The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture
Photo by Håkan Dahlström - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dahlstroms/
With the green premise growing in popularity across the globe, more and more people are turning to cargo container structures for green alternatives. There are countless numbers of empty, unused shipping containers around the world just sitting on shipping docks taking up space. The reason for this is that it’s too expensive for a country to ship empty containers back to their origin. In most cases, it’s just cheaper to buy new containers from Asia. The result is an extremely high surplus of empty shipping containers that are just waiting to become a home, office, apartment, school, dormitory, studio, emergency shelter, and everything else. More information after the break.
There are copious benefits to the so-called shipping container architecture model. A few of these advantages include: strength, durability, availability, and cost. The abundance and relative cheapness (some sell for as little as $900) of these containers during the last decade comes from the deficit in manufactured goods coming from North America. These manufactured goods come to North America, from Asia and Europe, in containers that often have to be shipped back empty at a considerable expense. Therefore, new applications are sought for the used containers that have reached their final destination.
Photo by SlapBcn - http://www.flickr.com/photos/slapbcn/
On November 23, 1987, Phillip C. Clark file for a United States patent describe as a “Method for converting one or more steel shipping containers into a habitable building at a building site and the product thereof.” This patent was granted on August 8, 1989 as patent 4854094. The diagrams and information contained within the documentation of the patent appear to lay the groundwork for many current shipping container architectural ideas.
In 2006, Southern California architect Peter DeMaria, designed the first two-story shipping container home in the U.S. as an approved structural system under the strict guidelines of the nationally recognized Uniform Building Code. Even more impressive is Lot-Tek’s Puma City, which was built with abundant material at a low price, without substituting design quality. As such, there are many great examples of shipping container architecture in the world.
Puma City, Photo by Ari Herzog - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ari-herzog/
Shipping container architecture gets a lot of encouraging coverage in the design world as a trendy green alternative to traditional building materials, and seems like a smart choice for people looking for eco-consciousness. However, there are a lot of downsides to building with cargo containers. For instance, the coatings used to make the containers durable for ocean transport also happen to contain a number of harmful chemicals, such as chromate, phosphorous, and lead-based paints. Moreover, wood floors that line the majority of shipping container buildings are infused with hazardous chemical pesticides like arsenic and chromium to keep pests away.
Photo by mr.push - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-push/
Reusing containers seems to be a low energy alternative, however, few people factor in the amount of energy required to make the box habitable. The entire structure needs to be sandblasted bare, floors need to be replaced, and openings need to be cut with a torch or fireman’s saw. The average container eventually produces nearly a thousand pounds of hazardous waste before it can be used as a structure. All of this, coupled with the fossil fuels required to move the container into place with heavy machinery, contribute significantly to its ecological footprint.
Another downside is that dimensionally, an individual container creates awkward living/working spaces. Taking into account added insulation, you have a long narrow box with less than eight foot ceiling. To make an adequate sized space, multiple boxes need to be combined, which again, requires energy.
Photo by john.duffell - http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnduffell/
In many areas, it is cheaper and less energy to build a similarly scaled structure using wood framing. Shipping container homes makes sense where resources are scarce, containers are in abundance, and where people are in need of immediate shelter such as, developing nations and disaster relief. While there are certainly striking and innovative examples of architecture using cargo containers, it is typically not the best method of design and construction.
Photos: Flickr user: Håkan Dahlström, Flick user: wendyfairy, Flickr user: SlapBcn, Flick user: RO/LU, Flickr user: pakitt, Flickr user: OneGoodEye, Flickr user: mr.push, Flickr user: Mr. Kimberly, Flickr user: Matt Brock, Flickr user: mark.hogan, Flick user: macguys, Flickr user: lorigami, Flickr user: john.duffell, Flickr user: JaviC, Flick user: Dom Dada, Flickr user: Ari Herzog
References: firmitas
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- Photo by Håkan Dahlström – http://www.flickr.com/photos/dahlstroms/
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- Photo by wendyfairy – http://www.flickr.com/photos/20575593@N00/
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- Photo by SlapBcn – http://www.flickr.com/photos/slapbcn/
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- Photo by RO/LU – http://www.flickr.com/photos/roludsgn/
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- Photo by pakitt – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pakitt/
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- Photo by OneGoodEye – http://www.flickr.com/photos/theonegoodeye/
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- Photo by OneGoodEye – http://www.flickr.com/photos/theonegoodeye/
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- Photo by mr.push – http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-push/
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- Photo by mr.push – http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-push/
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- Photo by Mr. Kimberly – http://www.flickr.com/photos/rkimberly/
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- Photo by Matt Brock – http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_brock/
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- cargo containers as stalls, Photo by mark.hogan – http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhogan/
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- Photo by macguys – http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiomacguys/
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- Photo by lorigami – http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorigami/
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- Photo by john.duffell – http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnduffell/
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- Photo by JaviC – http://www.flickr.com/photos/javic/
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- Photo by Dom Dada – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogil/
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- Puma City, Photo by Ari Herzog – http://www.flickr.com/photos/ari-herzog/
Thank you for this article, very interesting.
