The housing emergency that plagues Spain, particularly its large cities and tourist areas such as Lanzarote, is triggering all kinds of alternative accommodations to the traditional ones, whether they are boats, commercial premises, or houses made of shipping containers.
This last model has experienced a huge boom in Anglo-Saxon and Northern European countries and is slowly growing in our country as well. They are houses that cost less, have less ecological impact and shorter delivery times, but many citizens associate them with a lack of comfort.
The company Dos Días Container, based in Valencia, has a catalog of modular houses, manufactured with shipping containers, with island names and very tight prices.
From the 15 square meters of the Ibiza model, whose price starts at 17,500 euros, to the 120 meters of the Lanzarote model, formed by four shipping containers and whose basic price is 106,200.
How long does it take to build them?
Carlos Sanchis, project manager of the Valencian company, explains that most of the houses they manufacture take between three and four months, although smaller models take less. For example, a 30-meter house, the Formentera model, generally takes a month and a half.
Sanchis shares that times may vary, especially depending on the type of soil. "If the house is on developable land, a building permit and the same procedures as a conventional construction are required, which can take quite a while in the Canary Islands, although then the construction times are shorter."
Interestingly, it is much easier to build this type of housing on rustic land. "The times have nothing to do with it, in rustic, they are much easier to build, in a month I can put you a house. There is a legal vacuum, because the house is not anchored, but it is movable. It's like buying a garden house, we don't build," explains the project manager.
From emergency to luxury
This type of housing, which in Spain began to be used mainly for emergency situations, such as the one that occurred in La Palma after the eruption of the Tajogaite Volcano, is still strongly associated with a lack of comfort.
It is true that some models are very basic and can be found on Amazon and Aliexpress, but there are also options with very good finishes.
According to experts, for these homes to be comfortable, their insulation is essential so that they are not too cold in winter and too hot in summer.
Some insulation solutions are based on materials such as extruded polystyrene or rock wool. Chambers can also be created for air circulation.
In fact, there are more and more luxurious models of houses made with containers. The company The Corten Company, also from Valencia, has several high-end models with all kinds of insulation, air conditioning and cladding options.
Some models of houses made with shipping containers
The Formentera model of Dos Días Container consists of a 12-meter module and an interior surface of 30 square meters of configurable space for one or two bedrooms, bathroom and open kitchen. Its price starts at 25,500 euros.
The Menorca model, from the same company, is composed of three containers and adds an interior surface of 75 square meters on one or two floors. It houses a living room, an open kitchen and up to three bedrooms and two bathrooms, depending on the client's preferences. Its price starts at 69,700 euros.
As for the Lanzarote model, it is the largest of the Dos Días Container company, with an area of 120 square meters. The house is generated with the union of four containers. It can be configured to house three to four bedrooms and up to three bathrooms. Its design has an open kitchen and a spacious and bright living room. It can be purchased from 106,200 euros.
The TCC 120 D_S model of Corten Company consists of two floors and large windows that add up to a constructed area of 130 square meters and houses two bedrooms and two or three bathrooms. Its price starts at 213,358 euros.
The TCC 240 O_XL model of the same company is a true mansion that even has an interior patio. With a modern and elegant design, the house has an area of 253.76 square meters and has five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Its price starts from 415,908 euros.
