This post is not about a trendy, new home made from a shipping container; it’s about one man’s creative initiative in providing affordable homes by means of steel shipping containers.
When Brian McCarthy was visiting factories in Ciudad Juarez, across the boarder from El Paso, Texas, he encountered an area of ramshackle, tiny, paper and tin shacks that housed the workers of the factories he had just toured. Forming PFNC Global Communities came as a result.
PFNC stands for “Por Fin, Nuestra Casa,” which roughly translates as “Finally, our own home.” The company uses shipping containers to make homes for the poor factory workers. These steel shipping container homes provide affordable housing solutions which are inexpensive as well as readily available.
With 320 square feet, these container homes offer a galley-style kitchen with a stove, sink, refrigerator and dinette, a 48-square-foot bathroom with a pedestal sink, shower and commode. Adjacent to the kitchen is a bunk area for children while a separate sleeping quarters for the owners lie behind the bathroom wall. Small, yet effective and a huge improvement in safety, security and health over their current housing option.
The shipping container exterior is painted with a white epoxy coating that has light-reflecting properties to prevent the sun’s heat from penetrating. Each small house also includes hookups for air conditioning, ventilation, electrical and water systems, making these small units more efficient in using community utilities.
Great work you guys!
Hi there, can these containers be used as caravans?
What a marvellous thing to do. Good on you mate
I think this an ingenious plan and hope more folks will get on board with the plan of an alternate building material for houses. Great job!
Thanks Rosie – I couldn’t agree more!
I am constantly amazed by how shipping containers are being used in all sorts of situations to provide affordable housing. Australia and New Zealand in particular use shipping containers to provide accommodation after natural disasters. The Red Cross in the USA used shipping containers to take much needed stores and then provide office space after Hurricane Gustav.
It seems such a simple practical idea to use a resource that is normally in abundance close by, has the advantage of being firmly green in the fact that they are recycled, and are above all transportable.
What a very sensible solution.