Seems like it would be better to build pre-fab housing modules with maximum building envelope 469"L x 88"W x 98"H, and use those 40' high-cube containers to shi

Seems like it would be better to build pre-fab housing modules with maximum building envelope 469"L x 88"W x 98"H, and use those 40' high-cube containers to ship them. At the destination site, build the foundation, docking racks from structural steel, and a climate-appropriate roof and insulated outer shell. The pre-fab is built in a factory, shipped to the site, rolled off the container truck with a ramp and a forklift, and rolled into the rack. Each one is essentially 250 sq.ft. of shotgun house. Alternately, make a pre-fab "core" that consists of all the essential plumbing, HVAC, and wiring for one house, and erect a piecemeal house around it using traditional methods and local materials. You can fit one core for a 2-story house inside a 20' standard container, or two in a 40' container. The extensive on-site modifications required to turn a standard shipping container into a decent house necessarily preclude isotainer homes from being economical or ecologically sound. The advantages of container-based shipping are best exploited by using the containers to ship factory-built things.