Question for the author. I’ve been doing research on shipping containers and have not found much info on the plywood floors and exactly what and how they are treated. Can you share the resource for your information regarding possible hazardous chemicals? Thanks.
An insightful article on what has become quite a plaything for architects.
In TreeHugger I just called this ” one of the most balanced and thoughtful articles I have seen on the subject of container architecture.”
I’ve been looking into building a garage from shipping containers. Some of the “cons” wouldn’t seem to apply (toxicity, for example) as much as they would when used for a dwelling. Or am I wrong?
Containers have been used in the war zone for quite awhile. After spending 15 months living/working in Afghanistan I can attest that they are more than adequate for temporary housing – or even permanent (somewhat permanent) housing in some parts of the world. I have seen 2-story office and dormitory structures created from containers. They can easily be combined and altered in many ways to create a functional, usuable space.
Very interesting, but can you give me your source of information about the toxicity? do you have scientific studies of that? or simply you are guessing? I will appreciate your answer, thanks
Seemed pretty straightforward to me. Care to back up your claim? Why is it so far from reality?
Most helpfull. I think we might regret the 90,s .Who wants rows of prefabricated craters as an architectural statement especially producing hazardous waste in the conversion . It stinks of recession and desperation
4:28 PM Aug 29th
via @archdaily The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/2pRJSt0 #Architecture
4:28 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/AurYZD2 #architecture
4:35 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture
http://t.co/JRXxxxW via @archdaily
4:40 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/TpOTk1j #architecture
4:42 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/TpOTk1j #architecture
4:47 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/TpOTk1j #architecture
4:55 PM Aug 29th
You really have to check this out @ArchDaily: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/FtYxR0g #architecture
4:59 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/T7cj4ge
5:06 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/apUJiZn via @archdaily
5:12 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/dsm7CCj via @archdaily
5:18 PM Aug 29th
Construir amb contenidors queda molt "cool" però no treu cap a res. Ah si, segurament et donen un premi d'#arquitectura http://t.co/zd9H8cg
5:27 PM Aug 29th
http://t.co/ONih99y
: http://t.co/ONih99y
5:28 PM Aug 29th
Artículo interesante… http://t.co/xtMAqTS
5:28 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/6lfrZXw via @archdaily
5:35 PM Aug 29th
Always wondered about this. Good post. “@archconnection: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/Yo29CE2”
5:39 PM Aug 29th
shipping container #Architecture @ginaalex http://ow.ly/6fIAw
5:47 PM Aug 29th
Always wondered about this. Good post. “@archconnection: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/Yo29CE2”
6:15 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://ow.ly/6fK53
6:20 PM Aug 29th
The pros and cons (well, mainly cons) of cargo container architecture: http://t.co/3oL6f8P via @archdaily
6:21 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/Tl2wfU9 via @archdaily
6:22 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://ow.ly/6fK53
6:29 PM Aug 29th
@cayusmarius77 @cayusmarius77 “@ArchDaily: http://t.co/SYahGMq #architecture” ¿Locura o alternativa al problema de la construcción?
