Nomadic Housing

[Sojourn]

Hello and thanks for the opportunity to post regarding a concept which has gained in popularity among a certain niche segment of the expat community who enjoy living somewhere for a while and then moving on to new environs, and that is to take a sea container and transform it into a simple dwelling - or you can take several and construct a more elaborate dwelling with all the ammenities of a conventionally built house. It seems unusual and granted it is certainly unconventional, but there are actually quite a few soujerners such as myself who are attracted to the idea of not feeling anchored to one place forever and that's the beauty of it. You can live somewhere for as long as you like and then when you're ready for a change of scenery, just have it put on a truck and relocated if going overland, or put it on a ship for some distant shore.

There are entire websites devoted to the subject and I was just wondering if anyone there has heard of it being done in Thailand yet?

There are designs and volumes of information offering construction tips and ideas for increasing one's comfort level. Quite innovative, really.

By outfitting it with doors, windows, a kitchen area, a lew, cabinetry and the like, it's not completely unlike living aboard a boat - A place for everything and everything in its place as the saying goes.

Would anyone happen to know how much used sea containers go for there?

Of course, prices vary according to size and condition, but even if one opts for a more elaborate and permanent type structure, your investment is still going to be substantially less than a similar structure made of conventional materials.

You've already got the frame - now you just go about customizing it to your fancy.

I've personally seen 9 40-footers stacked 3 abreast and once finished the only way you could tell it was made from containers, was by seeing the unfiinshed exterior. Very spacious inside.

Oh, believe me, the behemoth was of gargantuous proportions and solid as the bloody rock of Gibraltar.

It's brilliant really - it will stand up to typhoons, earth quakes - and with sky lights and windows it isn't claustrophobic in the least.

A lightning arrester and good earth grounding are essential I would think.

[Beardog]

I looked into the modular container homes & found most were used in a moderate to cool climate. While Yakima ,Washington or Lake Tahoe in California most of the places used were not very hot or very humid climates. You would need an awful lot of insulation. Air conditioning & the cost to ship a 40' container has got to be a killer. The prices I found I could build 10 times the house here & have an energy efficient home that fits in.Not to mention the electricians here. all metal container.SCARY!

After reviewing the choices a real home was better for me. Although it did mention Africa- Used for a school, but I like comfort & not to used to the inside of my house being 32 degrees cel 90+ far. I have zero insulation in my house built in Bang Sare near Pattaya average ambient temperature of 32-36 degrees Inside 26-28 with no air conditioning. We built our Baan in the optimum direction of the sun & only get 2-3 hours of direct sun, with a container house I doubt any one would be able to keep the temp low. Our construction offices always had 1 or 2 ac's in them(but they were not to concerned with putting them in a cool location)

I think you would save a ton to do as the Thais do in Thailand. As for a western country I would possibly opt for one as they are pretty cool looking!

. If you do a search container houses have been discussed on the forum before & has some useful info!

Here is probably the best link I found about the container style houses.

The hottest places being Austin Texas- Santa Rosa Ca. in the summertime & El Segundo Ca. year round & Africa. All the rest are in colder climates www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm

Good luck on whatever way you go

Edited April 1, 2008 by Beardog

[jaideeguy]

Kool Idea.....would be interested in the websites you mention. I would consider it as a 2nd home, located in the mountains and/or beach. Please inform us.......

[jaideeguy]

I just did a google and this was my first hit and as you can see, there are many possibilities. could be fun.

Another fantasy that I've always had here would be to buy an old bus....20 seater, not too big and convert that into a mobil home. I see old bus graveyards all over LOS, so they are probably cheap to buy and surplus motors from japan are cheap as well.

But, I have yet to see a mobil home in the 8 yrs that I've lived here, I wonder why???

Shouldn't be a problem if you stay out of the cities, as we know how friendly and open the 'locals' are.

[Beardog]

I found a link to your question Sojourn http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=78678Here it is looks Ultra pricey-but if cash isn't a factor try it & let us know. I think all of the expats shied away from the prefabs when they found out the shipping & duty taxes along with other concerns. Let us know.

