Nowadays, container architecture is on the rise. Shipping containers are widely being used as a building material as they are efficient, affordable, and flexible. They are one of the choices for making innovative green buildings. The strength and cheap cost of these containers is luring various architects and green builders to use shipping containers as a building material.
It is easy to modify shipping containers through recycling and then stacking them to create efficient living spaces at reasonable costs. Not just this, the steel frames are way stronger than wooden frames and are termite proof, mold proof, and fire proof. Moreover, the construction of a shipping container house can be done at some other place and then can finally be transported and assembled at the real site, thus saving time and money on construction.
There is, however, a downside to container architecture as well. As the containers come in two lengths, 40 and 20 feet, and less than 8 feet of height and width, so sometimes it becomes awkward to use such tiny space for living. Nevertheless, highly experienced architects somehow have managed to transform shipping containers into relief shelters, luxury houses, vacation homes, and more. Read on for a few examples of world-class shipping container homes built in different parts of the world.
Redondo Beach House by De Maria Design
This luxury beachside house brought into use eight prefabricated, recycled shipping containers with some traditional building materials. Around seventy percent of the structure was built at the shop and was then transported to the actual site of construction, thus, it saved time and money. The architects say that the structure is “nearly indestructible”.
WFH House by Arcgency
WFH House in Wuxi, China, was built by architectural firm Arcgency. It is a structure made by stacking three shipping containers. Steel frame used in the structure was covered with sustainable bamboo for the front part of the house. Other green features of the home include a rainwater harvesting system, solar cell-clad green roof, and more.
Guest House by Poteet Architects
Poteet Architects designed this 32 square foot guest house using a shipping container in San Antonio, Texas. Walls and floors in the interiors make use of bamboo plywood. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings is a USP of these architects.
Crossbox House by CG Architects
Crossbox house in Brittany, France features two shipping containers cantilevered above two others, taking on a creative and unique shape. The house has a planted roof, bedrooms on top and living/dining space below.
Summary
As building home is becoming expensive with every passing day, people are looking for some cheap and good alternatives. One such alternative is shipping container architecture that is providing people with high on quality and low on price housing solutions.
