It is not a novel idea, but shipping containers being converted to living spaces is becoming a popular trend that could end up as a permanent solution to housing problems all over the world. Photos of shipping containers expertly designed to become a practical, functional, and at the same time aesthetically appealing abodes litter the Internet.
Wenchekof, a student village in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, was built using 1,000 shipping containers that were modeled, cut, and fitted with windows, bathrooms, and other installations to serve as a temporary housing solution for students. Completed in 2006, the experiment was so successful that the Amsterdam authorities gave the site a permanent status.
A resident of Wenchekof, 24-year-old Timothy Ader has nothing but praises for the unique and bold architectural marvel. In a report by The Guardian, Ader admitted that he wasn't a fan of using shipping containers as living spaces but ended up liking the whole place and the experience.
Initially viewing the whole project as "ghetto stuff", Ader now has spent three years and counting living in Wenchekof.
"I'm really comfortable in my container and I have a lot of space of my own. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world right now," he said.
From homes to student housing facilities, re-purposed shipping containers are also now being used to house refugees and asylum seekers in Berlin. Meanwhile, young working Londoners who find it hard to keep up with expensive rents find solace and a warm place to stay at MyPads on Forest Road, Walthamstow.
The project, headed by Waltham Forest YMCA, is directed towards young professionals who are at risk of becoming homeless because they struggle to pay their rent. Occupants are only allowed to stay for a maximum of one year, though.
Advocates who champion the use of shipping containers to solve housing problems in overcrowded urban areas cite that "speed of installation, cost savings on materials and the capacity to re-use units in new location" as some of the main reasons why shipping containers are feasible.
However, Architect Mark Hogan of OpenScope Studio does not consider shipping containers as permanent housing alternatives. In a post by TreeHugger.com, Hogan pointed out several flaws that come with using metal boxes as houses.
Contrary to what many advocates say about shipping containers as the inexpensive housing options, Hogan argued that that is a misconception right from the start.
"The second you don't stack the containers on their corners, the structure that is built into the containers needs to be duplicated with heavy steel reinforcing," Hogan stated. "Steel reinforcing is very expensive."
The architect also pointed out that insulation will be a major issue for shipping container houses. To address this, an extensive heating and cooling system is required to make the whole structure livable. Robust HVAC installations also reduce headroom, resulting to low ceilings and little living space.