# Upcycled Crate Communities The HIVE Houston is a Bee-Inspired Eco-Friendly Neighborhood By Michael Hines | Published 2011-01-26 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hive-houston References: [ecofriend](http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/hive-sustainable-green-community-built-from-shipping-containers-and-artistic-brilliance/) & [hivehouston.org](http://www.hivehouston.org/) HIVE Houston is a new [eco-friendly community](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-comunidad-habitacional) made up entirely of shipping crates. The HIVE Houston is designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, using [recycled shipping crates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/custom-container-living-nook) for building material and eventually tapping into [renewable energy sources](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/e55000) once the project is up and running. Currently, the HIVE Houston is just a concept with a slated opening date of 2016. Each shipping crate home in the HIVE will be refurbished with basic amenities being provided, with rent coming in at $300 a month. I can't wait to see how this turns out. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 73% | Activity: 60% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Shipping Crate Homes:** The trend of using shipping crates to build eco-friendly communities presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in sustainable housing solutions. - **Upcycled Architecture:** The trend of repurposing materials like shipping crates for construction offers disruptive innovation opportunities in sustainable architecture and design. - **Eco-friendly Communities:** The trend of creating eco-friendly neighborhoods, like the HIVE Houston, presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in green urban planning and sustainable living. ### Who This Affects Most - **Construction:** The construction industry can explore disruptive innovation by incorporating upcycled materials, such as shipping crates, into building practices. - **Architecture:** The architecture industry can seek disruptive innovation by designing sustainable structures using repurposed materials like shipping crates. - **Real Estate:** The real estate industry can embrace disruptive innovation by developing eco-friendly communities like the HIVE Houston, offering affordable and sustainable housing options. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sustainable Repurposed Clay Bricks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mutina.md) - [Eco‑tiny Sanctuarys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tign-tiny-homes.md) - [Honeycomb-Inspired Terracotta Walls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beehive-system.md) - [Bee-Friendly Bricks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bee-bricks.md) - [Hive-Like Terracotta Cooling Structures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beehive-cooling-installation.md) - [AI-Powered Beehive Farming Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2035-moving-beehive-mobility.md) - [Eco-Friendly Modular Refugee Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allspace-1.md) - [Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drop-pod.md) - [Reinvented Compact Living](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/affordable-housing-prototype.md)