Thirteen retired cargo containers have been put to use as building materials for a new office space for two printing companies. The Belgian design group five AM developed the sleek new office space.

Companies, Drukta, and Formail, wanted something special for their new office space, which is in a large hall area. The companies wanted to create an open and immersive space, where visitors can see the large printing machinery at work. The employee workspaces are also very open, and have access to natural light. Some of the sides of the units have been replaced with floor to celling panes of glass.

Uniting Two Design Approaches

The thirteen refurbished units have been creatively incorporated into the large warehouse space. Some containers are painted black, some are painted bright yellow, and some have textured glass walls. Some of the units are open to the outdoors on one side, while others are tucked away within the building, acting as an office apart from the large warehouse floor. A couple of the boxes are stacked on top of one another to create a two- story office space within the one story warehouse.

Mathieu Bellens and Olivier Caluwier created five AM Design Company in 2011. Their aesthetic is inspiring and simple. The build coincides with the sleek modern lines of five AM designs. With just a couple of updates and modern touches, the recycled boxes are transformed into modern offices.

Premium on Efficiency

Five AM designs has helped the printing companies, Drukta and Formail, by creating a clean and efficient space. By using recycled units, the designers have also saved the printing companies money, resource, and time. Using the units as building materials is easier and more efficient than using new materials to create rooms from scratch. The steel units are easily assembled and are incredibly durable.

UK Continues Trend

The posh DockBar in Manchester, London now has a second edition, the DockLounge. These two buildings, constructed from used containers, were designed by WhiteCrate UK design firm. DockLounge is made of two standard 40-foot units, and one high-cube. The three units together create a spacious inner room where up to 80 entrants can mingle.

There is a cozy log fire pit in the middle of the room to keep the lounging guests warm. The interior decorating is reminiscent of a modern log cabin, possibly taking inspiration from the log burning in the center of the room.

Commercial in Europe

Another trendy building made out of refurbished units is the colorful Renault Pavilion on I’ile Seguin, in Paris. The building, made out of 15 steel boxes, is a small museum of sorts, to display information about the Renault factories on the island in the 1920’s. The containers that make up this building are painted in an array of bright colors, and are mostly supported off the ground. Underneath the building is a courtyard with a glass case displaying an early car from the factory.

Residential in the US

While commercial construction is flourishing in Europe, plans for more homes are gaining ground in the United States. A new project called The Power of Green Housing Development is coming to Detroit, Michigan. Steven C. Flum designed the project, and he is hoping it will become the first Luxury “multi-family home” in the country. The project calls for 20 residencies on four floors, 1, 2, or 3 bedroom apartments. The actual square footage will range from 960 to 1,920 square feet. Flum has planned to stack the recycled steel units in uneven ways to create natural shaded overhangs and balconies. The project offers space and cost efficient housing in the United States, another affordable and trendy way to build with containers.

A new school was built in Anyang, Korea, and it is made entirely out of recycled containers. The “APAP Open School” was made by LOT-EK, a firm located in America. The construction was completed in 2010, and since then, the exquisite building has received many awards, including the 2011 Aiany Architecture Honors Award, and the 2011 American Architecture Award.

It is fitting that this new art school in Korea is a work of art itself. The eight portable storage containers that make up the building are located in a park area near a river, and they are lifted three meters above the ground. The outside of the building is painted with bright yellow and black. Letters so large they are almost abstracted spell out “APAP 2012” on the side of the building.

Faster Building Times

The construction of the school took less than six months. Storage unit construction is incredibly quick because the units can be assembled off site and transported onto the site already made. This is how the school was built, and then two crews worked on the finishing touches of the interior and exterior spaces.

Different Arrangements

The storage units are not stacked in the traditional sense, which is one on top of the other, locking into place with the installed locking system. Instead, the boxes are stacked diagonally and cut at 45 degrees. This architectural structure makes it appear as if the units are floating off the ground and gathered into an abstract sculpture.

Under the cover of the most elevated part of the school, lies an amphitheater. This outdoor theatre is a community-gathering place and focal point.

