with the concept, building little models and daydreaming, but the bottom line at my project site is that a raw container delivered is around $100 sf and that's a lot.

[sailboatescape]

Alaska Sail,

Try a new calculator, $2,600/320=$8.12.  I think careful design will get the modified set-in-place boxes well under the cost of a stick framed structure.  However, what you then do with it will be the biggest factor on the final cost.

[alaskasail]

Well, that was a big mistake, I guess I dropped a zero in my head.  Mine was $3,200 on the lot and I just had it in my head.  Even so, when I built it up with rigid foam, coatings etc., t didn't pencil out for the main structure.  I'm still going ahead with the others.