- The home starts at $50,000 and can be completed in 99 days.
- Sustainability plays into every aspect of the design for minimum environmental impact, the company claims.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
This company converts shipping containers into $50,000 sustainable, off-grid tiny homes in 99 days — see inside
Two Mexican architects teamed up to create the Minimal Leisure Dwelling, a prefab shipping container home.
Two Mexican architects designed a modern, sustainable tiny home, and it barely shows its shipping container roots.
Rodrigo Alegre and Carlos Acosta, founder of the Mexico City studio StudioRoca, spent the last few years focusing more and more on environmental impact, and eventually developed the idea for Vivienda Minima de Descanso (VMD), or Minimal Leisure Dwelling.
VMD is a prefab one or two-bedroom home made out of repurposed shipping containers, with customization options throughout. The one-bedroom designs are about 322 square feet, and two-bedroom designs are about 645 square feet.
ADVERTISEMENT
The basic VMD starts at $49,000 and is constructed in Mexico, then dropped by a crane into whatever location is chosen by the buyer. With the philosophy of minimizing environmental impact, VMD can be used totally off-grid, with solar panels and a rainwater tank. Specialized materials minimize energy needs throughout to keep the home as low impact as possible.
See inside here.
VMD units are made out of repurposed shipping containers.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
ADVERTISEMENT
The exterior facade is made out of viroc, a composite material.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The architects said that sustainability was a goal throughout the design, and using shipping containers reduce resources used and waste produced.
BusinessInsider USA Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Viroc is fire and water resistant, with acoustic and thermal insulation.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The shipping container structure is sturdy, so it can go anywhere that a trailer and crane can drop it.
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Inside, the units are extremely customizable.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
ADVERTISEMENT
VMDs can be one or two bedrooms...
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Or even larger, with nearly endless options of combining several containers.
BusinessInsider USA Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Inside, furnishings were designed and curated by StudioRoca, based in Mexico City.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Every aspect, from the basic structure to finishings, was chosen based on ecological impact, along with style.
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The drywall has thermal and acoustic insulation properties that make heating and cooling cheaper and less energy intensive.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
ADVERTISEMENT
Floors, walls, countertops, and bathroom finishes can all be customized in the buying process.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Solar panels and a rainwater tank can be added on for off-grid living.
BusinessInsider USA Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The bathroom floor is made up of 33% recycled materials.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
A special instant water heater "dramatically reduces energy usage"...
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
...and an incinerating toilet can minimize energy further, while also being a good option for off grid use.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
ADVERTISEMENT
Built-in shelving and storage throughout helps residents make use of the small space.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The kitchen is modern-looking, with white no hardware cabinets and black appliances.
BusinessInsider USA Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
It has a small eat-in area that leads into the main living space.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
A glass door lets in light.
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The melamine flooring in the house actually has a negative carbon footprint.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
ADVERTISEMENT
Part of the appeal of VMD is that residents can just "lock-up-and-go."
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Architects said that the prefab home doesn't have all the maintenance that a house would, make it a good option for a guest house, vacation home, or primary residence.
BusinessInsider USA Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The architects recommend a check of the structure every two years to make sure there is no corrosion.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
They estimate that the structure will be suitable housing for at least 50 years.
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
From ordering to delivery, the entire process takes 99 days.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
ADVERTISEMENT
The base price is $49,000, not including shipping and customizations.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The base price does include electrical and plumbing systems, finishes, bathroom furniture, lighting, and the deck.
BusinessInsider USA Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
The architects shared this photo of one of their customized units with Business Insider.
BusinessInsider USA Images
VMD
For buyers concerned about security, cameras, motion sensors, and alarms can all be controlled through a cell phone.
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
Finally, because VMD doesn't require a foundation, it could be moved to another location.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Vivienda Minima de Descanso
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also:
- Six professional 'Fortnite' streamers on YouTube gave a tour of the multimillion dollar mansion they bought together see inside
- This $40,000, 260-square-foot tiny cabin is designed to be the perfect escape from city life see inside
- How to workaround a Facebook bug causing popular apps like Spotify, Pinterest, and Tinder to crash
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: news@pulselive.co.ke
Recommended articles
African countries with the highest divorce rate
10 African cities with the highest crime index at the start of 2024
Machoka at 70: Emotions run high during Citizen TV presenter's birthday [Video]
Diwali 2022: Is Monday a public holiday in Kenya?
Akothee finally reveals reasons for separating from Omosh 1 month after wedding
Man, once a ‘billionaire’, recounts how he lost wealth, now sells his book on streets [Video]
Details of Ngina Kenyatta's luxurious restaurant
Zero Chills! Jackie Matubia's advice for Milly Chebby amid the unfollow drama