What the first house in a container looked like, or the history of container houses

When Malcolm McLean developed the shipping container in the 1950s, he revolutionized the transportation industry forever. He probably didn’t know that one day he would also revolutionize the construction industry. Here’s the story of the first container house and the evolution of the idea into today’s modern housing and commercial buildings.

CHECK ALSO: CUSTOMIZED LIVING CONTAINER

History of building with shipping containers

In 1956, Malcolm McLean developed a standard container called “intermodal” that could be easily transported by means such as ships, trains and trucks. McLean’s container had dimensions of 8 feet wide, 8 feet high and 20 feet long, which became the ISO 668 standard that is still used today. You can read more about it in our post on the history of shipping containers.

Shipping containers have become increasingly popular in recent years and are widely used in construction. But where did the fashion for building with shipping containers come from?

First official mention of container house

The first official mention of the container house was in November 1987 – it belonged to a man named Phillip Clark. He filed patent for “a method of converting one or more steel shipping containers into a residential building.” In his patent, he described how shipping containers could be modified to convert them into living quarters; two years later, in August 1989, his patent was approved. Clark was not the first person to come up with the idea, he was simply the first person in official documents.

First publication on container houses

In 1994, Stewart Brand wrote a book about converting shipping containers into office spaces. “How Buildings Learn” was the first publication to mention the conversion of shipping containers into buildings. It was here that the trend of container homes began to gain momentum.

In the 1990s, container homes began to gain recognition as a solution for those seeking alternative forms of construction that are more environmentally friendly and economical. Thanks to innovations in thermal insulation, sanitary facilities and equipment, these houses have become a comfortable place to live.

First building from shipping containers

The first building to consist entirely of shipping containers was Simon’s Town High School Hostel in Cape Town, which was completed in 1998 and was able to accommodate 120 guests.

Simon’s Town High School Hostel:

Official design of the world’s first container house patented by P. Clark:

Since the first experimental projects in the 1970’s-80’s, the container house industry has grown rapidly. Today, there are many companies specializing in the design and construction of apartments, offices, hotels and other buildings using containers. Modern container houses offer full facilities, energy efficiency, eco-friendliness and aesthetic design, making them an attractive choice for many people around the world.

Summary

The story of the first house in a container shows how innovation and creativity can change the future of construction. Malcolm McLean’s idea for intermodal containers, which were originally used to transport goods, inspired the entire construction industry and contributed to a new architectural trend. Today, living containers are not only a practical solution, but also a symbol of sustainable construction and modern architecture.

Check also:

• Air conditioning in the container
• Differences between a modular home and a container home?
• Solar panels or photovoltaic panels – which to choose for a modular home?