The one I really like that is more organic is the Living Homes pre-fab designed by Ray Kappe ( www.livinghomes.net/homesKappe.html ) I have been in the first one (RK1), while they were building it, but I'd really like to see the second one (RK2). Pricey, though.

Marmol-Radziner makes some interesting pre-fabs now ( www.marmolradzinerprefab.com/ ), but, again, $$$$$.

Here is a pretty good list ( www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/...sthome.htm ) Lots of great stuff– Michelle Kaufmann, iT House, kitHAUS...

I don't know about pre-fab containers versus custom designed, but I know that a lot of the pre-fabs now are not necessarily more cost effective, like they used to be. We go back and forth between doing something pre-fab or going with an architect from scratch. One thing I really think the pre-fabs have going for them (whether kit or modular) is the fact that they are built in a controlled environment. I once heard the perfect comparison– would you rather have your car built at the factory, or would you like them to bring all the materials and build it in your driveway?

Makes sense to me...

When we say "container", we are referring to the kind you would see on the back of a semi, on a train car, or on a cargo ship, all used for transporting cargo, not set up originally for housing use, but modified after the fact for such use. I don't know if that fits what the government issued or not, but it *would* be good to know...