Ecotechbuild Completes The First Shipping Container Home In The Mojave Desert

April 14, 2011 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ecotechdesign, in collaboration with its design/build subsidiary ecotechbuild, is proud to announce the completion of the first permitted shipping container house in the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree, California.

A container hybrid house prototype, also known as The Tim Palen Studio at Shadow Mountain, is a 2nd generation pre-fab design for a residence and workplace developed by ecotechbuild.  This kit-like housing product is being offered for the first time to homeowners who want more than what is currently available with pre-fab and manufactured housing, even custom construction.

Some of its unique features include:
•   Hybrid House Design:  Based on the efficient Prius automobile engineering concept,
the hybrid house concept combines diverse pre-engineered building and energy
conservation features to maximize efficiency and cost savings, while offering architectural design flexibility and variation.
•   All Recycled Steel Construction: The project is composed of diverse steel components, including: six (6) repurposed ISO containers, a Butler pre-engineered building, a 10,000 gallon steel water tank, and a metal shade canopy with integrated steel framing system that provides extraordinary strength, earthquake, fire and wind protection, as well as large window and door openings to maximize natural daylighting, ventilation, and cooling.
•   Solar Home Shading System:  A bolt-on, adjustable steel frame and shade system creates 50% solar heat, glare and wind reduction on the building, and solar breezeway that allows for plug-in attachment of future solar electric and water heating panel arrays.
•   Living Roof: Movable, bolt and add-on modules use greywater irrigation and are planted with native desert plants and sedums to absorb heat, glare, dust and CO2.
•   Water Conservation: Integrated greywater, water harvesting and storage systems.
•   Reduced Costs: Finished construction costs at 50% of equivalent, locally available, prefab alternatives.

“By combining high-efficiency and mass-produced modular construction methods with innovative design in one of the harshest climate zones in North America, we have developed a low-cost, sustainable, housing system that can be transported and quickly erected anywhere in the world,” explains Architect, Walter Scott Perry, AIA, and Principal of ecotechdesign.

This hybrid house consists of cargo containers and pre-engineered steel building components that can be erected and combined together at the site, often in less than an hour.  

“The typical housing project in San Bernardino County takes one to three months to go through entitlement and permitting alone,” adds Contractor, Eric Engheben “Our project was approved and permitted in just one week.”

about Walter Scott Perry  (www.ecotechdesign.com)
Walter Scott Perry, Architect, AIA, Principal of ecotechdesign and Founder of ecotechbuild, has practiced sustainable architecture and been a leader and advocate for green design since the early 1970’s – the pioneer days of the passive solar movement in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Mr. Perry’s work includes award-winning commercial, institutional, and residential projects designed and built across the U.S. for over four decades.  His work is recognized for the creative application of design innovation in generating practical and affordable, yet sophisticated architecture and master planning at all scales from small residential remodel to large commercial work.  He holds several degrees, including a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

about Eric Engheben (www.44west.net)
Eric Engheben, President of 44 West Construction, Inc., and a licensed General Engineering and Building Contractor with over 30 years experience, has always integrated green technologies. Recently, he completed a LEED Platinum rated residence in Los Angeles. His custom homes are featured in national publications and have received numerous awards.  44 West Construction, Inc., is a leader in construction quality, cost control, scheduling, waste management, green innovation and the integration of new technologies in all its projects.  Their focus is on responding to client needs in order to realize maximum creativity and customer satisfaction.  44 West Construction has over five years experience and is an industry leader in the repurpose and reconstruction of shipping container homes.

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