Designed for Natural Light

Many of the units now have floor to celling glass windows on the shorter sides of their walls. The large windows allow natural light to come into the building, and they also allow for great views of the surrounding landscape. The APAP Open School will most likely continue to receive awards and appreciation for its creative architecture.

Modular construction is a hot topic in the design world, frequently applauded for its economic resourcefulness and efficiency. Homes and buildings constructed with recycled containers are saving natural resources and construction efforts. Structures that are built with the steel storage boxes are often space and design efficient. So it is a surprise to find a luxurious implementation of storage container housing, introducing, the “Sauna Box”.

The Sauna Box is just that- a steel box transformed into a private sauna. Think of it as the upper echelon of outhouses. The Sauna Box is designed by Castor Canadensis, a design studio located in Canada. The company builds each sauna according to the site, and once built, the sauna is portable.

Individuals can purchase their own Sauna Box for about $41,000 U.S. dollars.

Enclosed in Steel

The outer walls of the sauna are made of steel, which offers stability and durability. The steel walls are made to withstand seawater and harsh winds that the cargo units encounter on journeys across the oceans. For this same reason, the steel boxes are water- tight. Now this seal is used to keep steam in as well as water out.

Same Cozy Interior

The inside of the cozy sauna is paneled with western red cedar wood. There is a wood fired stove inside, used to power the sauna. This energy is boosted with solar panels that are installed on the roof. Even the luxury storage unit building maintains a notion of environmental resourcefulness.

The furnishings inside include a hand carved stool and a hand carved sink, both made of stone. There are also novelty bronze antlers included for some spruced up décor. The wood paneling may make the inside look rustic, but there are up to date technology hook ups included. There is an iPod stereo and electric guitar hook up in each “Sauna Box”.

Starbucks has opened another “first” for itself in Seattle. The home to the company’s first store is now home to the first of a unique type of store: the “reclamation drive-thru”. This store is made of four recycled shipping containers, which Starbucks has reclaimed and turned into an architectural interest point in Tukwila, a neighborhood of Seattle.

Store Details

The store is 450-square-feet in total, with the four cargo units combined. There is an additional 20-by-8-foot unit for garbage that is not attached to the main building. The four boxes are each 40-by-8-feet, and are arranged in an aesthetically intriguing way. One of the second-story containers juts out to create a type of arch for cars to drive under when using the drive thru. The unconventional design of the store adds to its design and interest. Contemporary artwork decorates the surfaces of the units. There is also an outdoor dining area on one side of the building.

Why Containers?

The internationally known coffee brand decided to build a store out of containers because of their direct connection to the product. Coffee and tea is imported from all over the world, and brought to Starbucks stores everywhere.

Starbucks Dedicated to Reducing Footprint

The “reclamation drive-thru” is one answer to the company’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint. Anthony P., the global store design senior manager, commented on the new store: it was “inspired by a desire to help keep items used throughout our supply chain, like old portable storage containers, out of the waste stream.” By recycling the steel from the units, Starbucks is reducing its use of materials and keeping the old boxes from cluttering the coastline.

What is in store for Starbucks as the company becomes more sustainable? There has been brainstorming on using the steel material from the boxes to make patio furniture. Can we expect more stores made out of containers? Hopefully this “first” for Starbucks isn’t the last.

The up-and-coming project in Vancouver to build a series of homes with storage containers just broke ground on Friday. This social housing project is the first of its kind in Canada, so the start of construction was a definite milestone for the people in downtown Vancouver. The purpose of this social housing project aligns with a city initiative to make more housing available to people in need in the downtown area by 2015.

Container Homes for the Homeless

The city of Vancouver collaborated with a non-profit group, so people who are helped by the group that are currently living in shelters and hotels, will move to the new container homes. The city is working with Atria Woman’s Resource Society, a non-profit that helps many women in the Downtown and Eastside. The social housing community is made up of 12 units, and out of these, 6 units will be inhabited by women 55 years and older.

