Daiken-Met Architects just designed and built a movable office building made from steel storage containers. The company is now using their building, named Sugoroku Office, for their own office headquarters.
Daiken-Met Architects found it hard to secure a plot of land permanently in the urban areas of Japan. They purchased the small plot of land as a rental for their temporary portable housing office. They agreed to remove and reconstruct their office building every few years, and the agreement is part of their lease.
Premium Offices with Balconies
Exactly seven units, 20 by 40 feet each, make up the office building. There are two balconies in the office and three levels in total. There is an extra steel foundational frame to help take some of the load off of the units. There are white staircases leading up to each level from the outside of the building. The container doors, left intact, are able to open on each level. This makes the office building open and welcoming from the outside.
Nice Finishes on the Walls
The architects finished the inside of the Sugoroku building with plywood and packing bands from construction sites. The balcony walls are made from orange- netted fencing from construction sites. This fits with their aim towards sustainable building practices. The exposed panels of the portable storage container units, along with bits and pieces of construction site items, add to the ingenuity and overall aesthetic of the building. There are circulation routs going all the way up to the third floor.
The building is currently assembled in Gifu, Japan. The company uses the unique building has offices, housing space, and storage, all within the standard ISO boxes.
Recognition
Daiken-Met Architects continues to construct unique, contemporary structures. The Sugoroku Office building has been published in many architectural journals, including New Construction and Design Boom. The company is currently working on completing Hozumi Sun Village Station and Swan Rehabilitation Center.