MT – RESEARCH WORK – 01

SHIPPING CONTAINER ARCHITECTURE

I. ABSTRACT

For centuries, mankind has voyaged across the seas, taking not only
themselves but food, cotton, treasure, and goods. Shipping to other countries,
without any standardization was a slow and difficult process. Goods would be
stored at a port warehouse until a boat was available. When an empty vessel
arrived, these goods would be transported from the warehouse to the side of the
docked ship. Goods would typically be loaded into sacks, bales, crates and
barrels, and loaded by hand onto the ship. This process was known as breakbulk
cargo. A typical ship would have around 200,000 pieces of cargo onboard.

Towards the latter part of the second industrial revolution (early 1900s), this
lack of standardization was becoming a real issue, especially considering how
prevalent trains had now become. Transferring cargo from ships to trains was
extremely slow and caused major delays and blockages within many ports.
Larger ships would take around a week to unload and then reload (Levinson,
2006: The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the
World Economy Bigger).
II. INTRODUCTION

The intermodal shipping container was born back in 1956 by an American

entrepreneur Malcom McLean and has since revolutionized shipping and global
trade.  For years Malcolm wondered how he could get his trucking company’s entire
cargo loaded onto a shipping vessel as quickly and efficiently as possible.  He
started working with engineer Keith Tantlinger to engineer the world’s first shipping
container.  It was an incredible invention that eliminated wasted space and cut
unloading time by up to 3 weeks.  The shipping container allowed cargo to be
seamlessly transported between road, rail and sea.

Shipping container architecture is a style of architecture that utilizes shipping

containers for structural components. Shipping Container Architects leverage a huge
number of these structures, that are too expensive to ship back empty to their
countries of origin, to build sustainable, modular structures for commercial and
residential buildings. In the film Space Rage in 1985, shipping containers were
utilized to construct multiple buildings on the production set. 1970’s, United Kingdom
architect, Nicholas Lacey, completed his university thesis on the topic of reusing
shipping containers and transforming them into habitable dwellings. Lacey has
actually gone on to create several shipping container homes with the company,
Urban Space Management. The first official document indicating the use of shipping
containers as building materials came in 1962. The Insbrandtsen Company Inc. filed
a patent called “Combination Shipping Container and Showcase,” with Christopher
Betjemann as being the inventor. The patent states that shipping containers can be
utilized in exhibition booths when companies are showcasing and touring with their
products. In 1987, innovator Philip Clark filed for a US patent for his newly created
method for modifying one or multiple shipping containers into a home, which was
granted two years later in 1989. In 1987, innovator Phillip Clark filed for a US patent
for his newly created method for modifying one or multiple shipping containers into a
home, which was granted two years later in 1989. The information and diagrams in
Clark’s patent were used as the basis for many architectural concepts used
for modifying shipping containers.

Shipping containers have been integrated into the construction of commercial

and residential structures in Europe and Asia for years. In crowded Amsterdam, for
instance, these once-orphaned, and abundant, containers have provided much-
needed low-income and student housing. They say that necessity is the mother of
invention. From emergency shelters for soldiers to housing for densely populated
cities, container architecture has helped fill a pressing need for affordable,
sustainable structures. Mobile shipping container architecture is altering the urban
development process by bringing prefabricated, versatile buildings into the equation.
The mobility of a repurposed shipping container is one of its greatest assets, freeing
a business from the land on which it sits. Business owners benefit from the
opportunity to pilot their concept or product in a new neighborhood, without
committing to a building purchase or renovation.
III. EXISTING SHIPPING CONTAINER PROJECTS
a. LOCAL
Steel shipping containers move around from port to port and city to
city, as they deliver goods and supplies to various companies and
businesses. These steel shipping containers made using steel products
from the Philippines ensure that goods and supplies would be transported
to different parts of the world without the worry of the cargo getting
compromised by wear and tear and other adverse weather conditions.
Their durability allows them to withstand the elements, and this same
quality became the reason why some of these steel shipping containers
have been refurbished to create various building and housing projects.
This had led to a number of ingenious and innovative building designs that
have set a new standard in efficient construction.