Recycling Materials and Space

The city chose to build the units with recycled containers because of the freedom of portability, and the quick construction time. The modular homes will be constructed on the vacant city lots in no time. The choice is also an economic one; each unit costs $85,000 to build. Each home has 320-square feet, complete with a kitchen, bathroom, and laundry machines. The homes will give some residents in downtown Vancouver a welcome stability and safety, making the city a more welcoming place.

Colder Reception in Connecticut

While Vancouver is embracing container homes, one community in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is not so keen on the idea. A plan has been proposed to build portable homes in an affordable way. The plan specifics boast four buildings, each three or four story high, all residing on half an acre. The buildings are broken up to 11 units; so 11 different families could live there. 25 parking spaces are also provided in the plan.

Like the Vancouver social housing project, the Ridgefield proposal is meant to provide low-income housing, and one third of the units would be offered to social groups in need of affordable housing.

Negative Feedback

Even so, the affordable housing plan in Ridgefield is getting negative feedback from neighbors in the area, as well as one planning and zoning commission member. Neighbors are voicing concerns over the living density of the 11 units, as well as storm water run off consequences of the building site.

The shipping industry is not the most glamorized part of international trade, but it is perhaps the most crucial. Approximately 92% of the objects in the average American residents home have been transported via cargo units. The expansion of free trade around the globe has contributed to the growth in the global trade in the past two decades.

Global Reliance

Everyone from farmers, to big businesses like Target and Wal-Mart rely on portable storage units to get their goods to the market. The CEO of Seaspan Shipping, Gerry Wang, commented: “If you look at containers coming from China to the U.S., they ship a lot of iPhones, iPads, appliances, home décor items, and clothing.” He continued to list the type of items that are traveling from the U.S. to China, and these include paper and scrap metal. Wang also noted that the volume of shipping has quadrupled over the past two decades.

Shipping Play Big Role

A new shipping minister has just been named in the Department for Transport in the United Kingdom. Stephen Hammond MP has taken the position, and as one of his first actions, he visited the UK’s largest port. Hammond commented: “Shipping is crucial to the vitality of the UK economy.” He was pleased with the hard work happening at the Port of Felixstowe.

The Port of Felixstowe in the UK is a leader in intermodal rail transport and shipping. The steel standard, forty-by-eight foot boxes have a specific locking mechanism, which allows for them to be safely and efficiently transitioned from vessel to train, to truck. This versatility is a key asset of international transport with the steel units.

Evergreen Increases Fleet

One company that Stephen Hammond visited, Evergreen, has just increased its fleet capacity by 112,000 20-foot-equivalent units. This means the Taiwanese ocean carrier company can carry more steel containers than ever before. Hammond was pleased with the Evergreen company, it is a partner of Hutchison Ports. These various increases and improvements in the shipping industry in Taiwan and the UK reflect the subtle but steady growth of international trade today.

A year ago this weekend, the container mall opened in Christchurch. This anniversary is especially sentimental, as destruction from the Christchurch earthquake still exists in the area around the mall. The uniquely constructed mall is named “Re:Start”, which alludes to the fact that it was constructed after the earthquake in central Christchurch.

A series of connex boxes have been transformed into a vivid string of shops, painted in blues, greens, reds, oranges and yellows.

Embracing the Mall

The locals have embraced the Re:Start mall, and its construction gives them a sense of pride. The mall has been a cheerful escape from reality for the families and residents who were left without homes. Paul Lonsdale, Re:Start director, said that the goal of the cargo container mall was to “give shops and shoppers a reason to come to the central city after the February 22, 2011 earthquake”. This goal has been exceeded, as shoppers enjoy the mall even a year after its construction.

Appealing Design and Functional Composition

Londsdale said the contemporary design of the mall is what draws people to the central city now. The central city went from being a frightening place, which people referred to as “the red zone” to a place of gathering. Londsdale said that now businesses are making more than they were before the earthquake.

The Re:Start mall has been recognized internationally as well. Lonely Planet travel guide wrote a stunning review on the structure, and noted the colorful colors. Various architect and travel websites have similar reviews that endorse the design and idea behind the project.

