Nashville Civic Design Center Shipping Container Structures Nashville Civic Design Center • Case Study • Shipping Contai ner Structures • www. civicdesigncenter .org What are shipping containers? 1 Shipping containers are used to carry ship, lorry, and train cargo both nationally and internationally. They are standardized by the International Standards Organization (ISO) and come in different sizes. The size is primarily determined by the length of the container, and secondarily by the height. 20ft and 40ft are the most common lengths for shipping containers, while 8.5ft and 9.5ft are the most common heights. The width is most commonly 8ft. Shipping containers are made of Corten steel and have hardwood floors, lower quality containers are made of aluminum. Shipping containers are extremely wind and watertight; the are rubber doors seals which attribute to this. Containers are assembled together one on top of the other and bolted together. Shipping Containers and architecture Shipping containers usually have a life-span of 10 years, after which they can be sold and repurposed. Since the late 1980’s one of the post-mortem uses of shipping containers is habitable structures. The last few years has seen an increase in shipping containers for different structures. This is because they are cheap, some can be brought for as low as $900 and they are seen as a green building alternative. While the most obvious uses for shipping containers would be for disaster releif and temporary structures, more and more designers are using them to make permanent buildings, as seen in Trinity Buoy Wharf in London - which houses Container City, the most famous example of shipping container structures in the world. Shipping containers are used for a multitude of programs, not just housing. Office, hotels, schools, exhibitions halls, lounges, bars can all be made from them. Shipping containers and Nashville Utilizing shipping containers for new construction is one avenue for Mayor Karl Dean’s vision of Nashville becoming the “Greenest City in the South” to come true. Because they do offer inexpensive quality spaces and are quick to assemble, having only the fraction of on-site construction time as traditional building methods, they can be used to construct affordable housing in areas of need. Nashville has several container yards, so it should not be expensive for the city to utilize this building technology.
Transcript
Nashville Civic Design Center
Shipping Container Structures
Nashville Civic Design Center • Case Study • Shipping Container Structures • www.civicdesigncenter.org
What are shipping containers?
1
Shipping containers are used to carry ship, lorry, and train cargo both nationally and internationally. They are standardized by the International Standards Organization (ISO) and come in different sizes. The size is primarily determined by the length of the container, and secondarily by the height. 20ft and 40ft are the most common lengths for shipping containers, while 8.5ft and 9.5ft are the most common heights. The width is most commonly 8ft. Shipping containers are made of Corten steel and have hardwood floors, lower quality containers are made of aluminum. Shipping containers are extremely wind and watertight; the are rubber doors seals which attribute to this. Containers are assembled together one on top of the other and bolted together.
Shipping Containers and architecture
Shipping containers usually have a life-span of 10 years, after which they can be sold and repurposed. Since the late 1980’s one of the post-mortem uses of shipping containers is habitable structures. The last few years has seen an increase in shipping containers for different structures. This is because they are cheap, some can be brought for as low as $900 and they are seen as a green building alternative. While the most obvious uses for shipping containers would be for disaster releif and temporary structures, more and more designers are using them to make permanent buildings, as seen in Trinity Buoy Wharf in London - which houses Container City, the most famous example of shipping container structures in the world.
Shipping containers are used for a multitude of programs, not just housing. Office, hotels, schools, exhibitions halls, lounges, bars can all be made from them.
Shipping containers and Nashville
Utilizing shipping containers for new construction is one avenue for Mayor Karl Dean’s vision of Nashville becoming the “Greenest City in the South” to come true. Because they do offer inexpensive quality spaces and are quick to assemble, having only the fraction of on-site construction time as traditional building methods, they can be used to construct affordable housing in areas of need. Nashville has several container yards, so it should not be expensive for the city to utilize this building technology.
Nashville Civic Design Center • Case Study • Shipping Container Structures • www.civicdesigncenter.org 2
Container City II
Location: Trinity Buoy, London, EnglandClient: Urban Space Management Ltd.Architect: NAOpening: 2002Use: HousingSize: 88,350 SFThis structure has five floors of 22 containers that are arranged in a zigurat form to showcase the creative nature of the studios. The building is an extension of a previous building and is connected by bridges.
Puma City
Location: Multiple Global PortsClient: PumaArchitect: Lot-EKOpening: 2008Use: Mixed Use (Event space, retail, office, leiuse/bar)Size: 11,000 SFMade of 24 containers, Puma City has three floors which house two retail spaces, administration offices, press room, storage, bar, lounge, and an event space. The structure has been designed to be disassembled and reassembled in different international ports.
Dordoy Bazaar
Location: Bishkek, KyrgyzstanClient: NAArchitect: NAOpening: 1992Use: MarketSize: 1 kilometer in lengthAt 7,000 containers, Dordoy Bazaar is one of Asias largest shopping centers. The only buildings that aren’t shipping containers are administration offices, hotels, and bathrooms.
