Dornob | Design Ideas Daily |
Recycled Shipping Containers Become Homes for the Needy Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST A social housing development in Vancouver is the first in Canada to utilize shipping containers as building materials. The Alexander Street Project is a small housing community built on a site just 25 feet wide. With two buildings and a courtyard, the compact development is a beautiful example of contemporary architecture. The 12-unit development is home to low-income people and older women who are either previously homeless or at risk of homelessness. The rents are low to allow the residents to have a safe and attractive place to stay without worrying about how they are going to pay the rent. Each unit is an average of 290 square feet and includes a living room/bedroom, a small kitchen, a full bathroom, and laundry facilities. Although small, the apartments are comfortable and feel like real homes. You would never guess that their shells were once used to ship consumer goods across oceans. Using shipping containers as the exteriors of the buildings helped keep costs down for Atira Womens Resource Center, the group behind the project. They didn’t put elevators in the three-story buildings, and they struck a balance between cost-saving and making the homes comfortable and attractive places to live. The project has been so successful that the resource center is working on a complementary project that will house young women at risk of domestic violence. |
Transforming Modular Desk Shifts to Fit Your Technology Posted: 29 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST When space is at a premium but you still need a dedicated area for work or homework, you can either work on the couch with a laptop (as this writer is prone to do) or you can find a piece of furniture that fits both your space constraints and your work requirements. The Tablet Desk 2.0 from Bee9 Design Studio is a transforming piece of furniture that goes from compact side table to full-on home office with just a few fluid moves. As a bonus, the desk/table is small enough to fit through any doorway easily, unlike just about every other desk. The handcrafted desk was designed for the technology-loving small-space dweller. Every facet of the desk is meant to accommodate the many technology needs of the modern human. With pieces that deftly move into place or out of the way, the desk somehow anticipates the current and future needs of users. The designers realize that different people use different technology, so the desk is built to be a sturdy home for whatever electronic devices you happen to use. It has places to stash cords, recesses to support iMacs, and even a sturdy backrest for a tablet. Magnetic legs support a flip-up surface that is perfect for writing, studying, or taking a quick nap before you start on that next urgent project. |
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