a.1. Flat Pack Container House

The flat pack container house is fast on-site installation, it is convenient

in relocation, high turnover rate, and have long service life. There are no
parts lost when disassembled from a current site and assembled in
another site; no construction waste is generated. It can be used as office,
accommodation or a dining house required by construction projects,
temporary municipal housing, field camps, emergency resettlement
housing, schools, hospitals, tourist posts and various needs.
 a.2. Smart House Isolation Facility – Batangas City
Batangas City built a 40-bed smart house for the residents and
frontliners undergoing COVID-19 quarantine. The smart house facility is
an addition to the 3 temporary health facilities rented by the Batangas
LGU for asymptomatic and mild symptoms COVID-19 patients.

b. FOREIGN
b.1. Common Ground – Seoul, South Korea
Common Ground is the world’s largest shopping mall made entirely
from shipping containers. The 3-story structure was designed by local
firm Urbantainer, and it comprises 200 large modular containers painted in
bright blue. It has a total area of 5,300m2 which includes 70 stores, 20
restaurants, and a rooftop terrace.
 b.2. Box Office – Rohde Island, USA
The office building, designed by Distill Studio, is built from 32
shipping containers and includes 12 offices and cantilevered conference
rooms. The areas of the offices range between, approximately, 60 square
meters and 240 square meters. The building features a colorful upbeat
exterior, in addition to high-performance insulation and energy-efficient
climate control.

b.3. Dunraven School Sports Hall – London, England

The 1,225-square-meter sports hall was designed and built in 3 months

and installed in 3 days. The SCABAL-designed hall has three walls built from
upcycled shipping containers, stacked on top of each other to give a full-
height gym, while the fourth wall is built from translucent polycarbonate. The
hall houses four courts, a viewing gallery, changing rooms, and offices.
 b.4. Cité A Docks – Le Havre, France

The student housing project, constructed entirely from shipping

containers, was designed by Cattani Architects. The 4-story building contains
100 apartments. Each has an area of 24 square meters, including a bathroom
and a kitchen.

IV. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

a. SOCIAL
 Provides a cheaper version for housing projects especially for
derelict and or illegal settlers, victims of typhoon, war, etc.
 Easier to install and made by the locals of a town with proper
supervision.
 If used in housing, it provides the strength that can surely last and
will not cause inconvenience to the owner if it is planned and
treated properly.
b. ECONOMIC
 It will help a lot in the economy of a town especially if the containers
were also made into commercial stalls and dorms or apartments.
 With its small space the lot needed for it to be built unto does not
acquire too much lot area.
 Owner of shipping container factory will still generate income for old
container vans.

c. ENVIRONMENTAL
 If used container vans are used it can help in reducing the carbon
footprint and reduce waste.
 It can also be moved from one place to another.
 Reduces amount of dumped container vans that are already not
applicable to use for transporting goods.
 Compared to traditional house made of concrete, the container
vans will not harm the environment because it is small in size and
can be placed in a forest, near the sea, etc.

d. ARCHITECTURAL
 Creates creativity on how to design a livable space in a narrow
space and how to insulate and apply acoustics on the container.
 Creates a commercial stall or house that can easily be
transported or moved from a place to another.
 It is more durable because of its folded like structure making it
tough and able to withstand harsh weather conditions.
V. SWOT ANALYSIS

OPPORTUNITIE
STRENGTHS WEAKNESS THREATS
S
- Lightweight - high absorption - cheaper than - Considering
- Durable and of heat the traditional placing
can withstand - generates a lot construction of insulation,
harsh weather of noise and/or house and or acoustics, utility,
conditions echo commercial etc. the price
- modular - negative impact facility. may increase.
to health if not - Can be stacked - No law on how
treated properly to one another to obtain
and quicker to permits
install.

VI. METHODOLOGY
a. ALTERATION / MODIFICATION
a.1. Foundation:
concrete footing – it comes under 4 corners of the container
- Contains filled concrete with inbed points
- Inbed points are ¾ inch steel rods with ½ inch thick steel
plates of 4x4 inch
- Containers are welded over plates.
wood footing – used when other footing are not available
- Cheap and easy to install
- Wood is placed over prepared soil and container is placed
over wooden pieces

concrete slab – concrete slab is provided fully under the container

- More expensive
- Under side of the container will not get rushed

a.2. Setting and securing containers to foundation and another container

- containers are placed using a crane according to plan

- containers are fixed to the foundation

- for two or more storeys, containers are placed a top each other
and welded together
 a.3. Adding windows and doors

- openings are cut into the container

- all opening should be framed with steel section

- sliding type and hinged type windows are commonly used

a.4. Power supply

- solar energy and general electricity are used for power supply

a.5. Plumbing

- PVC pipes are used for water distribution and sewage disposal

- septic tank is provided under the structure

a.6. Flooring

- floor is thoroughly cleaned and tiles are applied with adhesives

- plywood and ceramic tiles are commonly used

a.7. Painting

- ceramic paints are applied up to 3 coating optimum for max

thermal protection

- ceramic repels UV rays and extreme heat

b. TENTATIVE CONSTRUCTION COST

Used 20-foot containers: PHP 60,000 to PHP 80,000

40 foot: PHP 180,000 to PHP 250,000.

