Necessity Was the Mother of Invention for This Project

Vasquez: “Homes built from shipping containers are not inferior; they are actually a good alternative to the traditional wood-and-drywall construction.”

MIDWAY CITY, CA— Potter’s Lane , which was created from modified-steel shipping containers, was inspired by the urgent need to create veterans housing in Orange County , SVA Architects ‘ CEO and partner Ernesto Vasquez tells GlobeSt.com. The firm recently earned two 2016 Gold Nugget Awards of Merit at PCBC for Potter’s Lane, a unique housing development here made of modified-steel shipping containers that are being transformed into fully functional and aesthetically pleasing 480-square-foot homes for 15 chronically homeless veterans and one manager. We sat down for an exclusive chat with Vasquez about the inspiration for Potter’s Lane and how architects and designers remain fresh and relevant with their concepts. GlobeSt.com: Where did the inspiration come from to use shipping containers for Potter’s Lane? Vasquez: The inspiration to use modified-steel shipping containers for this project came from the urgent need for veterans housing in Orange County. According to the 2015 Orange County Veterans Study conducted by the University of Southern California , approximately 6,500 veterans settle in Orange County annually, joining approximately 130,000 veterans already there, and 10% percent of pre-9/11 veterans and 18% of post-9/11 veterans in OC reported being homeless in the past year. The shipping containers serve as building blocks that dramatically reduce the construction timeline, and more quickly provide this much-needed veterans’ housing.

Potter’s Lane’s site plan has outdoor rooms and courtyards to create accessibility to the outdoor environment.

GlobeSt.com: How do architects and designers continually come up with new design concepts? Vasquez: New design concepts are often based on societal need and changing demographics. On this particular project, the need for veterans’ housing is urgent. One of our challenges as architects is to transform shipping containers—which are fast-track construction tools—into attractive living spaces that give people a high sense of pride and value. At SVA, our primary focus was on how to use these building blocks to create a community within a fairly limiting site that is long and narrow. We wanted to create an outdoor space where residents can congregate, engage and be involved in the neighborhood. The site plan has outdoor rooms and courtyards to create accessibility to the outdoor environment. GlobeSt.com: What drives innovation for real estate architects and designers today? Vasquez: Innovation is necessary to accommodate societal needs, such as the vet-housing crisis in Orange Country. Of course, innovation brings some challenges. For Potter’s Lane, innovation meant trailblazing a process for permitting this type of construction. Shipping containers have been retrofitted for the arts, food, retail , etc., but they haven’t been used much for housing. It has required that we educate the public, elected officials, policymakers, etc. about this system and show them that homes built from shipping containers are not inferior; they are actually a good alternative to the traditional wood-and-drywall construction. At the end of the day, we feel that SVA is providing a very desirable housing complex for veterans. GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about Potter’s Lane? Vasquez: Potter’s Lane is a great example of how designing for veterans’ housing is not just about creating shelter; it’s about creating community. SVA Architects was delighted to have an amazing opportunity to learn best practices for designing and permitting homes made from shipping containers and how to create communities for residents where speed-to-market is crucial. With developers leveraging development and redevelopment opportunities across all property types, how can you capitalize on this activity?  Join us  at RealShare Orange County on August 16^th for impactful information from the leaders in Orange County CRE. Learn  more .