Australia is currently facing a considerably major housing problem. Fueled by low interest rates, housing prices in the country have risen quite sharply—climbing in the fastest pace in almost four years during the first quarter of 2014.

1. Australia is currently facing a considerably major housing problem. Fueled by low
interest rates, housing prices in the country have risen quite sharply—climbing in
the fastest pace in almost four years during the first quarter of 2014. A year
before that, housing prices climbed to about 10% nationally, and there is a big
possibility that the prices will continue to rise in the next few years.
Cargotecture as a Housing Solution
Many individuals consider “cargotecture” or shipping
containers as a housing solution to the worsening
problem of housing affordability, not only in Australia,
but in other parts of the world as well.
There are about five or six million shipping containers in existence, and every
hour, one falls overboard into the ocean from cargo ships, never to be seen again.
About 10,000 containers are lost at sea in every year.
It is overly expensive to ship empty containers back to their source. In most cases,
individuals or businesses involved in shipping just buy new containers because it
is cheaper. As a result, there is a surplus of empty shipping containers just sitting
on docks and taking up space.
With the lack of housing choices and the immense supply of old shipping
containers, cargotecture seems to be the perfect solution to the growing housing
problem.

2. Shipping Container Revolution
More and more people are turning to shipping containers in the hopes of building
a house that is budget-friendly for custom building. These metal boxes are
durable, easily available, and low-cost, making them a practical option for those
who are facing problems when it comes to housing.
The trend has also changed shipping containers
from just steel boxes to a range of properties—
from single-container guesthouses, to office
spaces, and even an entire city built with
containers. Prison authorities in Victoria have
even resorted to shipping containers as a solution
to the sudden growth in the number of prisoners.
RESOURCES:
http://icl.net.au/
http://online.wsj.com/articles/moodys-warns-on-australia-house-prices-
1403769119
http://singularityhub.com/2011/04/05/10000-shipping-containers-lost-at-sea-
each-year-heres-a-look-at-one-2/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-03/shipping-container-cells-to-ease-
overcrowding-in-victorian-pris/5131264