A couple in Costa Rica wanted to build a home inexpensively on their land outside San Jose, the capitol, and hired architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe, who transformed two 40-foot shipping containers into a 1,075 square-foot modular home for $40,000. Named Containers of Hope, Saxe stated, “The key factor was cost, which allowed them to take the risk without putting everything on the line. Once they realized size wasn’t what gave them happiness—location was more important—it was easy to move forward.”

According to dwell, the home was built by the couple themselves, who had backgrounds in industrial engineering, and two construction workers with no blueprints—just a 3D model to guide them. MHProNews understands the containers were set slightly apart, each each one sitting on a pier foundation. Pieces cut from the sides were used to create a roof design that not only brings in light, but also creates a wind tower effect, providing ventilation. Wood floors were installed throughout the home and plasterboard was used for the walls. ##

(Photo credit: dwell/Benjamin Garcia Saxe–modular container home)

Article submitted by Matthew J. Silver to Daily Business News-MHProNews.