‘Collect Information’ Worksheet: Affordable Container House
In order to develop innovative project solutions, it is critical that you develop a clear understanding of all
relevant design criteria. This worksheet is intended to help you identify important factors that shape this
project by prompting a response to questions in four key categories: who, where, what, and why.
WHO
Who will occupy the container home?
A mid-sized family.
• Who will live in this house?
A mid-sized family.
• How many people and how are they related?
Four people the parents (mom and dad) and two children. Their all family.
• What are their genders and ages?
The mom is 30 and the dad is 32 the children are a 8 year old boy and 6 year old girl
• What do they do?
The mother is a nurse at a hospital and the father is an lawyer at a law firm
• What are their physical needs?
None
• What are their emotional needs?
They need to feel secure. Privacy.
• What are some key demographical characteristics of the dwelling’s occupants?
Need a school and park nearby. Grocery store, restaurants, and laundrymat.
Who will interact with the container home and its occupants?
The neighborhood
• Who are the neighbors?
The neighbors are diverse
• What are their physical needs?
-none
• What are their emotional needs?
-They need to be able to feel secure within the neighborhood. They need privacy. A safe environment for their children.
• How will they interact with the unit and its occupants
The neighborhood will have monthly meetings were it will discuss issues, and they will interact with the neighbors.
• What are some of the main characteristics of the neighborhood and the community?
There is a nearby school, and park. A community garden is there as well as small convenience stores and, restaurants, a gas station, and a library
Who will own the house and pay for its construction and upkeep?
The father of the family will own the house and bouth parents will pay for it.
• How long will they want to live in the container house?
Until death
• How would you describe their aesthetic preferences with respect to the container design?
Elegant house very open with a lot of light being able to come in.
Who will live or work in close proximity to the dwelling?
Parents
• What concerns might they have?
Security for their children, distance from a school,
• How might a container house design either please or annoy a neighbor?
It will be a very small so it won’t take up a lot of space
Who might threaten the safety of the home’s occupants?
Robbers
• Why would they be interested in the occupants?
It’s a good neighborhood that’s safe and a good place for the children to grow up in.
• What physical characteristics or special abilities would they have that could endanger the occupants?
None.
Where will the container home be located?
5001 s leclaire ave Chicago il 60638
• How much space is available for the container home? Collect the site dimensions and a site plan. Finda location map. Collect photos of the site and adjacent uses.
2,300 sq ft
• What are the annual weather conditions?
It is warm in the summer and cold in the winter
• 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?
• What zoning restrictions impact the design?
• How will the site location impact the health and safety of the occupants?
During construction the debris and trash.
• How will the site location impact the health and safety of people who interact with the house?
It wont
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?
Home depot
‘Collect Information Worksheet – Container House 2 | P a g e
Where will the parts used for the container home eventually end up?
They will be incorporated into the design of the house.
• Will the materials end up in a landfill or will they be recyclable?
Both some of the materials will be recyclable while others will be ending up in a landfill.
WHAT
What other materials will you need to convert the shipping container into a living space?
Saw’s, Wood, Insulation, tile ,pipes (for the water) Glass.
• 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?
The glass may break and hurt the children or the parents.
• What types of recycled materials can be used to convert the container in to an affordable house?
Banboo floor/ decorations. Recycled glass will be used for windows
What types of designs and construction methods are best suited for converting a shipping container?
I need to look further into that
What features will the dwelling need to have to be a livable space?
It will need to meet city codes
• What are the essential requirements for a day‐to‐day living space?
Refrigerator, water supply, bathroom, and place to seek sleep.
• What special requirements stem from using a shipping container as a primary structure?
Demension that the shipping container has
• What is the ultimate function of the container home? What does this require?
The container has to be affordable durable and safe it is meant to be a long lasting house where the occupants are able to feel safe.
WHY
Why are you building a dwelling?
Its cheaper than buying a traditional hoouse
• Will the dwelling be used for any other commercial purposes such as a home business?
no
• Will it be used for primary or secondary housing?
primary
• Will it convey some type of social status?
It will make it seem upper class because of the modern look.
• Will it symbolize some type of attitude regarding environmental sustainability?
no
Why use a shipping container as a primary structure in a living space?
It is affordable and gives you some liberty on to how you would like your house to look
• Why is it a good primary structure?
You don’t need to build a foundation
• Why not just build a brand new house from all new materials?
Its more expensive, time consuming, and creates more waste.
Why do you see a demand for these dwellings?
There are a lot of containers and there’s nothing being done with them,
• What are some specific situations in which this housing could be most practical?
A small comfortable house that’s needed quick.
• Why is this more sustainable than building a brand new primary structure?
It could have a better support for the house as well as a basement.