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Argentina is a country that embraces a rich blend of culture, natural beauty, and a warm and welcoming spirit. Here you can find everything from the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires to the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia. Whether you are drawn to the tango clubs or the serene vineyards of the Mendoza wine country, Argentina's diverse offerings make it an appealing place to visit or to potentially build your dream container home.
Argentina's attractiveness lies in its diverse geography and cultural experiences. It's often considered the most European of the Latin American countries, which is evident from its cuisine to its architecture.
The country has a long shape oriented vertically, meaning that it covers a large expanse of latitudes. The western border is high up on the Andes Mountains while the eastern border touches the coast, providing a range of altitudes as well.
What this means is that you can find almost any environment you like in Argentina: beach, forest, desert, mountain...it's all here. And as you know, container homes have the flexibility to work in any of these locations.
Argentina allows shipping container homes to be built without any blanket prohibitions. But construction of a container home will require compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, just like with other types of construction.
There are numerous container buildings in Argentina already, demonstrating the acceptance of this building type and the excitement of the Argentinian people for new types of innovative design. So while we've already seen the first container homes in Argentina, we certainly haven't seen the last.
As you might expect, the biggest hurdle in building a container home in Argentina is complying with applicable rules and codes. It starts with the Center for Investigation of the National Regulations of Security for Civil Works (CIRSOC, in Spanish). CIRSOC is a part of the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI, in Spanish), a government body. Together, these groups work to professionalize the construction regulations in Argentina, most pointedly regarding structural safety.
But as with many locations, enforcement of building regulations is handled at lower levels. Therefore, coordination and permission-granting for your container project should come from your city or province.
Navigating the regulatory framework can be confusing, so working with a professional will be key to success, especially for foreigners. Groups and associations related to the professional practice of design, engineering, and construction should be helpful resources. Options include the Argentina Chamber of Construction, the Argentina Chamber of Engineering Consultants, and others.
Outside of the regulatory considerations are others that are more practical or technical. With the high altitude locations in the west of the country, snow loads on the roof and frost depth on foundations become considerations. Closer to the coast, you have sandy soil under your foundation and salty air to think about. But all of these concerns are normal and can easily be mitigated and addressed with proper design and construction practices.
Several factors influence the cost of building a container home in Argentina. Climate-related considerations, such as insulation and ventilation systems, will impact construction expenses. Site-specific considerations, like soil analysis for foundation design, also play a role in determining costs.
We recommend starting with our Container Home Cost Calculator to get a cost estimate tailored to the specifics of your Argentina container home project. With just a handful of inputs, it quickly gives you a general idea of the costs you might incur. More detailed analysis, made in concert with local professionals when possible, will be helpful as you proceed further along in your project.
Below are some of our favorite Argentina shipping container homes, restaurants, apartments, offices, and other container projects.