6:32 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://ow.ly/6fK53
7:08 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture : http://t.co/9vpRQK8
7:10 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/TLUdsNd via @archdaily
7:12 PM Aug 29th
RT @ArchDaily: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/Gkh2M6T #architecture
7:45 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons (well, mainly cons) of Cargo Container #Architecture: http://t.co/Zmu2zKN via @archdaily @pagman106 #adaptivereuse
7:54 PM Aug 29th
RT “@perkinswill_NYO: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/ROuAPTK”
8:03 PM Aug 29th
RT @jbenedictbrown The pros and cons (well, mainly cons) of cargo container architecture: http://t.co/4GeGcGE via @archdaily
8:10 PM Aug 29th
RT @jbenedictbrown The pros and cons (well, mainly cons) of cargo container architecture: http://t.co/4GeGcGE via @archdaily
8:32 PM Aug 29th
RT| The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture: Photo by Håkan Dahlström – http://www.flickr.c... http://t.co/NvL2pPR @archdaily
8:52 PM Aug 29th
Pros and Cons of container architecture http://t.co/F7qPsY4
9:21 PM Aug 29th
RT @archability: The Pros and Cons (well, mainly cons) of Cargo Container #Architecture: http://t.co/eu90YOr #adaptivereuse
9:21 PM Aug 29th
RT @archability: The Pros and Cons (well, mainly cons) of Cargo Container #Architecture: http://t.co/UkDclh6 #adaptivereuse
9:21 PM Aug 29th
RT @archability: The Pros and Cons (well, mainly cons) of Cargo Container #Architecture: http://t.co/Q4n3ttX #adaptivereuse
9:56 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/I7SACUV
11:53 PM Aug 29th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/Bb2F11K
1:13 AM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/I7SACUV
2:32 AM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container #Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/V46tmqt
2:57 AM Aug 30th
RT @ArchDaily: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/i7aMIeP #architecture
3:53 AM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/0igUhDg via @archdaily
4:01 AM Aug 30th
shipping containers – not the green solution to design / construction: http://t.co/nILSXGk
5:43 AM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/hZByKoC
8:26 AM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/65zFBWD via @archdaily
8:53 AM Aug 30th
RT @jbenedictbrown: The pros and cons (well, mainly cons) of cargo container architecture: http://t.co/4GAAtDQ via @archdaily
10:06 AM Aug 30th
Wow. They're exporting toxic wast as cargo containers. RT @galavants: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/mSLGJEM
10:17 AM Aug 30th
http://t.co/oN26FfF The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture
11:52 AM Aug 30th
コンテナハウスって興味あるんだよね〜！| The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | http://t.co/ZwqqRUf via @archdaily
12:43 PM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture > Excelente e interesante articulo via @archdaily > http://t.co/vm64ztV
12:51 PM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/DiHrrX4 vía @archdaily
12:53 PM Aug 30th
Interessant article sobre els pros i contres de l'arquitectura amb contenidors recilcats http://t.co/DiHrrX4
2:20 PM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/M9l7clH
2:52 PM Aug 30th
Reminds me of a competition I did in NJ
“@ArchDaily: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/wOucKhx #architecture”
3:29 PM Aug 30th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/TpOTk1j #architecture
4:16 PM Aug 30th
Pros and Cons of Cargo Container #Architecture | @ArchDaily http://t.co/M4C9RLR #green
6:57 PM Aug 30th
Puma City looks like a sweet venue you might see at SXSW: http://t.co/6pCMVET But containers don't make great homes. http://t.co/qBte9NC
7:04 PM Aug 30th
Puma City looks like a sweet venue you might see at SXSW: http://t.co/6pCMVET But containers don't make great homes. http://t.co/qBte9NC
8:25 PM Aug 30th
Cargo container #architecture: good #adaptiveReuse, but not quite as eco-friendly as you might think: http://ow.ly/6gBPq
8:36 PM Aug 30th
Weighing in on cargo container architecture: http://t.co/iNJnr7s
8:37 PM Aug 30th
Weighing in on cargo container architecture: http://t.co/iNJnr7s
8:43 PM Aug 30th
#iaflash RT @WIREDInsider: Weighing in on cargo container architecture: http://t.co/eSUYtzR http://t.co/kaR6Myx
9:06 PM Aug 30th
The pros and cons of cargo container #architecture, via @ArchDaily http://t.co/GpRGjCJ
9:28 PM Aug 30th
Puma City looks like a sweet venue you might see at SXSW: http://t.co/6pCMVET But containers don't make great homes. http://t.co/qBte9NC
10:05 PM Aug 30th
Interessant article sobre els pros i contres de l'arquitectura amb contenidors recilcats http://t.co/DiHrrX4
10:07 PM Aug 30th
Weighing in on cargo container architecture: http://t.co/iNJnr7s
8:11 AM Aug 31st
Architecture Containers : Habiter dans un container ? http://t.co/B18hlnn
8:18 AM Aug 31st
Architecture Containers : Habiter dans un container ? http://t.co/B18hlnn
8:23 AM Aug 31st
Architecture Containers : Habiter dans un container ? http://t.co/B18hlnn
12:54 PM Aug 31st
RT @VisionsCarto Architecture Containers : Habiter dans un container ? http://t.co/70Tqzhx /mieux la tente :-D http://t.co/Bb1RINf
3:52 PM Aug 31st
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/MwDuF6S via @ArchDaily
4:16 PM Aug 31st
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/MwDuF6S via @ArchDaily
4:59 PM Aug 31st
http://t.co/1Hv21vE the pros and cons of container architecture #green#leed#yycplan#cities#artchitecture#urbanism#affordable#housing
6:11 PM Aug 31st
the pros & cons of cargo container #architecture: http://t.co/ZUBsaLe // finally got a chance to read this—a great, in-depth overview.