Converted to living space : PHP 200,000 above

 COST ESTIMATE FOR BUYING SHIPPING CONTAINER
CONTAINER FLOOR PER SHIPPING
SIZE PER SQ. FOOT PER SQ. METER
TYPE AREA PRICE
NEW USED NEW USED NEW USED
20ft assembled L: 20’ 160sq. ft. 180,000 85,000 1,130 – 530 12, 500 5, 900
Shipping H: 8’6” – 1, 560 –
container W: 8’ 250,000 17, 300
40 ft standard L: 40’ 320sq. ft 330,000 90,000 1, 030 – 280 - 11, 500 3,100 –
Shipping H: 8’6” - - 1, 470 340 – 3,800
container W:8’ 470,000 110,000 16,300
40 ft high cube L: 40’ 320sq. ft 360,000 93,000 1, 030 – 290 - 12, 500 3, 230 -
Shipping H: 9’6” - - 1, 560 380 – 4200
container W: 8’ 500,000 120,000 17, 400

If opt to buy a prefab container house, which is and ready to be shipped to the
owners’ lot, it costs PHP 350,000 to PHP 900,000.
VII. ARCHITECTURAL TRANSLATION

a. DESIGN CONSIDERATION AND SOLUTIONS

 Review the site and the soil bearing capacity.
 Observe the existing landscaping, grade, potential views, and
proximity to site boundaries/easements and roads.
  Build on suitable flat areas to avoid expensive excavation or
grading.
 Utilize the existing greenery. This will help reduce absorption of
heat and cold during rainy seasons.
 Design floor plans and site layout
 Use foam insulation. There are various types of foams that provide
resistance against both heat and cold, which also serve to prevent
corrosion and mold.
 Add exterior features that will help in cooling the container.

b. SCHEME DEVELOPMENT

These Load-Bearing Container House are even more sturdy and

durable than ordinary brick-concrete houses, and they are also safer. The
load-bearing capacity reaches 17 tons/square meter, the wind resistance
reaches level 10, and the earthquake resistance level is level 8. Even if it
encounters severe natural disasters, the independent modular unit will not
cause crushing damage, which largely guarantees personal safety. Since this
project is the first large-scale production of container houses in China, it has
attracted widespread attention from all walks of life.

Looking at the development momentum of foreign container houses, it

will give people more confidence. The container house has been recognized
internationally as a low-carbon and environmentally friendly building form. In
many cities such as the United Kingdom, Japan, and France, containers and
modular houses are widely used in the manufacture of houses, museums,
office buildings, exhibition halls, and other creative buildings. Not only are
they widely used in the private sector, the government also strongly supports
and actively participate in it. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is the
city with the most container houses in the world.

In the United States, major mobile home manufacturers launch a batch

of mobile homes every year in response to market demand, often in short
 supply. These examples let more people see the feasibility of this type of
construction. In China, where housing prices are high and construction
pollution is becoming increasingly serious, the emergence of container
houses may create a new green life model.

VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A Shipping Container House is an architectural structure, built with

repurposed storage containers or newly-manufactured cargo containers. In
recent years, shipping homes have become popular, because of their
sustainability, inherent strength and affordability than traditional homes. Some
designs are even movable, which means you can detach and transport your
house to wherever you want it to be. There are many offices, schools,
houses, dormitories, etc. that have been built with stackable shipping
containers around the world.

Although a lot of misinformation about it being cheap, it is actually almost

similar to a traditional concrete house especially if the container van is used
before as a container of harmful toxins that needs deep cleaning, also
considering the weather in the Philippines, without insulation, the container
will absorb heat which will make it non-livable.

Despite the challenges and cons, shipping containers remain one of the
easiest ways through which you can construct a beautiful home for yourself.
Depending on your level of preparedness, it takes less time to build a home
using shipping containers than with conventional construction materials.
Another great thing about shipping container homes is that they can be
moved from one place to another.