Shipping Container Architecture

MINIMUM MOBILE MODULE… CONTAINER ARCHITECTURE…

INTRODUCTION.. Shipping container architecture is a form of architecture using steel intermodal containers (shipping containers)as structural element, because of their inherent strength, wide availability and relatively low cost. The minimum mobile module uses a customized ISO 20' shipping container as both living capsule and cargo box for its multiple parts, pursuing a light approach to nature or the built environment based on mobility and temporality. It is built in factory through modular construction, using environmentally-friendly building techniques and recycled materials. Most shipping container conversions have however been for temporary Accommodation needs, for example, storage, emergency shelters and site offices.

BUILDING MATERIALS.. Shipping containers are tough - built from weathering steel. Designed to withstand stacking, stuffing and strapping and are reused over and over. There are estimated 17 - 20 million of these containers scattered around the world today. Today, as many as 1 million shipping containers may be sitting around unused. The surplus is especially profound in the United States, northern Europe and China.

ADVANTAGES – RAW MATERIAL.. STRENGTH & DURABILITY  An Ideal Building Material  Designed to carry heavy loads, stacked in high columns, resist harsh environments - weather and resistant to salt corrosion, etc.

MODULAR  Made to standard measurements and provide modular elements that combine into larger structures - This simplifies design, planning and transport

 Due to the containers modular design additional construction is as easy as stacking more containers - They can be stacked up to 12 high when empty.

TRANSPORT

Pre-fabricated modules can also be easily transported by ship, truck or rail

AVAILIBILTY Used shipping containers are easily available across the globe

ADVANTAGES – CONSTRUCTION..

LOW STRUCTURAL COST - HIGH STRENGTH  Available at low costs (compared to a finished structure built by labour-intensive means such as bricks and mortar, which also require larger more expensive foundations)  Construction involves very little requiring only simple modification

labour

and

 Shipping containers offer a huge structural strength for a fraction of the cost of traditional timber steel and concrete constructions

SMALL FOOTPRINT – LARGE LIVING AREA  Ideal for multi-story dwellings or office space, offering a large usable area in a small footprint

ADVANTAGES – CONSTRUCTION.. SHORT CONSTRUCTION TIME  A container house can be built, on average, 40% faster than a comparably sized traditional house UNLIMITED POTENTIAL FOR DIFFICULT SITES  Requiring less preparation

demanding

foundation

 Pre-fabricated construction way interlocking modular compartments

with

DISADVANTAGES.. TEMPERATURE  Steel conducts heat very well - containers used for human occupancy will have to be better insulated than most brick, block or wood structures. LABOUR  The welding and cutting of steel considered to be specialized costly labour

is

BUILDING PERMITS  Currently not yet widely used for residential structures - Obtaining building permits may be troublesome in some regions with municipalities

DISADVANTAGES.. TREATMENT OF TIMBER FLOOR  Most container floors when manufactured are treated with insecticides containing Copper (23-25%) Chromium (38-45%) and Arsenic (30-37%)  Before human habitation floors should be removed and safely disposed of.

CARGO SPILLAGES  With used containers - spillages or contamination may have occurred and requiring all internal surfaces should be abrasive blasted to bare metal, and repainted with a non toxic paint system. SOLVENTS  Solvents released from paint and sealants used in manufacture might be harmful.

ALL ABOUT SHIPPING CONTAINERS Shipping containers are standard shapes, sizes and construction virtually everywhere in the world. When an ISO shipping container is used solely for shipping it may have four main names:  Shipping Container  ISO Container  Cargo container  Conex Box When an ISO shipping container is reused for building purpose it may have three main names:  Inter Modal Steel Building Unit (ISBU)  ISBU Module  Green Cube

ISO CONTAINER SPECIFICATIONS.. The common types of ISO shipping containers are:    

20’ 20’ 40’ 40’

GP (Standard Type) HC (meaning High Cube. It is 1 foot taller than a standard 20’ GP) GP (Standard Type) HC (meaning High Cube. It is 1 foot taller than a standard 40’ GP)

 Open Top (not commonly used for construction)  Open Side (not commonly used for construction)  Freezer or Refrigerated (not recommended for ISBU home construction)

20’ GP

20-0 x 8-0 x 8-6 External

19-4 x 7-8 x 7-10 Internal

6.460 lbs.

40’ GP

40-0 x 8-0 x 8-6 External

39-6 x 7-8 x 7-10 Internal

8.300 lbs.

40’ HC

40-0 x 8-0 x 9-6 External

39-6 x 7-8 x 8-10 Internal

8.600 lbs.

20’ HC units are manufactured but not commonly available.

ISO CONTAINER SPECIFICATIONS.. Dimensions

20’ GP SHIPPING CONATINER

Metric standard

In Feet

KG

LBS

External

Internal

Door Opening This is a GP or standard height shipping container and is 12" shorter in height than the HQ shipping container. That is the only difference. 20’HQ versions are also available. Other names for an ISO shipping container are, ISBU, Inter-modal shipping container, cargo container, C-Blox, and conex box.

Cubic Capacity

ISO CONTAINER SPECIFICATIONS.. Dimensions

Metric standard

In Feet

40’ GP SHIPPING CONATINER

External

Internal

Door Opening This is a GP or standard height shipping container and is 12" shorter in height than the HQ shipping container. That is the only difference. Other names for an ISO shipping container are, ISBU, Inter-modal shipping container, cargo container, C-Blox, and conex box.

Cubic Capacity KG

LBS

ISO CONTAINER SPECIFICATIONS.. Dimensions

Metric standard

In Feet

40’ HQ SHIPPING CONATINER

External

Internal

Door Opening This is a GP or standard height shipping container and is 12" shorter in height than the HQ shipping container. That is the only difference. Other names for an ISO shipping container are, ISBU, Inter-modal shipping container, cargo container, C-Blox, and conex box.

Cubic Capacity KG

LBS

GLOBAL SHIPPING CONTAINER INDUSTRY OVERVIEW… The introduction of the standard shipping container in the early 60’s completely changed freight transportation - replacing manual labor with highly automated container vessels, carrying thousands of standard 40’ container, loaded and unloaded at a dazzling speed. The first shipping containers were manufactured by Japan, Europe, then later Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan - accounting for about90% of all shipping container production. Not many years later after the container was widely used, China geared up to become what it is today, the workshop of the world millions of tons of ‘made in china’ goods find their way to the West all in standard shipping containers

China takes the lead  By 2000 China had become the world’s largest manufacturer of ISO shipping containers  By 2007 China was producing 82% of the entire world supply of ISO shipping container

ADAPTIVE REUSE… The greatest interest in ISBU Shipping Container homes and construction are

 The need to remove hundreds of thousands of surplus Shipping Containers sitting across the global ports

 The low cost of construction - owning a small home or apartment seemed to gather much interest, globally. With more goods coming out of China to the world than going in and with the rising costs of fuel, transporting empty containers back costs more than a new one, made in China..

By 2005 there were an estimated 700,000 sitting in Indian ports alone due to the exploding growth of imports from China

ADAPTIVE REUSE… LOW BUILDING COSTS Recycled or unwanted 20 foot and 40 foot steel shipping containers are being converted into office and residential structures around the world, cutting building costs "by half”. AVAILABLE MATERIAL RESOURCE 10 per cent of the worlds 65 million steel shipping containers are taken out of circulation each year and set aside for recycling into "habitainers","container homes" or even "sauna boxes".

GLOBAL MARKET ACCEPTANCE At least 50 container conversion projects are in progress world wide, including the USA, UK, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Poland, Switzerland, Norway, Estonia and Australia.