vancouver's low-income housing made of recycled shipping containers

vancouver’s new low-income housing development is made of 12 recycled shipping containers

the 12-unit complex, built by the atira women’s resource society, is the first in canada to be made from recycled shipping containers sourced from the port just across the railroad tracks. each has its own kitchen, bathroom and laundry, and was created to provide affordable housing for women older than 50 in the low-income neighbourhood.

in order to qualify, potential tenants can’t earn more than CAD 34,000 per year.

containers are stacked three high and have full floor-to-ceiling windows at each end. external staircases link each floor.

the project has been met with criticism. ‘these studio apartments range from 280 to 290 square feet, if we were to build similar housing for disadvantaged people with units from scratch, it’s about CAD 225,000 per unit. the container buildings are about CAD 85,000.’ says city councellor dr. kerry jang. ‘take a look through this building and you’ll see that it’s livable.’
the city donated about $90,000 to the cause.

atira works with women who have been subject to violence. six of the units will be social housing (CAD 375 per month) for women with roots in the community who are willing to enter a mentorship program with the young women living next door at atira’s imouto housing. the other six will rent at housing income limit rates, or about 30 per cent of a woman’s income. atira hopes to build a second recycled shipping container development with 42 units soon.

read more here.

 following are steps of the building process. all images courtesy atira.