BajaNomad - Looking for Architect to Design Shipping Container Home

Looking for Architect to Design Shipping Container Home

bajabound2019 - 2-4-2019 at 12:57 PM

Hello! New to the forum but have seen some great advice given here.

Our family just bought some land about 1.5hrs south of Ensenada. We are ready to get the renderings and design done for a shipping container home and wanted to know if anyone had any recommendations for a local architect to design it?

Thanks in advance!

fishbuck - 2-4-2019 at 01:38 PM

There are a zillion photos of them on the web.
But after looking into it I don't see any financial benefit and you still end up with an unconventional looking house.
Maybe hard to sell later.
I say cement block still cheaper and better. And you can build a "real" house too.

bajaguy - 2-4-2019 at 01:46 PM

Try living in one. Cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Plus if you are near the beach you have the damp cold.

If I did it over, I would go with steel framing and LOTS of insulation

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

I say cement block still cheaper and better. And you can build a "real" house too.

bajaguy - 2-4-2019 at 01:51 PM

Find someone in the states to do your plans, then find an architect here to translate them and certify them. Get your building permit from Catastro/Urban Development in Ensenada.

Get an extra set of plans for yourself and be at the construction site every day. If you are not there with your own plans, you will get what the contractor/builder thinks you need instead of what you want.

PS to Fishbuck - You can make a container house look like a "real" stick or block built house - use your imagination

Quote: Originally posted by bajabound2019

Hello! New to the forum but have seen some great advice given here.

Our family just bought some land about 1.5hrs south of Ensenada. We are ready to get the renderings and design done for a shipping container home and wanted to know if anyone had any recommendations for a local architect to design it?

Thanks in advance!

[Edited on 2-4-2019 by bajaguy]

fishbuck - 2-4-2019 at 02:03 PM

Yes. The adobe brick house here (San Quintin) was very hard to keep warm in winter.
It has a very cool fireplace but needed a Franklin stove too. And wood is a bit hard to come by. And still cold. Too much space to heat.
I think I would try to make the core living area as tight as a drum and well insulated to stay warm in winter.
I don't think wood is adequte for heat. I guess everyone uses gas to heat their houses in Baja (norte).
I remember those cool minisplit things. Are they gas or electric?

If the containers were free it might be worth it. But they cost like 2-5 grand in Ensenada. That is alot of cement block.
All the work to use them. And still be living in a container with all the issues.
But some of those container designs are super cool and very creative.
One can dream...

bajabound2019 - 2-4-2019 at 02:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

There are a zillion photos of them on the web.
But after looking into it I don't see any financial benefit and you still end up with an unconventional looking house.
Maybe hard to sell later.
I say cement block still cheaper and better. And you can build a "real" house too.

Thanks Fishbuck. I appreciate your input. We've looked into quite a lot of different building styles and materials. Also toured a 2 story container house in our current neighborhood in Redondo Beach, CA and feel that this is right for us. These container homes, with the right builders and a good architect, can easily resemble a traditional home built of cement blocks. We have no intentions of selling it but if need be, we are confident that it will sell.

bajabound2019 - 2-4-2019 at 02:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Find someone in the states to do your plans, then find an architect here to translate them and certify them. Get your building permit from Catastro/Urban Development in Ensenada.

Get an extra set of plans for yourself and be at the construction site every day. If you are not there with your own plans, you will get what the contractor/builder thinks you need instead of what you want.

PS to Fishbuck - You can make a container house look like a "real" stick or block built house - use your imagination

Quote: Originally posted by bajabound2019

[Edited on 2-4-2019 by bajaguy]

Thanks Bajaguy!This information is valuable to us and will look into the building permits from Catastro/Urban Development. As far as getting it designed here in the states, this is definitely an option we are considering if we don't find the right person in Baja. Appreciate that!

We have close family that live 5 minutes from our land so we, thankfully, will have someone to monitor the progress when we are here in the states. This is part of the reason we chose the lot we did. To make sure we have someone closeby to keep an eye on our property.

bajaguy - 2-4-2019 at 02:41 PM

Next time you are in Ensenada, check out the area along the Malecon, south of the Navy base. Someone is designing/building a commercial structure using shipping containers. You might check with them and see who they are using for an architect and/or contractor

Also think the Agula Mala craft beer pub in Sauzal is made out of shipping containers

bajabound2019 - 2-4-2019 at 02:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Next time you are in Ensenada, check out the area along the Malecon, south of the Navy base. Someone is designing/building a commercial structure using shipping containers. You might check with them and see who they are using for an architect and/or contractor

Also think the Agula Mala craft beer pub in Sauzal is made out of shipping containers

Perfect! I'll look out for it on our next trip. Thanks!

