Reusing Shipping Containers in creating various Architectural Spaces.

Ahmed Hosney Radwan

Assistant professor of Architecture - Architecture Department, College of Fine Arts, Helwan University.

Abstract
Reusing and recycling of materials is considered as an importatnt factor in sustainable design
and architecture that prolonged among many historical ages, from reuse of stone, wood, mar-
ble columns,etc… the previous decades witnessed the use of many materials in creating spac-
es that can host various functions,not only for the economic or financial reasons but also for
environmentl reasons, in addition to the expenses of getting rid of these materials or repro-
cessing them by any mean. From re-use of paper, till reusing steel shipping conatiners, vari-
ous attempts have been made to explore the possibilities, opportunities and examples of creat-
ing many functions, projects, or even large buildings been constructed in this way, the wide
increae of these applications lead to the emerging of a type of architecture called afterwards
conatiners Architecture.This paper is an attempt to explore this containers architecture, by
studying the different opportunities of reusing these steel volumes, that are usually supposed
to be left unused or expensively reprocessed in a complicated manufacturing process that not
only costs money but also consumes energy.This type of Architecture aims to create some ar-
chitectural spaces that hosts different functions, not only on the scale of an individual building
but also on a larger scale that can help in creating a quick or sometimes temporary solution for
a building that is structurally stable, environment friendly , with very high capabilities of
achieving aesthetic values that can be utilized by people. Going through this study, it will per-
fom an analysis for some projects and case studies from many points of views, Geometrical-
ly,Architecturaly,structuraly, financialy, and of course environmentaly.

Index Terms:

Containers Architecture - cargotecture - Shipping Containers, Recycling, architectural spaces, reuse of

materials.

——————————  ——————————

1. INTRODUCTION
Shipping container architecture could be defined as that type of architecture that is generally
charactrised by the re-use of steel shipping containers as a structural element and Architectur-
al envelope that can host a specific function or a human activity. It is sometimes referred to
as cargotecture, a mixture of cargo with architecture.The use of containers as a building mate-
rial has grown in popularity in the past several years due to their inherent strength, wide
availability, and relatively low expense(s).It was also noticed recently that many people built
homes with containers because they are seen as more eco-friendly than traditional building
materials such as brick and reinforced concrete structure, taking also in consideration the
short time required to erect a building in this way, with future possibilities of moving these
buildings to other locations or adding extra spaces or volumes.

1
What is a shipping container?
A shipping container is a steel box-usually cuboid-
with a suitable strength to withstand shipment,
storage, and handling. Shipping containers range
from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal
shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes. In
the context of international shipping trade, "con-
tainer" or "shipping container" is virtually synony-
mous with "(standard) intermodal freight contain-
er" (a container designed to be moved from one
mode of transport to another without unloading
and reloading)1

Figure 3: Bearing Loads on Corner Posts.

Figure 4:points of loading in a traditional Shipping Container.

2. FACTS

The following table shows the standard dimen-

Figure 1: Shipping Container
sions, volumes and weights of the shipping
conatiners.

Figure 5: Various Shipping Container Dimensions.

3. Expected lifetime of a shipping container.

Figure 2: Shipping Container Dimensions. Depending on the use of the container, shipping
containers are designed and manufactured to cope
with a long and arduous life moving goods around
While shipping containers are constructed to be the world, accordingly they are very sturdy and
used again and again, many eventually fall into secure. A used container will usually have been in
disuse and end up sitting around the ports in Chi- international operation for in excess of 10 years and
na, northern Europe and the United States. It is sometimes longer but depending on use, location
reported that an estimated 17 to 20 million of these and reasonable maintenance it is not unreasonable
ISO containers are peppered across the globe at any to expect a further 10 plus years of use. While new
given time, with as many as 1 million of them containers will have completed one journey from
simply sitting around taking up space their country of manufacture and with reasonable
use and maintenance can be expected to complete
over 30 years as a storage container.

2
4. Using shipping containers in creating various
architectural spaces.

