Excerpt via Dwell
Bad puns aside, 2017 showed us that when it comes to shipping containers, the possibilities for adaptive reuse are near endless. The most arresting projects of the year, rounded up below, run the gamut from a surfers’ lodge in the Czech Republic, to an eye-popping home in Brooklyn, to a portable hotel room concept out of Australia. Keep scrolling to see the shipping container transformations that most impressed our readers this year.
10. Common Ground Mall
Common Ground is a dynamic mall in Seoul made out of 200 bright blue, stacked prefabricated container modules. The 57,048-square-foot building, which took only five moths to construct is home to a variety of retail stores and F&B outlets that frequently draw a lively crowd.
9. South African Shipping Container Eco-Cabin
Nestled on a family farm, this South African shipping container cabin is completely off the grid.
Located on owner Lucas Steyn’s family farm in Botrivier, a 90-minute drive from Capetown, Copia is an eco-retreat comprised of two shipping container cabins in the South African countryside.
8. Austin Shipping Container Home
The modular appearance of the duplex, clad in white Hardie plank siding, mimics the look of a two-story container home. With large windows and 11-foot-tall ceilings, the two-bedroom, three-bath residence feels more spacious than its 1,484 square feet. On the ground floor, the living, dining, and kitchen areas flow into one another; potential guests in the shipping container also have easy access to a full bath of their own. A steel-and-wood floating staircase leads to the second floor, which holds two bedrooms with patio access.
7. Indonesian Shipping Container Home
Atelier Riri devised creative ways to make living inside a shipping container in Indonesia’s tropical climate both comfortable and economical. The architects layered recycled pine, glass wool, and planter mesh on top of the home to help keep temperatures down.
6. Costa Rican Tropical Retreat
Architect Maria Jose Trejos loves modern lines and clean shapes, so when photographer Sergio Pucci asked her to build him a live-work space on a 6,240-square-foot plot in Guachipelin, Escazú, San José, the suggestion to incorporate shipping containers seemed like a suitable choice. After sourcing four of the massive metal boxes from the country’s busy Caribbean port, Trejos stacked and slid them like puzzle pieces, creating a sunken gallery space and spacious rooftop terrace. square feet. On the ground floor, the living, dining, and kitchen areas flow into one another; potential guests in the shipping container also have easy access to a full bath of their own. A steel-and-wood floating staircase leads to the second floor, which holds two bedrooms with patio access.
5. Mobile Boutique Hotel
Designed by Prague-based architects Artikul Architects, the shipping container hotel is intended to be easily constructed in various locations. Currently situated along a surf campsite in the Czech Republic, the hotel was designed to be self-sufficient and eco-friendly, while providing comfortable lodging accommodations that are connected to nature.
