Hello I am designer dreamer
New Zealand's housing prices have risen to new highs
Currently, there is a shortage of construction workers and materials
So some friends are anxious
They came to consult me
They want to build container cabin in their backyard
Ask me if it is feasible in New Zealand
In this episode, I'll share the story of two projects about containers
This was the first container project I worked on
Port a bach
It means mobile vacation cabin in Chinese
You don't need to look it up in the dictionary
This is a word only used in New Zealand.
This project was designed by two New Zealand architects.
It is based on a 20 feet high tube shipping container
Back then, they raised 50K New Zealand dollars
to make the prototype
In New Zealand, 50k NZD is not enough for that
So they thought of China, they thought of me
I finally turned their design into a prototype in Hangzhou, China
And shipped it back to Wellington, NZ
Through this project
I learned the process of container making from design to production
It laid the foundation for our container hotel project in Tibet
Through this project, two of my architect friends
established the brand of their architectural practice in NZ
Back then, this project was gaining much media attention.
The production cost in different countries is very big
For a container project, in order to be commercially successful
It had to be mass-produced in China
In 2013 we were given an opportunity to design a hotel in Tibet
Those who have been to Tibet know
In Tibet, the most beautiful places are the worst places to stay
Because Tibet is the top of the world
The highland climate is cold and unpredictable
Construction is very difficult
The local government has stringer regulation for development
The cost of a traditional-build hotel in Tibet is high
if it’s not possible
So we came up with the idea of containers
I hope these two projects give those who want to build containers houses
Some ideas and inspiration
I think that if you put effort into designing
A small space like a container
can make a big difference
And at the end of this episode
Let me answer the question raised at the very beginning
Is it feasible to build a container addition in your backyard in NZ?
My answer is
Yes or no
Because there are two possibilities
The first possibility is NO
If your container house is a one-off bespoke project
And it is made in China
To meet the building code here in New Zealand
And pass the approval
You need to go through a very complicated process
I personally don't think it's worth going through IT for a small cabin
It is not cost effective
My answer to the second possibility is Yes
If you are really in love with containers
regardless of time and cost
Then I would suggest you find a local builder in New Zealand
This way, you can easily obtain a building consent
But you have to be prepared
Firstly, it won't save you money compared to a timber frame house.
Secondly, due to the shortage of workers and materials in NZ
You have to be patient and wait.
In New Zealand how to build container houses
in a cost-effective way
There is only one possibility, that is you are a developer
Container house needs to be produced on a large scale
The house typology is to be standardized
The following is a video from a recent report in 2021
An Auckland developer imported container house from China
To be used as a modular apartment
As a solution to the current housing shortage in New Zealand
As long as the container houses are upscaled and standardized
The Chinese factory and the New Zealand developer
will push for the offshore certification of materials and production
This will lead to a successful MultiProof consent from the local council.
I'm talking about the situation in NZ
It will vary from country to country
So please feel free to leave your comments below
Share the situation in your country
In the next episode, I will share a small house we built in Hangzhou, China
It's a CLT structured house
Digital fabricated, was assembled on-site quickly
I'm the Designer Dreamer
glad you've come
See you next time