WHO
Who will occupy the container home? A family of 4
• Who will live in this house? A father a mother and 2 kids (sons)
• How many people and how are they related? The mother and father are married and the kids are brothers.
• What are their genders and ages? Father (age 29) Mother (age 28) Brother1 (8) Brother2 (age6)
• What do they do? The father is a construction worker, the mother is a teacher, and the boys are students.
• What are their physical needs? Food and water
• What are their emotional needs? Security
• What are some key demographical characteristics of the dwelling’s occupants?
Who will interact with the container home and its occupants?
• Who are the neighbors? Mexicans
• How will they interact with the unit and its occupants? Their family and friends
• What are some of the main characteristics of the neighborhood and the community?
Who will own the house and pay for its construction and upkeep? The father and mother
• How long will they want to live in the container house? 5 to 10 years
• How would you describe their aesthetic preferences with respect to the container design?
Who will live or work in close proximity to the dwelling?
• What concerns might they have?
• How might a container house design either please or annoy a neighbor? It wouldn’t
Who might threaten the safety of the home’s occupants? Gangbangers
• Why would they be interested in the occupants?
• What physical characteristics or special abilities would they have that could endanger the occupants?
WHERE
Where will the container home be located? 54th and Kedzie
• How much space is available for the container home? Collect the site dimensions and a site plan. Find
a location map. Collect photos of the site and adjacent uses.
• What are the annual weather conditions?
• What is the proximity to other people or buildings? Find dimensions to the neighboring
Structures/buildings.
• What are the geographic conditions of the site?
• What are the traffic conditions near the site? Heavy traffic
• What zoning restrictions impact the design?
• How will the site location impact the health and safety of the occupants? It wouldn’t
• How will the site location impact the health and safety of people who interact with the house? it wouldn’t
Where will the container home be converted into a living structure?
• Will the home be constructed on‐site? Yes
• Where will the materials for the living space be acquired? A scrap yard
Where will the parts used for the container home eventually end up? A scrap yard
• Will the materials end up in a landfill or will they be recyclable? Recyclable
WHAT
What other materials will you need to convert the shipping container into a living space?
• Will the materials used need to be durable over long periods of time? Yes
• Will the materials have to reflect a certain type of aesthetic? No
• Will the budget limit the type of materials that can be used? No
• Will certain materials pose a danger to or protect the home’s occupants or those who interact with
the container home? No
• What types of recycled materials can be used to convert the container in to an affordable house?
What types of designs and construction methods are best suited for converting a shipping container?
What features will the dwelling need to have to be a livable space?
• What are the essential requirements for a day‐to‐day living space?
• What special requirements stem from using a shipping container as a primary structure?
• What is the ultimate function of the container home? What does this require?
WHY
Why are you building a dwelling?
• Will the dwelling be used for any other commercial purposes such as a home business?
• Will it be used for primary or secondary housing? Primary
• Will it convey some type of social status? No
• Will it symbolize some type of attitude regarding environmental sustainability?
Why use a shipping container as a primary structure in a living space? Its cheaper
• Why is it a good primary structure? Yes
• Why not just build a brand new house from all new materials? Cost more money
Why do you see a demand for these dwellings?
• What are some specific situations in which this housing could be most practical?
• Why is this more sustainable than building a brand new primary structure?