RSS FeedApr 01 2009
CONHOUSE – A Low Cost and Innovative Housing Solution
You might think that “CONHOUSE” is the name of the latest gritty jail pic staring Nicolas Cage as a man wrongly accused, but you would be wrong. As much as it sounds like a new movie title, CONHOUSE is actually part of the tiny home, environmentally friendly movement. This concept is picking up steam seemingly with each passing day.
The CONHOUSE concept is to use mass production to offset the final price that a homebuyer has to pay. This is done in three main ways. The first way is the mass production of the home building process. The second method is that the CONHOUSE is easily transportable. The final way that CONHOUSE keeps its price low is that the company allows and encourages assembly of the final product in a rather remarkable 
single day!
CONHOUSE prides itself on being very environmentally friendly and producing virtually no waste. Further, the company is quick to point out that they are creating a home that is itself very recyclable.
The name itself is a synthesis of “container” and “house,” thus CONHOUSE. The core concept is creating a highly customizable modular, prefabricated home (that is designed to provide a great and well lit interior living space), while maintaining the option to “pick up and move” if necessary.
Recently, the CONHOUSE team made a name for themselves with their 2+ Weekend House, which uses two shipping containers, one stacked on top of the other, in a sort of t-shape. What likely stayed in most people’s minds was the customized black paint job accented with pink polka dots.
No doubt the CONHOUSE team has an eye for design, as displayed in the simply elegant staircase they designed to link two modules in the 2+ Weekend House.
CONHOUSE has a great sense of humor and fun as well. The gallery on their website includes their homes and designs presented in colorful pop-art styles. You almost feel as though you are looking at a comic book. Even the names of the homes are fun. For example, one of their designs is named the “Woody Allen.” If you want to check out the Slovenia based CONHOUSE concept, the website is www.conhouse.com.
Related posts:
You might think that “CONHOUSE” is the name of the latest gritty jail pic staring Nicolas Cage as a man wrongly accused, but you would be wrong. As much as it sounds like a new movie title, CONHOUSE is actually part of the tiny home, environmentally friendly movement. This concept is picking up steam seemingly with each passing day.
The CONHOUSE concept is to use mass production to offset the final price that a homebuyer has to pay. This is done in three main ways. The first way is the mass production of the home building process. The second method is that the CONHOUSE is easily transportable. The final way that CONHOUSE keeps its price low is that the company allows and encourages assembly of the final product in a rather remarkable single day!
CONHOUSE prides itself on being very environmentally friendly and producing virtually no waste. Further, the company is quick to point out that they are creating a home that is itself very recyclable.
The name itself is a synthesis of “container” and “house,” thus CONHOUSE. The core concept is creating a highly customizable modular, prefabricated home (that is designed to provide a great and well lit interior living space), while maintaining the option to “pick up and move” if necessary.
Recently, the CONHOUSE team made a name for themselves with their 2+ Weekend House, which uses two shipping containers, one stacked on top of the other, in a sort of t-shape. What likely stayed in most people’s minds was the customized black paint job accented with pink polka dots.
No doubt the CONHOUSE team has an eye for design, as displayed in the simply elegant staircase they designed to link two modules in the 2+ Weekend House.
CONHOUSE has a great sense of humor and fun as well. The gallery on their website includes their homes and designs presented in colorful pop-art styles. You almost feel as though you are looking at a comic book. Even the names of the homes are fun. For example, one of their designs is named the “Woody Allen.” If you want to check out the Slovenia based CONHOUSE concept, the website is www.conhouse.com.
Related posts:
I heart container homes, thanks for all of that, I’ll be following links for two hours today on this post of yours alone. I’m waiting for a quote back from ‘Global Portable Buildings Inc, located in Santa Rosa, California’ on their smallest and most basic… fingers cro$$ed on that! They are pretty cute! I found them through famed and beloved Michael Janzen over on Tiny House Design, from 2008. http://www.globalportablebuildings.com/ – however, unlike a Tumbleweed, it would be a much harder sell to get one of these snuck via crane (?!) onto my friend’s property in a slightly tony neighborhood, whereas simply backing a Tumbleweed House or one of it’s fine cousins would be an addition to the area.
Earthships? I adore! You can go and spend a weekend in Taos in a rental if you want the experience and there’s a great realtor out there who sends me updates on them in New Mexico as well as nationwide. Yay. I love the integrated aspect of the greywater, the indoor gardens w/serious food production but would rather be on water like yourself versus having to move to a place that snows!
Anyway, I’m going to shut my yapper so I can go and see the Vessica! A new Tumbleweed is a thing of joy indeed!
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Steph Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 11:48 am
Lynne, you’re talking about John Kejr, right? I’ve spent a morning looking at earthships with him and am also on his newsletter. He’s fantastic. I keep meaning to do a write-up on him.
My mother and I have plans to stay in an earthship while she’s in town.
Good luck on your container home quote.
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LB Reply:
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 am
You hit that nail right on the head: John Kejr. Wonderful vibe, great newsletter, not too frequent, all the facts and photos. I’m really glad you’ll be staying in an Earthship soon. Maybe that can be all one blog since we are all so busy!
As for the container quote, it is more of a “give me an idea what to work toward” but as things grow weaker all around me, I find myself sadly looking at small RVs and contemplate that I may have to do that route and alter the vehicle substantially to make it non-pollutant. (Hey Neil Young, can you ring me up?)
Right now I feel like everything is a game of ping pong, but I am alone in a large room holding my paddle.
Yikes. Off to lay down, rest and focus on positive imagery and hopes for us all.
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Steph Reply:
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I really think we’re getting closer to more inexpensive pre-built Tumbleweed-style options. One option I’ve been waiting to see how it pans out is some of the Amish builders out there who’ve been creating sheds and cabins. Heck, figure out how to give a class full of architecture students credit for building you something. I wouldn’t give up yet.
Hmmm . . . Let’s see: Mass produced; Easily transportable; If necessary, can be picked up and moved; Can be assembled (set up) in a single day.
Geez. A mobile home. What a new concept.
Except — Conhouses are more exclusive. I.e., they aren’t for “white trash”, since they DO NOT, unlike many mobiles, come completely furnished & ready to move in to (right down to the widescreen TV). All you need is your clothes and personal possessions. So, I”m sure no one here would lower themselves to a mobile home.
Not, that is, until the economy finally collapses. Then you’ll all be LUCKY to even be able to find a mobile, forget “conhouses” — except, maybe, as a actual *containers* right off a ship to squat in.
Snobs & idiots. You’re all snobs and idiots.
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Actually, I know there’s at least a couple of regular readers on this site who live in mobile homes.
And floating homes like mine are frequently referred to in certain circles as “trailer parks on the water”. So I wouldn’t be quite so quick to label everyone here as “snobs”.
I seriously researched Park Models as one option for a home but decided to go another way, in part, because I couldn’t have as much control over the materials used or how the interior was finished.
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Well, I know I’m an idiot a lot and I love my trash family, and the trailer park home I wanted to buy just didn’t have *any* insulation – and the long-term owner was a heavy smoker (can’t handle that smell ever since I had to quit smoking ‘em myself years ago) … you know, I don’t even know why I’m rambling like this – the bottom line is most people see what they wanna see. To talk about moving into a small RV, just bigger than a Ford Van, as a disappointment is hardly being a snob. Talking about economic collaps might force my hand? I want this now, I’ve been wanting it for quite a while. There are some great container (ship) homes and I would love to own a small one.
And yes, unfurnished. I like a lot of storage, a bed and a shower. Nothing fancy. Nothing ornate.
The whole tone of MH’s comment – the negativity, the meanness … it just wears me out.
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