container-life

Introduction to Container Homes and Buildings

Greeting, Brothers and Sisters of the Corten Cloth!

I thought that I'd let you know that I've just released my new Book;

"Introductions to Container Homes and Buildings"

It's jammed full of floorplans, foundation, ISBU fun, and even some "trade secrets" that builders and developers don't want you to know.

As somebody who has been there, working with these wonderful containers since 1977, I can assure you that I know what I'm talking about.

I wrote this book to empower families, to prove to them that you CAN build your own home out of ISBUs, you can take control of your life, and you CAN do it wrapped in glorious Corten Steel. You can find out about it, here!

"Introduction to Container Homes And Buildings"

I hope it helps YOU take that first step... toward that plasma cutter and that welder...

Ronin

"Tiny to Terrific" - Affordable ISBU Homes

First, introductions;

My name is "Ronin" but my mom called me "Alex", and "I'm a long time listener, but a first time caller."  ;)

I write a blog that teaches people how to build sustainable, affordable homes from "whatever they can find laying around..."

The Life and Times of a RenaissanceRonin

Now admittedly, much of the time that includes integrating repurposed ISBU Shipping Containers as a major part of the structure.

Over the last 30 years (where did the time go... Um... Where did my HAIR go?) we've built over a hundred homes for families, not so much as a company or an organization, but more as a mitzvah, a mission to take care of families.  It should go without saying that , although I have all the right degrees from the good schools, fate has a way of sometimes tearing you from the plans that you've made... I don't make a living doing it... yet.  Perhaps "someday..."

Okay, okay, I'll get to the point;

I developed a "Tiny House" system that allows a family to start with a home-owner built wooden octagonal deck, supported by small concrete pilings (home owner cast out of sonotubes):

And not an ISBU in sight... yet. Just 320 square feet of remote living, for about $20 a foot.
http://renaissanceronin.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/to-dome-or-not-to-dome/

That led to this; NOW... simply plug in 20' High Cube shipping containers to form a circle of rooms around it.
http://renaissanceronin.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/all-about-b-o-b/

Then, I showed them how I'd build one, for my own family, If I did "BOB" again;
http://renaissanceronin.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/when-does-bob-become-ro...

The really cool thing about this is that it can do almost anything that you need. Octagons have 8 sides (I don't have to tell you that...) and
this allows to possibilities to be virtually endless. I never really thought of it as a "Tiny House," it was just shelter that we could build inexpensively. The octagon in the center is easily capable of being "two story," so the windows above CAN allow terrific light integration and atmosphere.

I'll forward a few sample diagrams to you if you like.

Is this something that you think your readers here might enjoy learning about?

While my readership is based of mostly ISBU junkies (and I suspect that yours is too), I think that this concept is easily adaptable to other building practices, and allows a lot of options, when trying to figure out how to build an affordable house for your family, that will grow with you, over time.

And that led to this home currently in "design" for Summer 2010 Construction;
http://renaissanceronin.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/bob-grows-up/

Another "gyration" of BOB  (who is older than most of my children now, and they are in college) is being constructed, this time with a second floor "children's gulag..." :)

So, this system went from "Tiny House" at pennies compaired to "contractors," and gr up to house a huge family on two levels, with room to spare.

It's not a "McMansion," it's not a "Country Club" home or even an "Architectural Concept Posterboard" being pitched to build budgets to guys driving Tesla Electric Roadsters.  It's just a fast, affordable solution for us "little guys" with families to feed.

If there is a place in your blog for it, I'd love to expose it to your readers. I think they might enjoy it. I mean, I enjoy your stuff, and I'm an "ISBU guy."

My best regards,
Ronin

aka: Alex
http://renaissanceronin.wordpress.com