One of the main questions raised in Conatiners

architecture, is why a steel shipping container can
be reused to create a liveable space. Knowing that
geometricaly any space could be defined by differ-
ent planes, horizontal and vertical, with a spatial
relationship that organizes this space, defines it,
and represents the human function that this space
was created to be performed in, with the scale and
dimensions, another value is added, thus leading to
a better performance in this function, or another
function that could be added or performed.so look-
ing at any steel shipping container, the main and
basic conditions of a space exists, with some modi-
fications it can host various human activities of
functions, thus creating not only functioning
spcaces but also interesting spaces for people to
live , use and enjoy.

5. Why could a shipping container be used as a

space unit that can create a building or a
group of buildings.

6.1. The composition of the shipping container:

Any shipping container is composed of 6 planes,

floor, top, and four sides, made of steel, in regular
corrugations that help in making these sides strong
enough to tolerate loads, or pressures that may
occur during the transportation process, in addi-
tion to steel posts and enforcements whether in the
corners, or intersections of these planes(sides), or
below the floor, or above the top. Accordingly, as a
structure, its designed to resist forces as mentioned
that exceeds the forces being developed in many
architectural spaces like residences, offices, dorms,
etc.

6.2. 2-Storage Order:

Shipping Containers are designed to be stacked

under very prescriptive loading conditions. Its im-
possible to see containers stacked on-board ships or
even in shipping yards other than the way they
were designed and intended to be stacked – ie in
horizontal and vertical alignment and the reason
for this, that they are simply not designed to carry
the types of loads created by “criss-cross stacking”. Figure 6: Steel Container Exploded View showing its structural
compostion.

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  Recording studios.
 Abstract art exhibitions.
 Transportable factories.
 Experimental labs.
 Combatant temporary containment (ventilated).
 Bathrooms.
 Showers.
 Workshops.
 Intermodal sealed storage on ships, trucks, and
trains.
 House foundations on unstable seismic zones.
 Elevator/stairwell shafts.
 Hotels.
 Construction trailers.
 Mine site accommodations.
 Aviation maintenance facilities.
 Food Trucks.
Talking more specifically on real life projects, Ship-
ping containers have been used all over the world
in creating various projects, and in various coun-
tries , with very different scales and functions, the
following are case studies been explored and ana-
lysed for what globally known as container archi-
tecture, starting from a very simple residence till
large scale developments.
Figure 7: Shipping Order of conatiners in regular horizontal and
vertical lines. 6.1. Small Size Residence2
small Shipping Container Cabin
6. Building functions that shipping conatiners can  This small Shipping Container Cabin was created
host. in 2008.
As a result of its structural compostion, a shipping  It is composed of two 20 ft shipping containers
container, in addition to its uniform, regular cuboid stacked on top of each other in a cross cross con-
shape, besides its modular size(s), many functions figuration, this seems to bear out that criss-cross
inside a building or even complete buildings could stacking can be done as anothe solution or alter-
be easily constructed by reusing these containers, native of formulating a non traditional box shape.
several examples existed all over the world for  Adding some modifications and reinforcement
functions or buildings that was constructed this required carrying the loads, specifically the addi-
way. In general shipping containers could be re- tional I beams and supports.
used to construct these kinds of build-  Reinforcement is required not only in the lower
ings/functions: container but in the upper container as well, the
 Affordable housing. walls of a standardized container are not de-
 Press boxes. signed to support the placing of a container off
 Emergency hurricane shelters for thoroughbred the corner points, that means the upper container
horses. is balanced.
 Concession stands.  its not just a case of getting a crane to drop the
 Fire training facility. two containers down on top of each other as it is
 Military training facility. atheistically pleasing to human eye by applying a
 Emergency shelters. specific color theme.
 School buildings.  Modofcations have been made to connect the 2
 Apartment and office buildings. conatiners vertically thus creating a staircase that
 Artists' studios. connects the 2 levels.
 Stores.  This criss cross stacking created ashaded area on
 Moveable exhibition spaces on rails. both sides of the lower container besides two ter-
 Bank vaults. races on both sides of the upper container.
 Medical clinics.  Possibitity of adding a third container on top of
 Radar stations. the second one, in case of needing an extra space.
 Shopping malls.
 Sleeping rooms.

4
 Figure 9: floor plans showing the internal and external spaces been
created using the 2 containers on top of each other.

6.2. Shipping Container Guest House 3

 This guest house is made out from a recycled
shipping container. Because of the container’s na-
ture not a wide range of possibilities is available
to decorate it,The container was painted blue and
two sections were cut and windows and big slid-
ing doors were mounted.
 There is a small patio in front and above it a bit
of a roof so the rain doesn’t smash directly into
the door. The interior feature wood panels on
walls for the sensation of warmth and comfort.
 Bold combinations of colors and materials make
from this structure a fine place to hang out look-
ing permanently to the surrounding landscape.
This unique residence idea and design belongs
to Poteet Architects and you should know that
this is not their only project involving shipping
containers.

Figure 8: criss cross configuration of 2 containers on top of each

other.

5
Figure 10: Making some modifications in the vertical planes to Figure 13: the guest house could be also a temporary residence.
create doors and windows.

Figure 14: the guest house green roof .

Figure 11: using wood for the internal planes to change the indus-
trial look of the container.
6.3. Mid-Size Residences 4
Applying the same way, not only to a single or
double shipping containers, many containers could
be utilised to create a larger scale, with different
configurations to host families of bigger size, with a
bigger number of spaces, wether inernally or exter-
naly.
The DeWitt and Kasravi Sea Container Home
 The home was designed by Modulus using four
high cube shipping containers.
 The containers were pre-fabricated off-site then
delivered to California before they were re-
assembled.
 The very top floor has nine skylights fitted into
the roof which provides huge amounts of natural
light.

Figure 12: the integration of the guest house with the surrounding
environment.

6
Figure 15: staking the containers in a way that can create an exter-
nal space.

Figure 17: various configurations of staking the containers can lead

to various models of residential units.

Figure 16: floor plan showing the internal and external spaces.

7
 Figure 19: Keetwonen is the biggest container city in the world.

Figure 20: Keetwonen is the biggest container city in the world

Figure 18: various configurations of staking the containers can lead
to various models of residential units. Tempohousing‘s Keetwonen project was created in
2005. Residents may technically be studying in con-
6.4. Keetwonen in Amsterdam, The Nether- tainers, but by no means are the individual rooms
lands 5 bare boned; each room has a bathroom, kitchen,
Keetwonen is the name of the biggest container balcony, and even high-speed Internet. The tempo-
city in the world ,Living in a converted shipping rary project was originally meant to move on this
container was a new concept in the Netherlands year, but residents will be happy to know that relo-
when launched by Tempohousing, but the city of cation will not take place until 2016. And upon re-
Amsterdam took the step to contract Tempohous- location, yes, the home can go with you.
ing to go and realize it. It turned out to be a big
success among students in Amsterdam and it is
now the second most popular student dormitory
offered by the student housing corporation "De
Key" (www.dekey.nl) in Amsterdam. The initial
fears of some people that the container
homeswould be too small, too noisy, too cold or too
hot, all turned out to be unfounded: : they turned
out to be spacious, quiet and well insulated and
certainly offer value for money, compared to other
student homes in the city.
Figure 21: floor plan for a typical room.
They also come complete with amenities often
missing in other student dormitories: own bath-
room and kitchen, balcony, separate sleeping and
study room, large windows that provide daylight
and a view and even an automatic ventilation sys-
tem. The whole project was designed with an eye
on how students like to live: a place for yourself,
not having to share the shower and the toilet with
strangers, but at the same time lots of possibilities
to participate in the social life of the dormitory,
including the many parties that come with being a
student. The blocks have a closed off internal area
for safe bicycle parking.

8
 succession of full and empty spaces that gives the
structure a more visual transparency.
 The new town is the result of the transformation
of old containers in modular housing units
equipped with every comfort. Mounted on a met-
al grid, the containers have given shape to a four-
story building that houses 100 apartments of 24
square meters each.
 The architect Cattani said the thoughts that ac-
companied her work. “How do I prevent stu-
dents, prospective tenants, they feel put in the
box? Compelling needs have arisen. Necessary to
conceive of a lightweight, transparent, and cer-
tainly not solid. Hence the idea of independent
living, to avoid the stacking effect.”
 The solution was found in a metal frame that acts
Figure 22: using a destictive color helped in creating an eyecatch- as a structural support to the old container, while
ing mass of rooms. allowing to stagger the units, and create new
space for walkways, patios and balconies.
 The metal structure – Cattani says – allows a bet-
ter identification of the different rooms, and en-
hances them through the external extensions that
become terraces and balconies. The sequences of
the transverse corridors giving access to the
apartments on the façade create a succession of
full and empty spaces that gives the structure a
more visual transparency.
 The building designed by the metal structure is
spread over four floors, which are distributed on
the 100 studios. The first level was raised from
the ground. In this way, the units here guests can
Figure 23: the designer worked on creating dynamic external spac-
enjoy the same privacy afforded to units on the
es. upper floors.
 All the apartments overlook a garden inside and
6.5. Cité A Docks are equipped on both ends of the glass walls that
 Architect: Cattani Architects allow natural lighting of spaces.
 Location: La Havre, France  To ensure maximum heat and sound insulation,
 Date: 2010 the walls of the container adjacent to the outside
 Cité A Docks is a creative student housing pro- and those that divide the different units have
ject, located in Le Havre, France. been coated with fire walls in reinforced concrete
 100 new student dorm rooms were created by 40cm wide, and come within layers of rubber to
dampen vibrations.
transforming old shipping containers into a four-
story building.  The external facade is designed by the combina-
 Each apartment has 24 square meters and in- tion of the old “boxes” that has kept the undulat-
ing, repainted in metallic gray. Inside, the design-
cludes a bathroom and a kitchen, which is just
ers chose white walls and wooden furniture. Each
about everything a student could need.
studio has a bathroom and a kitchen.
 when seeing the exterior of this building, as it
looks too “metallic” and industrial while the
overall gray certainly doesn’t go with the exuber-
ance and energy of students.
 the architects had to say about this: “The metal
structure allows a better identification of the dif-
ferent rooms, and enhances them through the ex-
ternal extensions that become terraces and balco-
nies.
 The sequences of the transverse corridors giving
access to the apartments on the façade creates a

9
Figure 24: the designer worked on creating dynamic external spac-
es.

Figure 26: containers staking in various directions created a dis-

tinctive urban configuration.

Figure 25: plans and sections through the room – shipping con-
tainer.

10
Figure 27: a steel skeleton was constructed to host the containers.

11
 6.6. Cultural centers.
Platoon Kunsthalle, berlin, Germany.
 An example of shipping container architecture.
 Platoon Kunsthalle serves as an exciting and
inspiring new exhibit hall and art center in
Germany, berlin
 Built from standard shipping containers by
Graft Lab Architects.
 the Kunsthalle, provides a modern space where
new ideas thrive and creativity is let loose.
 The building houses art studio space, exhibit
areas, a restaurant and bar, as well as lots of
open space to gather
 Platoon Kunsthalle is designed as an experi- Figure 30: stability of structure.
mental space for artists and creatives, and for
the members of the Platoon Network.
 Opened on 2012

Figure 28: internal view showing the spans that can be created.
Figure 31: creating a transparent elevation by removing the doors
amd replacing them with glass panels.

Figure 29: vertical staking of containers lead to a reasonable height

that is suitable for art works display. Figure 32: main elevation with sculpture displays.

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 6.7. Office spaces 6 cial property options.
 Dundee’s burgeoning creative sector has been  When fully developed, it is expected that start-
boosted by the opening of a new business dis- ups and smaller firms will use District 10 as a
trict which could house scores of companies stepping stone before moving to larger spaces
and hundreds of workers — in used shipping elsewhere in the city.
containers.  “We have some traditional spaces within the
 The first unit in the futuristic District 10 project, city, but not a huge amount,” he said. “And for
in former railway yards at Seabraes, has been a small company that doesn’t have the capital
created from 37 of the distinctly unglamorous or resources behind them, that can be a big ask.
steel boxes.  “These are really high-quality spaces, which we
 It comprises 15 offices suitable for small busi- expect will attract the type of digital and crea-
nesses and start-ups. tive companies we want to attract and allow a
 With another eight units on the drawing board, space for them to set up in.”
a new creative and digital quarter of the city is  Dundee architecture company aim and quantity
set to be created as demand ramps up. surveyor Christie and Partners worked on the
 The cutting-edge space, created at a cost of £1.7 project, with construction carried out by Living-
million thanks to funding from Scottish Enter- ston-based Maxi. Colliers International
prise, the European Regional Development is handling lettings.
Fund, charity Matthew Trust and the Scottish  The pop-up Boxpark Shopping Centre in Lon-
Government, is designed to be low-cost and don, which hosts big brands and specialist
flexible, but also boasts excellent stores alongside cafes and restaurants, is one of
environmental credentials under the BREEAM the most successful examples of the ship-
assessment scheme. ping container concept.
 “I think the marker is when you’re sitting next
to people on the train and you hear them say
‘What the Hell is that?’ — that’s when you
know you’ve got quite a special design,” Scot-
tish Enterprise’s Mick McHugh said of the
“highly innovative and highly distinctive”
building at Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
 It is expected District 10 will eventually house
companies employing a total of 500 people and
contribute about £10m to Scotland’s economy
each year.
 The creative and digital industries will likely be
a particular area of focus for lettings.
 With one tenant already in situ and a further
three expected to move in soon, Mr McHugh Figure 33: using colors to break the regular monotonity of vertical
said he was “optimistic” construction of the & Horizontal staking of shipping containers.
next building in the nine-strong development
would not be far away.
 “What we’re looking for is that the volume is
there and the interest is there,” SE’s location di-
rector for Tayside said. “And I suppose that’s
all part of the economy’s recovery, too.
 “But because we’re working closely with part-
ners, there’s a lot of market intelligence we can
work with.
 “It’s about that intelligence — it’s certainly not
that this unit needs to be fully let before we
build another.”
 Seabraes had been “zoned” for a digital media
park for some time, and is a key part of major Figure 34: attempts to create an attractive building façade.
regeneration works on the waterfront. Sites
alongside have already been earmarked for
housing, too.
 City development director Mike Galloway said
District 10 would improve on existing commer-

13
 6.8. Crou in Le Havre, France 7 structure intends to make use of recycled containers,
stacked in a somewhat pyramidal arrangement
From what it appears in the images, one side of the con-
tainer will function as the entrance, and will have connect-
ing stairs and platforms to reach the entrance.
There is an environmental benefit associated with it which
is it puts surplus containers to use instead of letting them
slowly rust in a landfill.

Figure 35: The pyramid-like arrangement of shipping containers.

 Olgga Architects made a livable, pyramid-like structure

out of these 100 recycled shipping containers.
 Each container makes up one room, and appears to be
much more spacious than jail-cell-sized accommodations
back in college
 A housing complex for students have been designed by Figure 38: One of the room typologies.
the french architectural firm Olgga Architects.
 The designed hostel will be built on 100 recycled shipping The project is named Crou, and will be spread over an area
containers. of 30,700 square feet on the school campus. It is an interest-
 And they named it “CROU”. This is called green technol- ing design, and appears to be a well designed project. What
ogy. What a thought!!! It’s really amazing. would be interesting to see is how the architects deal with
the problem of noise that would be inherent to this all metal
structure. But there should be a way to take care of that in
the 4.45 million euro budget this has.

Figure 36: Front View.

 Shipping container structures are seen gaining a lot of

popularity in current times. Not only are they beautiful
and stylish, but also portable, affordable, durable and eco-
friendly. This time I introduce you to a student housing
complex built from recycled shipping containers.

Figure 39: Another room typologies.

Puma City
 Puma City is an 11,000-square-foot store, crafted with 24
red shipping containers, located a mere stone’s throw
from Boston’s Fenway Park.

Figure 37: 'Crou' student housing made from 100 recycled shipping containers  Puma City is a three level indoor-outdoor structure, con-
structed out of 24 steel shipping containers.
 Olgga architects, a French firm shaped 100 shipping con-
 The building acts as a store, lounge and mobile home
tainers into a sturdy, economical and sustainable student
base at different ports around the world.
housing in Le Havre, France. Each of these containers will
function as an individual room for a student while max-
imizing space limitations. Dubbed the ‘Crou’, the 2,851m2
14
 The structure is designed to be easily taken apart,
shipped and reassembled anywhere in the world.

Figure 41: London shipping containers city.

7. CONCLUSIONS
Athough having a very systematic and regular shape, ship-
Figure 40: Puma City – external and internal views.
ping conatiners could be reused to create not only function-
6.9. London Container City I, II: al spaces, but also various configurations of architectural
Early in the Trinity Buoy Wharf project we devised an in- programs or functions, that vary from a very simple resi-
novative way of building affordable new workspace. Con- dential unit, to a small office building extending to a shop-
tainer City is a fully flexible modular system of using re- ping mall, or a cultural center, that hosts bigger number of
dundant shipping containers to create stylish and high users. Many attempts have been done globally to create
quality, yet affordable, accommodation for a range of uses. interesting architectural space(s), that can be constructed in
The prototypes, "Container City 1" and “Container City 2” a relatively short interval of time, with a reasonable cost.
were built at Trinity Buoy Wharf in 2000 and 2002, and Possibilities are extended also to compose liveable urban
since then a growing number of projects has been prefabri- spaces, that can be easily constructed and relevantly in a
cated in the Wharf's workshops, commissioned by a variety low budget within a short time, in addition to the flexibility
of local authorities, educational and health establishments and possibility of been reconstructed in other locations or
and private companies. In 2005 the Fawood Children’s sites. Containers architecture is not a rigid type of construc-
Centre in Stonebridge, North London, made of containers, tion of buildings or spaces configuration, although its based
was shortlisted for the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize. on the modularity of volumes, yet many examples showed
USM’s headquarters at the Wharf occupy part of the largest a wide range of varieties in spaces externaly and internally.
Shipping Containers Architecture Benefits could be
and most recent Container City structure, “The Riverside
briefed in the following points:
Building”, made from 73 containers and providing 22 sepa-
 Eco-reusing thousands of unused containers scattered
rate units on five floors, completed in September 2005.
around global shores
This versatile modular system is an outstanding example of
recycling in practice, cutting both building costs and con-  Economical, with empty shipping containers costing
struction times dramatically and, with its strong yet light- anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 each.
weight framework, keeping the need for environmentally  shipping containers are typically stronger than wooden
damaging concrete foundations to a minimum. frames, durable and made from galvanized steel,
One of the most famous container building in the world,  the modular design leads to an Easily designed plans
Container City II is easily recognisable by its ziggurat shape with the ability to place containers side-by-side or up to
and bright colours designed to reflect the creative nature of 12 empty containers on top of each other
who occupy its 22 studios.  Reinforced and ready for reuse, people have assembled
As the second phase of the original Container City project at pre-built homes in as few as three days
Trinity Buoy Wharf, Container City II is both an extension  Resistant to mold, fire and termites
and evolution of the first building.  Can be converted into homes wherever is most conven-
Built adjacent to Container City I, with inter-connecting ient, and then easily transported and assembled at final
bridges, a new lift and full disabled access, Container City II destination
was completed in 2002 providing a further five floors of  Materials age well and require very little maintenance
workspace and a great focal point to this exciting arts quar-  When building a house with shipping containers homes
ter. can be modified later on to include new modules
8. FURTHER RESEARCHES THAT CAN BE DONE
BASED ON THIS RESEARCH
 Several researches can study the possibilities of using
Containers Architecture in constructing low cost hous-
ing projects, wether in Egypt or in developing countries
that need a quick solution to maintain a shelter for the
homeless people.

15
 Studying the possibilities of high rise buildings using Figure 42: Another room typologies. .......................................... 14
shipping containers. Figure 43: Puma City – external and internal views. .................... 15
 Wider emphasis on urban configurations using shipping Figure 44: London shipping containers city. ................................ 15
containers.
10. REFERENCES
9. TABLE OF FIGURES
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Figure 2: Shipping Container Dimensions. .............................. 2 Smaller and the World Economy Bigger." Princeton University
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Figure 3: Bearing Loads on Corner Posts. ...................................... 2
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Figure 4:points of loading in a traditional Shipping Container. ......... 2
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Figure 5: Various Shipping Container Dimensions. ......................... 2
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vertical lines. .............................................................................. 4  McKinlay, A. H., "Transport Packaging", Institute of Packaging
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Figure 12: the integration of the guest house with the surrounding
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environment. .............................................................................. 6
 Kramer, Sibylle (2014). The Box Architectural Solutions with
Figure 13: the guest house could be also a temporary residence. ...... 6
Containers.
Figure 15: the guest house green roof . ......................................... 6  Broto, Carles (2015). Radical Container Architecture.
Figure 16: staking the containers in a way that can create an external  Broeze, Frank (2002). "The Globalisation of the Oceans: Containerisa-
space. ........................................................................................ 7 tion from the 1950s to the Present". International Journal of Mari-
Figure 17: floor plan showing the internal and external spaces. ........ 7 time History (Canada: International Maritime Economic History As-
Figure 18: various configurations of staking the containers can lead to sociation)
various models of residential units. ............................................... 7  Helsel, Sand (September–October 2001). "Future Shack: Sean God-
Figure 19: various configurations of staking the containers can lead to sell's prototype emergency housing redeploys the ubiquitous
various models of residential units. ............................................... 8 shipping container". Architecture Australia.
Figure 20: Keetwonen is the biggest container city in the world. ...... 8  Myers, Steven Lee (May 19, 2006). "From Soviet-Era Flea Market to
Figure 21: Keetwonen is the biggest container city in the world ....... 8 a Giant Makeshift Mall". The New York Times.
Figure 22: floor plan for a typical room. ....................................... 8  1www.abbreviations.com
Figure 23: using a destictive color helped in creating an eyecatching  2www.containerhome.info -containers.html
mass of rooms............................................................................. 9  3www.homedit.com
Figure 24: the designer worked on creating dynamic external spaces.  4houztex.com
................................................................................................. 9  5flavorwire.com

Figure 25: the designer worked on creating dynamic external spaces.  6www.thecourier.co.uk

............................................................................................... 10  7freshome.com

Figure 26: plans and sections through the room – shipping container.
............................................................................................... 10
Figure 27: containers staking in various directions created a
distinctive urban configuration. .................................................. 10
Figure 28: a steel skeleton was constructed to host the containers. . 11
Figure 29: internal view showing the spans that can be created. .... 12
Figure 30: vertical staking of containers lead to a reasonable height
that is suitable for art works display. ........................................... 12
Figure 31: stability of structure. ................................................. 12
Figure 32: creating a transparent elevation by removing the doors
amd replacing them with glass panels. ......................................... 12
Figure 33: main elevation with sculpture displays. ....................... 12
Figure 34: using colors to break the regular monotonity of vertical &
Horizontal staking of shipping containers. ................................... 13
Figure 35: attempts to create an attractive building façade. ........... 13
Figure 36: The pyramid-like arrangement of shipping containers. 14
Figure 37: Front View. .............................................................. 14
Figure 38: 'Crou' student housing made from 100 recycled shipping
containers................................................................................. 14
Figure 41: One of the room typologies. ...................................... 14

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