What is a pirogue?

It is a type of canoe used in Louisiana marshes and bayous. These flat-bottomed vessels have shallow draft and will slip into areas that are inaccessible to other craft.

Why are you doing this?

In response to the devastation left in the wake of hurricane Katrina we feel it is our responsibility to help provide aid to the thousands of families left homeless.

Where did the idea come from?

We had been exploring the use of these containers for a project in the design-build program and realized their potential for housing the families whose lives and homes have been destroyed by hurricane Katrina.

Has this been done before?

Yes, the idea has been explored by other designers in the past.

How do you expect to implement this?

We are actively working on constructing a series of prototypes that will provide the process and documentation that others will be able to follow and use to convert the containers into homes.

Why do you think this is a better solution than other forms of temporary housing?

The containers are designed to be weather tight and withstand harsh environmental conditions. Structurally these containers are designed to carry large quantities of materials weighing several tons. These containers withstand the rigors of constantly being handled, stacked several containers high and transported around the world by ship, truck or train.

Who is going to build these units?

As we develop the prototype units we will be documenting the process so that volunteer groups like Habitat for Humanity can modify these containers in other locations. These will allow for a large number of units to be modified in a short time frame so that the people in need can be provided with housing.

What is the cost?

There is a surplus of these containers that are not being used. The estimated cost to modify the units is $2750. The cost of the shipping containers will vary but the hope is that we can use the surplus containers at a minimal cost. The cost of shipping the units to the areas of need will vary.

How fast can they be built?

This is one of the reasons that we are building a series of prototype units. The prototypes will help us design an efficient method that will allow volunteer groups to modify the units in a short time frame.

Where are these units built?

The prototype units will be built here on Auburn University 's campus by graduate students in the design-build masters program. We will be creating a documentation package that will be distributed to volunteer groups so the units can be built any where that containers are available.

How will they be transported to the people in need?

The containers have been designed to be transported by ship, truck and train. We see the units being shipped by train to local distribution hubs then being delivered by trucks to the housing site.

How many people will each unit serve?

The units are 320 sq. ft. and should comfortably house a typical family What kind of comfort do these units provide natural light and ventilation wall air conditioning unit ceiling fans refrigerator electrical service storage bedding units movable room partitions.

How long will people live in these units?

Certainly we hope that is short time solution but the units are designed for any length duration until conventional housing is available.

Can these units be reused?

Yes, the containers are originally designed for long-term usage and our modifications are designed so that these containers can be used, stored and reused as often as need.