timelapse of cedar floor removal, Sept. 16th

Custom Skylights

We've decided that creating skylights will be a great way to transform the space and utilize that fiery ball of gas "above" us to light the interior. It probably helped that we discovered several great pieces of frosted glass that we'll be using to fill our steel frames fabricated from angle iron.

Go here to see some more pics in progress

Skylight Prototype w/ 3-D model of skylights

(video of a work session)

progress report

1. Nearly complete prototype
2. Tom welding on the bolt tabs.
3. Final prototype
4. Custom bolt tabs
5. video
   

New Paint

the final coat of paint is on the interior and it looks beautiful. We chose a blue-hued, bright white exterior paint with a satin finish to maximize the spread of light throughout. (you can see a bit of the red skylights above.)

Videos

Pallet Parquet - new floor

(in progress=sneak preview) In keeping with the philosophy of this project, we've chosen to pursue the repurposing & recycling of shipping pallets to replace the deteriorated floor we inherited. All the pallets we have used to date have been retrieved from the trash or donated by businesses overflowing with them and glad to be rid of them. Along the way we've discovered a great source of beautiful woods often tossed or neglected into oblivion. These pallets embody a synoptic story with the container itself. They create a wonderful patchwork of colors, marks, paints and other impressions that soften the container's interior and enter into a dialogue with the object that contains it. Photos:

"Brand new" recycled pallet floor

Here are some images of our "pallet parquet" floor, looking spectacular with a few coats of water-based poly on it to give it some shine and protection from wear. Notice the variety of paints, stains, grains and widths that give it a collectively ragtag look - it reminds me of a quilt in a way.

Solar Panel setup & brains

We've gotten most of what we need together to begin installation of the PV array. Once completed, we will install low-power LED lighting that we fabricate and customize for the all metal interior.
These pieces make up what will be the "brians" of the container:
-this wood box will house all the equipment in the rear of the container
-a pic of the center area with things getting wired in
-a 2 series dimmer switch for controlling two separate strings of custom LED lights,
-four digit LCD panel to display current volts
-Xantrex C60 load/charge controller
-Xantrex 1200 inverter

:photos: