MASBE
GROUP Inc
The Challenge - Container Dwellings
An unique urban living challenge presented itself in my office recently. A living environment with containers as the core building blocks. Generally one needs to choose one or the other, 20' or 40'. The design solution was to recycle the containers into affordable urban building space. An efficient, simple structure was required for the limited budget. The concept developed into an arrangement of small intimate spaces within the containers. The interior design must have views, bed and a small living space. The design must also encompass an affordable assembly of wood trusses, steel roofing and wall finishes, as well as integral container door balconies.
The shipping container industry produces a lot of these containers each and every year. They are used to transport goods all over the world. It's estimated that 90 percent of the world's trade today moves in containers. One hundred million container loads crisscross the world's oceans each year in over 5,000 container ships. There is a very good chance that many of the products you purchase arrive in your country in a shipping container. When Malcolm McLean invented them in the 1950's, they represented a real revolution in the transportation industry.
Project name: Peace Containers
Quote from their website: "Peace Containers is a not-for-profit organization that has perfected a method and system to economically convert retired international shipping containers into sustainable housing and community buildings such as medical facilities, schools and neighborhood centers. The proven system is based on matching a team of our experts with local citizens to create needed structures, to teach skills to local team members and to aid local economic development. This training and knowledge will better prepare the residents to help the advancement of their own communities and raise their own personal standard of living."
Travelodge Hotels UK built a hotel made out of shipping containers in Uxbridge, UK, the Uxbridge Central Hotel, pictured here.
Starbucks is now operating out of a shipping container building in Tukwila, Washington as of January, 2012.
Background facts : Below is are lists of projects for shipping container houses and other buildings such as community centers, schools, and medical centers, that I have found in the WWW.