6:39 PM Aug 31st
Weighing in on cargo container architecture: http://t.co/iNJnr7s
8:21 PM Aug 31st
Shipping container architecture sounds so green, but may not be as sustainable as it's cracked up to be: http://t.co/6LTPlAc via @archdaily
11:30 AM Sep 1st
Love this in Nov 23, 1987, Phillip C. Clark filed for a patent to converting steel shipping containers into … http://j.mp/p00Y6C
9:55 AM Sep 2nd
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container #Architecture http://ht.ly/6glpk
1:24 PM Sep 2nd
Interessant article sobre els pros i contres de l'arquitectura amb contenidors recilcats http://t.co/DiHrrX4
9:56 PM Sep 2nd
RT@Archability: The Pros and Cons (well, mainly cons) of Cargo Container #Architecture: http://t.co/6ziftCN via @archdaily #adaptivereuse
7:12 PM Sep 4th
The architecture of shipping containers
http://t.co/RiirSpx
7:27 PM Sep 4th
The architecture of shipping containers
http://t.co/RiirSpx
8:22 PM Sep 4th
The architecture of shipping containers
http://t.co/RiirSpx
2:04 AM Sep 5th
(The cons could have been stretched a bit more.The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/DJKaoDz
12:29 PM Sep 5th
#Daily_Inspiration The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/XHwQzmh
5:19 PM Sep 5th
Read this if your really really bored :) http://t.co/wpDvhfI
1:16 AM Sep 6th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/wStQn7U
6:53 AM Sep 7th
ArchDaily: The pros and cons of cargo container architecture – http://t.co/opf3ZQF
9:10 PM Sep 8th
Shipping containers transforming into modern architecture – good/bad? http://ow.ly/6ler5
1:24 AM Sep 9th
It must be Shipping Container Architecture Day. Here's a post by @ArchDaily on the pros and cons of using them http://t.co/PM3DW2l
1:34 AM Sep 9th
It must be Shipping Container Architecture Day. Here's a post by @ArchDaily on the pros and cons of using them http://t.co/PM3DW2l
2:29 AM Sep 9th
It must be Shipping Container Architecture Day. Here's a post by @ArchDaily on the pros and cons of using them http://t.co/PM3DW2l
3:00 AM Sep 9th
Interesting read. RT @ArchDaily on the pros and cons of shipping container architecture: http://t.co/KkTGdnJ
11:58 PM Sep 14th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://ow.ly/6fK53
8:50 AM Sep 25th
shipping containers – not the green solution to design / construction: http://t.co/nILSXGk
8:58 AM Sep 25th
Shipping containers seem like perfect adaptive reuse, but maybe it's just hype (@urbanfuture_au @adamjohnrussell) #yam http://t.co/fCRCFasb
9:24 AM Sep 25th
Food for thought. Shipping containers as perfect adaptive reuse…? (via @matt_levinson @urbanfuture_au @adamjohnrussell) http://t.co/5n3O2Shu
5:54 PM Oct 22nd
Interesting discussion of ISO container based buildings (or "cargotecture") from ArchDaily http://t.co/sbvhVy8I
5:54 PM Oct 22nd
The Pros and Cons of Cargo #Container Architecture http://t.co/mEBZhbxQ via @archdaily #prefab #modular
3:00 PM Oct 23rd
RT @whitleyman: The Pros and Con[tainer]s of Cargo #Container Architecture http://t.co/8853eYHD via @archdaily #prefab #modular
2:40 PM Oct 24th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/kCQQsCTT via @addthis
2:49 PM Oct 24th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/kCQQsCTT via @addthis
2:51 PM Oct 24th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/kCQQsCTT via @addthis
2:33 AM Nov 1st
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/G44vZocf via @archdaily
9:27 AM Nov 6th
@knight_david @steveparnell who peddles? General way it is discussed is as an established building unit e.g. http://t.co/AkSElQbd
10:53 PM Nov 7th
I love shipping containers. Odd, perhaps, but I do. So container based dwellings thrill me. http://t.co/ltaMRY92
10:17 PM Nov 8th
I love shipping containers. Odd, perhaps, but I do. So container based dwellings thrill me. http://t.co/ltaMRY92
2:16 AM Nov 27th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/5SMuycyN via @archdaily
2:27 PM Dec 18th
#ExodusSatelliteTV: The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture http://t.co/BHiFWmQp
2:10 AM Jan 13th
Alternative for green arch. Read it! The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/JhRd6Sxn via @archdaily
6:20 PM Jan 17th
Do you think we can use it in our faculty ?
so ,what's "Cargo Container Architecture"? http://t.co/QtveVhDE
7:07 PM Jan 18th
Do you think we can use it in our faculty ?
so ,what's "Cargo Container Architecture"? http://t.co/Cfoi8xBa
4:18 AM Jan 19th
The pros & cons of using shipping containers for building via @TreeHugger & @archdaily http://t.co/veN4tZSU http://t.co/82rNopaj
5:59 PM Jan 20th
The Pros and Cons of Cargo Container Architecture | ArchDaily http://t.co/dYX1YDjV via @archdaily