See Ireland's first shipping container home
The 12m unit has been overhauled by a combination of architects, property experts, and business people over the past two years and will be fully compliant with housing standards.
The container is currently in the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin’s Kilmainham, and will be available for public viewing from November 27 to November 30.
It has been earmarked for donation to the St Vincent De Paul for possible use at its Deerpark Hostel site in Cork City, depending on suitability, and it could potentially house a family by Christmas.
The project — the first of its kind here — is the work of Ceardean Architects, Buyers Broker International, and Business Network Ireland.
Forty tradespeople, the majority of whom are BNI members, have given their labour free of charge, with the finishing touches now being applied to what will be a unique property.
One of those involved in the project, Carol Tallon of Buyers Broker, wrote on her blog that the home could prove one way of easing the current housing crisis.
“Innovation within the property market in Ireland has not kept pace with changing global trends,” she wrote. “For example, people are moving away from the notion of permanency or lifetime debt. In a more moveable society, we need more flexible approaches for home ownership. A low cost model of housing was inevitable after the property market crash, this is simply one potential solution in a country where we have sufficient space to accommodate different lifestyle choices.
“In December, this 40 square feet home will be donated to the Society of St Vincent de Paul, who are planning to locate the container home at their Deerpark Hostel site in Cork City.”
Project manager Michael Malone said as many as six people could stay in the house, although it was considered a long-term or permanent housing solution.
“We are building it as a temporary refuge,” he said, adding that the prototype house had been built “to a very high spec throughout”.
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