If you go for it I would be interested in how it went & if it was worth it.

The ones at containerbay looked the best but I can build a 3 bdr. bungalow with a pool & garden for the shipping cost alone.

Edited April 1, 2008 by Beardog

[Sojourn]

Thanks all for the interesting info about containerized housing, and I have another alternative housing idea for your consideration, and that is the traditional native American style tee-pee.

Here again research show tee-pee's to be a viable choice if you happen to enjoy living close to mother nature.

I've seen scads of interior design options with everything from a foyer as an entrance buffer when the weather turns inclimate, to an interior redwood deck which nicely compliments an inlaid flat stone hearth for an open fireplace or wooden stove.

Of course if you want to rough it in style you could run electricity to accomodate fans, a/c, fridge, whatever.

They are available in sizes to accomodate just the bare necessites to a diameter so large it will easily accomodate you and 12 of your closest friends for a pow-wow.

And with the modern fire retardant, water repellant materials used for the covering, they are sustainable for many years of use until another covering is required.

The most expensive part of the modern tee-pee are the fiberglass poles used for framing the structure,

but if you opt for a more traditional approach by using locally obtained wooden poles, I can not imagine they would be prohibitively expensive.

A tee-pee with an interior teak wood deck and poles - how cool would that be?

When you order, you can even have traditonal native American paintings added all around the exterior and I can only imagine the stir this would create with locals and tourists alike when they come upon your abode. Has anyone seen one in Thailand with or without paintings yet?

If you were to set up a community of them it would be a totally unique backpackers campground, completely different from anything anyone has ever seen before.

How could you keep the critters out though?

[Beardog]

Thanks all for the interesting info about containerized housing, and I have another alternative housing idea for your consideration, and that is the traditional native American style tee-pee.

Here again research show tee-pee's to be a viable choice if you happen to enjoy living close to mother nature.

I've seen scads of interior design options with everything from a foyer as an entrance buffer when the weather turns inclimate, to an interior redwood deck which nicely compliments an inlaid flat stone hearth for an open fireplace or wooden stove.

Of course if you want to rough it in style you could run electricity to accomodate fans, a/c, fridge, whatever.

They are available in sizes to accomodate just the bare necessites to a diameter so large it will easily accomodate you and 12 of your closest friends for a pow-wow.

And with the modern fire retardant, water repellant materials used for the covering, they are sustainable for many years of use until another covering is required.

The most expensive part of the modern tee-pee are the fiberglass poles used for framing the structure,

but if you opt for a more traditional approach by using locally obtained wooden poles, I can not imagine they would be prohibitively expensive.

A tee-pee with an interior teak wood deck and poles - how cool would that be?

When you order, you can even have traditonal native American paintings added all around the exterior and I can only imagine the stir this would create with locals and tourists alike when they come upon your abode. Has anyone seen one in Thailand with or without paintings yet?

If you were to set up a community of them it would be a totally unique backpackers campground, completely different from anything anyone has ever seen before.

How could you keep the critters out though?

Wow that was short lived from a container house to a tee-pee. I like the Tee Pee idea except for I would make it a large Yert or Yurt.

Same principal but a lot nicer with 600 more percent living space. Tons of pop outs You could have sliders. And Fit In. I took a 3 day honeymoon in one 34 years ago & loved the design.The marriage is kaput but I will bet the Yurt is still standing & looks very stylish to this day & natural as well . It was built out of wood Except for the wood part, if you use an alternative source other than wood it would be somewhat inexpensive to build. A Tee Pee your stay in Thailand may be greatly reduced- due to becoming anemic when the mosquito's suck you dry! Not to mention the security issue.....What security? Or a goverment built Koh Chang kind of bungalow for 50,000- 100,000 now 70,000 -125,000 Construction has gone up- the only 2 drawbacks are the mosquito's & the lack of security- but the dwellings are pretty cool if on a budget.

Edited April 1, 2008 by Beardog