We were in Valle de Guadalupe this weekend and saw a couple of these homes being built on one lot. Couldn't find anyone around on a Sunday morning and we were on our way out. But I think i'll call the winery nearby and see if they know who the builder is too.

bajabound2019 - 2-4-2019 at 02:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

chuckie - 2-4-2019 at 04:04 PM

Geezo! They are BOXES,eh?

fishbuck - 2-4-2019 at 04:19 PM

Yeah, a whole world of cool stuff made from boxes.
I want some form of it for my place too.
Maybe my hanger. Cut a bunch up for it with a cool little control tower/bedroom on top.
I'll Airbnb it. Right on my runway.
Seems like a good use.

del mar - 2-4-2019 at 04:26 PM

does anyone build quonset huts anymore?

BajaTed - 2-4-2019 at 06:49 PM

Closed cell foam blocks are part of the new frontier in building materials.
Logistics for far away places is part of their advantage.
Think hydronic floor heating too for ultimate comfort.

nbentley1 - 4-7-2022 at 08:07 AM

These folks are a good resource in Ensenada and in msure they can make some suggestions. The Plaza Containadores that Bajaguy referred to south Ensenada a really cool design with some great places to eat.

https://bajacontenedores.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-8zvcQGztc

chuckie - 7-12-2022 at 05:39 AM

This post started three years ago...I wonder if any progress has been made...Seems like a lot of jawbone for what is essentially a DIY project

RFClark - 7-12-2022 at 08:57 AM

I missed this prior. We’re building a hybrid container home south of Cerritos in BCS. It’s harder to find an architect for a DYI project as it’s busy here. The permit process is different too. You need an Architect/Engineer here to get a permit which takes 2+ months as compared to 6+ months in Riverside Co in California. Also a lot less money in Mexico.

Insulation is a must as is exterior coating!

mtgoat666 - 7-13-2022 at 08:09 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark

I missed this prior. We’re building a hybrid container home south of Cerritos in BCS. It’s harder to find an architect for a DYI project as it’s busy here. The permit process is different too. You need an Architect/Engineer here to get a permit which takes 2+ months as compared to 6+ months in Riverside Co in California. Also a lot less money in Mexico.

Insulation is a must as is exterior coating!

Shipping containers are limited in size.
Pre-fab steel bldgs allow for more flexibility, sizes. There are lots or pre-fab metal building manufacturers in usa, perhaps some in Mexico too.
Seems to me that containers and steel buildings share common features: they are ugly.
You might be better off with custom clock, concrete, stucco, etc., if aesthetics matter to you.

RFClark - 7-13-2022 at 09:23 AM

Goat,

Container homes are not limited to 8’ wide rooms. You just cut holes in the walls. The biggest differences between container and metal buildings are wind resistance and air infiltration.

Most metal buildings are designed to a 100 - 110 mph gust spec. Shipping Containers are probably good well past 140 mph if anchored correctly.

Air infiltration is the day to day issue however, containers are air tight basically so the air exchange rate can be controlled, especially when it’s windy and humid. This reduces the load on your solar powered AC system. Metal buildings are more difficult to make airtight because of all the unsealed seams.

Then there are earthquakes! Everyone in BCS says well we haven't had a big earthquake! Well, BCS is moving north and it’s just a matter of time. Containers are very strong because full ones are stacked 8 high and placed on a rolling ship!

They are also fireproof and termite proof!

If you finish them with Durorock cement board and stucco over the insulation they look just like a square block house.

Container Home Example

RFClark - 7-13-2022 at 09:30 AM

D9973673-7E8A-4824-B4E8-9EFD488D56E4.jpeg - 86kB

mtgoat666 - 7-13-2022 at 10:04 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark

Most metal buildings are designed to a 100 - 110 mph gust spec.

not true. metals buildings are designed to local code, and whatever requirements the customers specifies.