Located on the outskirts of downtown Houston, Texas, the Cordell House is a three-bedroom, three-bath, 1858 square feet, single-story residence on a 5,000 square feet lot. Its steel structure shell, made from repurposed shipping containers, is an extremely durable and materially efficient building system. Numen Development fabricated the container modules and performed the on-site assembly and build-out.
Four shipping containers, technically known as ISO-compliant inter-modal shipping units, are utilized in the design. Two 40 feet long, nine feet six inches tall containers form the two bedroom units, which directly support the three roof beams. The rear freestanding guest unit is a third 40-feet container. A 20 feet long, eight feet six inches tall unit forms the kitchen which opens onto the main living area. The main structure was set in a single day and the house was enclosed during the first month.
All the containers are repurposed. The three units forming the main house are so-called “one-trippers” that have been used for import from Europe or Asia. The rear structure is a more heavily used unit. The house is supported by 34 small piers built on concrete pads 24 inches below the expansive surface soils. The high number of small piers makes the overall structure less susceptible to settling and seasonal movement.
The roof and floor are structural insulated panels (SIP) which are a thick continuous insulating core sandwiched between engineered panels made from recycled wood products. They are custom-fabricated for the project, so no waste is generated in on-site construction. The containers themselves are insulated by a thin ceramic coating on the exterior and undersides called Supertherm that gives the equivalent of six inches of fiberglass insulation. Developed as an insulating and fireproofing coating for industrial use, it is completely non-toxic and is used as a coating by NASA for the shuttle booster rockets. The shade screen installed over the steel supports on the south side of the house blocks much of the heat-load from the southern sun.
The insulated polycarbonate clerestory window over the master bedroom provides daylight for the entire living area of the house. It is oriented to allow more direct sunlight during the colder winter months and less during the summer season. Windows are oriented to reduce midday heat loads while allowing daylight in strategic areas to reduce daytime lighting requirements.
Many of the materials and finishes were specifically chosen for their recycled and/or non-toxic content and overall sustainability. Paints and finishes are extremely low-VOC with very low levels of chemical solvents. Wall panels are formaldehyde-free fiberboard from recycled wood products and structural beams are engineered from recycled wood as well. Other environmentally preferable products include bamboo flooring, and reclaimed materials such as the glass in the master shower and the recycled steel components used to create the master bedroom sink.
The mechanical and plumbing systems incorporate high-efficiency equipment. The building features high-velocity Unico A/C system and is nearly airtight, with a Renewaire ventilator included to ensure adequate fresh air exchange, an integral energy recovery unit keeps energy loss to a minimum.
FilterPave driveway is a mixture of 100% post-consumer recycled glass, very clean crushed granite, and a polyurethane binder. It is fully permeable and also serves as a natural filter for hydrocarbons, like spilled oil, which prevents contamination of groundwater.
