The strengths that make shipping containers ideal for maritime use also make them especially durable and versatile on land.
Cromwell company Taylor Made Container Homes is meeting strong demand for its expertise in converting 40 foot long (12 metre) containers for residential and commercial use.
Originally established in Invercargill by Darryl Taylor, a panel beater and painter by trade, and his wife Bernice, the couple moved to Cromwell more than two years ago after seeing a niche in Central Otago.
“With the shortage of accommodation up here it made sense to move,” Darryl says.
There is good demand for seasonal accommodation for workers in the horticultural sector and during the ski season, as well as for permanent housing.
“There’s nothing to rent, there’s not enough housing here and it’s extremely expensive so we are providing more affordable accommodation.” Each unit is 28 square metres and can have multiple modules added.
Among their many uses, Taylor Made Container Homes range includes self-contained on- or off-grid homes and cribs, contemporary homes, temporary accommodation, studios, sleep-outs, site offi ces and demonstration stands.
They can also be used as clever solutions for garages, staff quarters, toilet blocks, and as was witnessed following the Christchurch earthquakes, stylish retail shops and eateries.
Whether for temporary or permanent use, the container homes are simply fixed to timber or concrete piles, and once on site, are quickly and easily connected to services.
All Taylor Made Container Homes are insulated and fully finished with the same type of materials used in a new house, and when complete are local authority approved and signed off with a code of compliance.
Taylor Made Container Homes has several tried and tested stock design plans to choose from thathave been designed to specifically maximise space and functionality.
Darryl also offers a full design and fit-out service and can can draw customised container home plans to exact specifications and provide photorealistic images of what a unit will look like when it is completed.
Made from Corten corrosion resistant steel, they offer the perfect building medium and can be modified into a variety of configurations.
All Taylor Made Container Homes are insulated and fully finished with the same type of materials used in a new house.A container home can be completed in eight to ten weeks, including the time usually taken to obtain a building consent, depending on what is specified. They have a long life span when properly maintained and are hurricane and earthquake resistant.
Because of this, the company has built units which have been transported far and wide, including to the Chatham Islands for accommodation for Fulton Hogan staff.
Taylor Made Container Homes recently created a custom designed control centre for Aurora Energy in Cromwell using two 40 foot containers joined together. The high-tech project included installing a considerable amount of data cabling.
Highlighting the versatility of using containers for applications such as this, the two modules can be unbolted and loaded on to a swing lift truck and easily transported.
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