The Amazing World of Cargotechture

A budding trend in contemporary architecture, cargotechture has spread globally like wildfire over the past few years and its popularity among famous architects worldwide may help push it through to the construction industry mainstream. And for a good reason too: thanks to its wide availability, reasonable prices and extreme versatility purpose-wise, shipping containers can be used in construction of temp or long-term housing, office and commercial space, photography or art studios, mobile camps, portable kitchens and lunch rooms and even holiday parks. Here, we bring you a list of some clever cargotechture ideas to help you make use of your container units to a most efficient and lucrative effect.

Home on the go: Temp housing or long-term home extension

Thanks to their modular and durable nature, cargo containers can be easily stacked together to create a multi-storey housing unit. As most shipping containers are made from sturdy stainless steel with internal insulation, the units can be used either as temporary shelter (in case of natural disasters and crisis situations) or as comfortable and affordable home extension solution. Since most container units come with all the vital accessories like doors, windows, electricity and plumbing pre-built in for maximum client convenience, you can plop a piece of cargotechture in your backyard and use it as a spare bedroom, guest house or even accommodation for rent. Some famous examples of cargo containers used in housing include the Quik House by architect Adam Kalkin, Ecopod, Ross Stevens House, Grillagh Water House by Patrick Bradley and De Maria Design Redondo Beach House.

Prefab office and studio space: The much-needed makeshift workplace

In addition to its use as mobile accommodation, cargo containers can also function as portable offices and studios in a number of industries. For instance, cargo containers with pre-installed lighting and electricity, plumbing, shelving and entryways can serve as easily transportable work platforms, retail space or art studios, as seen in London’s Riverside Building, James Whitaker’s container-based workplace project in Germany, Scotland’s Cove Park Artists’ Retreat or the Container City II owned by the Urban Space Management which features 22 studios.

Container-based mobile camps: Working class cargotechture

In industries like mining, construction and oil/gas exploration, shipping containers offer cost-effective, comfortable and efficient temporary accommodation for the hired staff and contractors. Thanks to their portable design, cargo containers can be transported to almost any project location easily and at low costs, so they are often used as military training facilities or mobile camps in construction industry, mining and at oil rigs. One prominent example in this category is seen in the LiNX Temporary Structures by designer Richard Barnwall, who combined several container units to accommodate Dublin’s construction workers.

Catering on the fly: Portable kitchens and lunch rooms

Another cool purpose for container-based facilities, mobile kitchens and lunch rooms offer a simple and cost-efficient solution for staff catering on the go. With air-conditioning, appliances, benching, plumbing and electricity accessories, container lunch rooms and kitchens comply with highest food grade hygiene standards and guarantee stability, safety and weather-proof catering space for workers hired for off-trail projects or as regular commercial restaurants. At Royal Wolf’s blog, you can check out the example of the French Laundry, a container-based catering facility in Yountville, California, that won the title of the ‘best restaurant in the world’ by Restaurant Magazine in 2003 and 2004. Featuring modified containers as a temporary kitchen facility, the French Laundry is acclaimed as one of the finest U.S. restaurants where the visitors can see the chef busying away at the counter and kitchen appliances inside the container unit.

From housing, studios, office and commercial space to mobile camps, restaurants and lunch rooms, the room for container-made facilities springs endless. All you need to do is grab some cargo carriers, pick a spot to plop them and voila – your versatile portable facility is ready for literally any purpose you decide to throw its way.