How To Build an Open Source House? 274
An anonymous reader writes "I'm starting a project that I hope that the engineers, makers and general DIYers in the Slashdot crowd can help out with. The full story's on the website, but the short version is as follows: my aim is to make a cheap, recycled, sustainable building, to document the process fully and to release anything that would help others to do the same. I intend to use an old train carriage as the shell, but the ideas should extend to shipping containers, aeroplane fuselages or anything similar. I know I'm not the first to do this, but I can't see anyone else who's provided a detailed step-by-step account of the build, complete with plans and the rest. Before I start, though, I'm trying to draw on as much collective experience as possible, and to head off mistakes before they happen. My question to Slashdot is simple: what do you think I need to know before I begin?"
High-cube Containers are a better base... (Score:3, Interesting)
A high-cube container is 9' 6" tall, which gives about 9' internal vertical space to work with, which means that even with 6" in the floor and 6" in the ceiling for insulation, electrical, plumbing, etc, you have an 8' vertical space.
Normal containers are a foot shorter, which means it will feel more claustorphobic, and train carrages are even shorter.
The biggest challenge is the width, with only less than 8 feet of width, you pretty much HAVE to mate containers side by side and remove the interior walls to get nice space.
To all the building code replies... (Score:5, Interesting)
F/OSS CAD (Score:1, Interesting)
It would be most beneficial if there were a viable F/OSS CAD package you could use to document your efforts, but there is not. The best you can probably do is to use a proprietary package, and export the drawings to an open format. It is difficult or impossible to produce even rudimentary 2D mechanical drawings with any efficiency using F/OSS software. The biggest F/OSS hole there is, IMO.
Re:Trailer Park (Score:3, Interesting)
People have done some nifty things with trailer and container houses...
http://www.greendiary.com/entry/20-amazing-homes-made-from-shipping-containers/ [greendiary.com] :P )
http://26.media.tumblr.com/9cyPFQbgCnxj7a2aELgniTn8o1_500.jpg [tumblr.com]
http://renaissanceronin.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/shipping-container-treehouse.jpg [wordpress.com] (OK, OK, it's just a CGI
I've been leaning more toward things like FlatPack houses, since the shipping effort is much lower per sq ft.
Re:Know the right people (Score:3, Interesting)
First off, build a list of local electricians and plumbers, and the name of whomever is going to sign off on this house
Talk to your wife.
Talk to your bank. Your lawyer. Your real estate agent. Your insurance company.
This project of yours may have no re-sale value.
The equity you build in your home is an important part of your estate planning.
Take the time to get to know your neighbors - otherwise you will be dodging pitchforks from the day you begin.
We all grow older - and "cool" doesn't age well.
Ugly doesn't age well.
That is why the home buyer avoids the awkward, the eccentric, the physically demanding. Why he pays for comfort even at the cost of some efficiency.
architecture: turned upside down [blogspot.com]
Re:Know the right people (Score:3, Interesting)
And there are a few more issues why it is hard to "open source" a design. There are many ways to build a house, which is best for you depends on where you live.
Climate. Can be dry, can be humid, can be hot, can be cold. This influences your material choice - also in my experience heating is using natural gas, while cooling is using electricity. Heat from the sun: do you want to capture it or avoid it? Do you have lots of rain (tropical rainstorms) that need sufficient drainage? Or do you have snow in winter that requires a sufficiently strong roof?
Local regulations. In The Netherlands for example it is not allowed to design a home with the front door opening into the living room. There must be a small hallway with a second door to get to the living room. This again has to do with the climate. In other countries that's not an issue.
Fire safety regulations vary all over the world.
Windows and ventilation. Requirements vary with the intended use of a room (living room, bedroom, kitchen).
And then there is of course the issue that shipping containers and train carriages are not wonders of insulation. Unless you start off with a reefer container of course. But reefers are a bit smallish inside thanks to the thick walls. Especially the roof is getting low. All in all not very much sustainable when it comes to energy efficiency when in use. It's not just because we normally build our homes from concrete and bricks and not from steel sheets.
Open Source Ecology (Score:1, Interesting)
Albeit anonymously, I want to highlight the following project: Open Source Ecology, http://www.openfarmtech.org
Their plan is to use open source technology to create a resilient, low-carbon village. Regarding housing, they have built a "hexayhurt" and a large facility with compressed earth bricks.
* they are working on their project on a farm near kansas, and they're really doing it (I couldn't believe that at first)
* it was founded by a fusion scientist who from what i've heard felt his science work to be of limited use
* their approach, concepts and calculations appear to be very well thought-out
* they've already built some housing with compressed earth blocks and limited automation ("distillations video")
* they have developed a compressed earth block press with a low price, with free open source plans and sourcing information available as well
* they also built an open source tractor to do agriculture, digging and to power other devices, currently they're on to the second version of it.
A cool project IMHO, their homepage is a bit untidy, best is to follow their blog chronologicall I suppose. But it is a very very cool idea. So hope this hint helps and you can go on with your project and add to the open source housing landscape! I think that are hugely interesting developements!
Been done before (Score:4, Interesting)
Moisture will be an issue. You'll need to seal it up and when you do, moisture inside the vehicle will be a problem. You can use a spray foam insulation. For inspiration on how to make confined spaces into a livable space, go tour a yatch.
My brother built a vacation place on Tenakee Springs, Alaska [google.com]. First thing he did was deliver a shipping container as a quick-and-dirty, bear-proof shelter. The door of it is visible here [shutterfly.com]. Obviously, it is now incorporated into a larger structure.