Eco Shipping Container Lounges
Location: New OrleansClient: Voodoo Music ExperienceArchitect: NAOpening: 2009/2010Use: VIP lounge and public concession standSize: NA40ft containers were stacked to create a grandstand, lounges, and bars. The structure acts as its own signage, in that the openings tell passerbys what programs are inside. The lounges also act as branding for the entire events, the word “VOODOO” is cut into the side of one of the containers.
Nashville Civic Design Center • Case Study • Shipping Container Structures • www.civicdesigncenter.org 3
The Power of Green Housing Development
Location: Detroit MichiganClient: The Power of Green Housing Development LLCArchitect: Steven C. FlumOpening: NAUse: Mutli-family apartment blockSize: NAThe multi-family builidng has 17 condominium units spread over 4 levels. Instead of having wood be used as the structural framing, as it is used traditionally, shipping containers fill that role.
Puma City
Location: East Java, IndonesiaClient: Mr. Ronny SendjojoArchitect: Dpavilion ArchitectsOpening: NAUse: LibrarySize: 7,534 SF (site area)The library uses eight recycled shipping containers. It houses 6,000 books and a clinic, both are free to the locals. The structure represents the transition from a rural to an urban context.
Redondo Beach House
Location: Manhattan Beach, CaliforniaClient: Anna and Sven PirklArchitect: DeMaria DesignOpening: 2007Use: Single Family DwellingSize: NAThe house is a combination of wood frame structure and pre-assembled shipping containers. About 70% of the structure is made of pre-assembled components.
Aether Apparel
Location: San FranciscoClient: Aether ApparelArchitect:Envelope A&DOpening: 2009/2010Use: High-end storeSize: 960 SFThe store is made of three stacked 40ft shipping containers. The store itself only takes up the bottom two containers while the store inventory is stored in the top one. As of February 2013, it is the latest addition to Proxy, a temporary urban area by architects Envelope a&d.
Amin Shipping Container Library
Nashville Civic Design Center • Case Study • Shipping Container Structures • www.civicdesigncenter.org 4
Proxy
Location: San FranciscoClient: NAArchitect: Envelope A&DOpening: NAUse: Mixed use temporary urban infillSize: Two blocksA temporary example of “cargotecture” that is supposed to have a life span of 2-3 years. It already houses a coffee shop, and ice-cream parlour, and beirgarten with plans for nine storefronts.
Location: Los Angeles, CaliforniaClient: Palotta TeamWorksArchitect: Clive Wilkinson ArchitectsOpening: 2002Use: OfficeSize: 47,000 SFThe home office is located in a warehouse, and was developed with extremely limited funds. To accomodate the smalle budget, the work spaces are in “breathing islands” enclosed by tents and the offices are in shipping containers, which also act as the corner anchor for the tents.
Travelodge London Uxbridge Hotel
Location: London, EnglandClient: Travelodge HotelsArchitect: Verbus SystemsOpening: NAUse: HotelSize: 27,520 SFThe 86 containers had interior walls, bathrooms and electric all preinstalled before they were bolted together on site. After they were assembled, windows and the other fixtures were installed.
Morpeth School
Location: LondonClient: Morpeth SchoolArchitect: Furness EngineeringOpening: 2007Use: ClassroomsSize: 2,583 SFUsed as extra classrooms for the Morpeth School. The structure is located directly on the school grounds. It is painted a vibrant red to relate to the create nature of the people using the shipping containers.
Palotta TeamWorks Home Office
Nashville Civic Design Center • Case Study • Shipping Container Structures • www.civicdesigncenter.org 5
Wahaca Southbank Experiment
Location: London, EnglandClient: Wahaca Group Ltd.Architect: Softroom ArchitectsOpening: 2012Use: RestaurantSize: Seats 130 customersAn experimental kitchen that moves to a different location every 18 months. It is comprised of eight shipping containers.
Location: Cape Town, South AfricaClient: Safmarine ShippingArchitect: Tsai Design StudioOpening: OngoingUse: Community ProjectSize: 538 SFA single container turned into an independent classroom for 25 students aged 5-6. The structure was built with a limited means and budget, so it maximized its space.
Children’s Activity Center
Location: Melbourne, AustraliaClient: NAArchitect: PHOOEY ArchitectsOpening: 2007Use: PlayschoolSize: 1,399 SFThe containers were stacked in such as way as to create indoor and outdoor spaces for childrens activities to take place.
The Welcome Hut
Location: Toronto, Ontario, CanadaClient: Evergreen Brick WorksArchitect: Levitt Goodman ArchitectsOpening: 2010Use: Welcome CenterSize: 96 SFA temporary structure for Evergreen Brick Works 12-acre community enviromental center. When it will no longer be needed, it will be convereted into a warming spot and hot beverage kiosk during the winter months and an information kisok during the warm months
Vissershok Container Classroom
This Case Study was createed by the Nashville Civic Design Center. The report was written by Justin Ostrander (2013 Summer Intern) and edited by Gary Gaston, Design Studio Director.
