This original post has been removed as images were used from another blog that does not wish to have their images reposted and work criticized. However, I still stand behind my statement below. And, even though I am not a licensed Architect, which I’ve never claimed to be, I am a trained and degreed architectural professional on the path to licensure. When looking to hire a designer of any building or construction type, it’s in your best interest to seek out someone with documented design and construction experience. If they can’t show you examples of work they’ve actually built why would you hire them? It is true everyone has to have a first project, but if you’re claiming to have built hundreds of buildings, you should be able to show some photos, no? But, hey, maybe I’m wrong.
Hire an Architect, not an “expert”. Your family and your wallet will thank you.
r | one studio architecture 
This speaks to a bigger issue of expert vs. architect. As I work with various people I do find people that have specific knowledge, but it’s the architect that takes in all of this specific knowledge and filters it considering the greater whole and makes sense of it. Otherwise, you get nonsense.
I had this discussion with an HVAC/Plumbing repair company the other day about my house. The one guy politely shared that if it were his house he would have placed the HVAC unit in the middle of the house because that would have worked best for HVAC. I didn’t even get into it with him. However, I am aware of his specific knowledge, but there were 30 other reasons I couldn’t fulfill his request. In other words, if I would have done what he thought was right, then many other things would have been wrong. It’s the architect that cares and knows enough how to assemble all of these components and not just address one.
Great rant, keep it going.
Lee, I agree. Talking with consultants and contractors from specific fields like hvac is always interesting. My retort to them in those situations is always “and what will that do to x, y and z over here?” It almost always makes them pause and more carefully consider their position. Also, typically turns into a nice learning experience for me as well. Which is awesome.
In the context of this post however I’m referring more to those who claim to be “experts”, pandering their “know-how” to those thinking their dealing with a seasoned professional, when in reality their dealing with someone that doesn’t even have the most basic knowledge of building, construction or it seems PERCEPTION. I mean, seriously. Did you look at the plan I posted? A bathroom in the kitchen…..REALLY?? :-\
That’s unfortunate and yes the plan was pretty bad. I have no knowledge of building with shipping containers, but with the narrow proportions, I do realize that the plan layout is a bit challenging. I’ve heard the term expert thrown around a bit too loosely too.
This is the reason why I fully support architecture critique. The reason why designs like this are prolific is because the general public literally has no idea this is bad – unless we tell them. So keep up the good work and tell it like it is: this is an inefficient, aesthetically compromised design that will only serve to frustrate users and unnecessarily drain a bank account. As for the specifics, I can see the living/dining working if you add a central wall to serve as a tv backdrop and separate the space into two zones. As for the bathroom, my issue is less that it is near the kitchen (the pantry provides buffer and the plumbing is in the same zone), but rather that you are forced to walk through a very narrow kitchen to get to the only bathroom in the house. Good luck trying to cook and have anyone pass through to get to the bathroom at the same time. The bedrooms are very inefficient, and the only plausible solution is to put the beds at the end of the container with side closets. As you point out, that means no option for dressers unless you lose part of the closet space.
“the public has no idea it’s bad unless we tell them”
oh how right those words are. And what an apt description of the state of affairs currently. If homeowners, and potential homeowners, only understood the depth and breadth of education that architects and designers go through in order to adequately understand not just how to build a house, but why things are and should be arranged appropriately for a particular function, and see the obvious value in that service…oh to dream.