New Plans for Development

A new retail and office complex will begin being constructed for $70 million at the end of March, so the Re:Start mall will stay in business until then. The mall was planned to be a temporary thing, but Londstale and others are hoping that the site can stay operational as a city gathering place. The destruction in Christchurch has now been a moment of opportunity for storage container construction and city renewal.

There has been movement in Honolulu’s City Council regarding housing for farmers. There has been a need for more affordable housing for the farmers that work on the land along the Leeward Coast. The famers that own the land need the housing for their employees, this ensures that crops can be harvested in an economic manor.

The government has been busy making sure they meet this need with a swift solution. Groups involved in the solution creation process include The American Planning Association, Hawaii State Department of Agriculture, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

The Solution is Containers

A solution is finally in sight and it involves mobile homes constructed from steel storage units. These sturdy units are eight feet by forty feet each, and can be stacked together thanks to the unique locking mechanism built into their edges. The steel boxes are weather resistant, which will be beneficial with the rains in Hawaii. The portable nature of the homes is an advantage for the landowners, because they still have the option to reorganize their crops if need be.

Plan Details

The Honolulu City Council is looking to offer Leeward Coast farmers the ability to put up to five shipping container homes on their property for their workforce to live in. This new move is officially called Resolution 12-74 CD1 and was up for adoption by the Zoning & Planning committee in September. Councilmember Tom Berg introduced the resolution initially.

If the resolution is passed, it will go into effect for the Leeward Coast area only. There are some other regulations to the resolution, including a five-year limit, and a five structure, or 1,600 square feet limit. These limits will be in effect through the first five-year trial period. If the new units home resolution turns out to be a success over the next five years, then the committee will re asses the guidelines.

Provides for Expansion

Farmers think being able to build portable storage homes on their property will increase their ability to keep long-term employees. One farmer, Kaiawe Makanani, says “A lot of resource goes into training new employees”, so he is looking forward to the ability to offer employees more affordable housing. The sustainability factor is also a plus for farmers, their modular “guest homes” will be completely off-the-grid, which allows them to expand their property in whatever way they need. The recycled containers are offering a creative and affordable solution to the farmers along the coast of Honolulu.

It is fall once again, although it may be hard to tell in Southern California. One sure sign that the autumn months have begun is the annual Art Walk in Elysian Valley, Los Angeles. Known affectionately as Frogtown, Elysian Valley has a substantial art community.

Going Beyond Artists’ Lofts

The 7th Annual Art walk went on all afternoon, and included more than thirty craftsmen and artists. This is the first year that the art walk has expanded past the artists’ personal studio lofts. With the use of portable storage containers, the festival was able to include more artists who are based in other parts of Los Angeles. Blake Avenue was lined with the steel units on the day of the festival.

Tracy Stone acted as organizer and architect for the event. She says “Our goal was to increase the number of artists at the walk, but also to infill the walk with exhibitors so that there wasn’t as much blank space between the studios and other workspaces, and the neighborhood.” The units are convenient because they can be transported in on a truck and transported back out within an hour or less.

Bigger than Your Usual Canvas

The steel boxes were larger-than-life blank canvases for artists to design. Benjamin Scharff filled his container-made studio with slide projections. His unit was tucked under a palm tree and was nearby to a busy food cart and hoola hooping area.

Sang Dae Lee is a Korean architect working in Los Angeles. He displayed drawing and models of his low-income housing ideas. How fitting that they were displayed in a stel structure! Sang Dae Lee did not want to see the modular studios leave so quickly, he was inspired by the many possibilities available for the open studios in the residential area.

Supporting the Mission

Sandra Mastroianni used her portable storage container gallery to show nine pieces from nine artists. She has a complete collection from each artist in her permanent studio, and she liked the opportunity to show a taste of her main gallery to a new group of people.

The use of containers supported the Frogtown Art Walk’s mission to utilize an urban space to bring people together to appreciate art.