What is a Container? Container Houses
Container structures are light and portable structures generally used for transportation purposes. They are created by assembling rectangular containers made of metal or steel. Containers are produced in standard sizes and comply with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) container standards suitable for international transportation.
The origin of container buildings dates back to the mid-20th century. They first began to be used in the transportation industry in the 1950s. In order to transport cargo in maritime transportation more safely and effectively, the idea of producing containers in standard sizes and transporting them on ships was developed. In this way, the process of handling, storing and transporting cargo has become faster and more efficient.
Container structures have begun to be widely used in different sectors such as construction, storage, trade, tourism and health, as well as maritime trade. They are especially preferred for temporary or mobile construction projects. Container structures have been popularized by storage such as quick installation, economical cost, portability and modular design.
Today, container structures are used for a variety of purposes, such as temporary offices, residential units, exhibition spaces, restaurants, hotels, classrooms, healthcare centers and more. They also attract attention with their unique designs that combine aesthetics and functionality. They are also preferred in sustainability-oriented projects. They can be used in accordance with recycling and green construction principles.
Container Houses: Minimalist and Modern Living Spaces
Container houses are a preferred housing option as minimalist and modern living spaces. These structures, which are functional, practical and aesthetically attractive, are obtained by transforming containers. Here are the reasons why container houses are preferred as minimalist and modern living spaces:
Simplicity and Minimalism: Container houses are ideal for those who adopt a minimalist lifestyle. It frees people from unnecessary items and offers a simple life as they have to optimize limited space. It follows the principle of simplicity and minimalism thanks to its small number of rooms and functional arrangements.
Modern Design: The natural structure of containers can be transformed in accordance with the modern design approach. A modern look is easy to achieve as they can have clean lines, flat surfaces and open spaces.
Portability and Flexibility: Container homes offer a flexible lifestyle due to their portability. They can be easily moved to another location if needed. This provides an ideal solution for people who travel or like to move around. Additionally, larger living spaces can be created by combining containers or rearranged according to needs.
Affordability: Container houses are a more economical option than traditional housing. Since they require a smaller area, construction costs are reduced. Additionally, material costs can be reduced by using recycled containers.
Environmental Sustainability: Container homes contribute to environmental sustainability through the use of recycled materials. Converting containers helps preserve natural resources and reduces waste.
Application Areas of Container Houses and Sample Projects
Container houses have various application areas and many sample projects are available. Here are the common application areas of container houses and some sample projects:
- Temporary Housing: Container houses can be used as temporary housing in situations such as natural disasters or emergency housing needs. With the advantages of being easily portable and quick to install, they are used to quickly provide shelter to victimized people. An example is the “Container City” project built after the earthquake in Haiti. This project was implemented to provide temporary housing for thousands of people.
- Holiday Houses and Country House Areas: Container houses can also be used in holiday areas surrounded by nature or as country houses. For example, the “Containbow” project in Australia offers colorful and stylish container holiday homes for tourists.
- Ecological and Sustainable Projects: Container houses are popular in environmentally friendly and sustainable projects. For example, the “Freitag Tower” project in Germany attracts attention as a multi-storey office building made from recycled containers.
- Architecture and Design Studios: Container houses can be used as creative work spaces for architecture and design studios. Thanks to its modular structure, wide or narrow spaces can be created with different combinations. For example, the “Tempohousing” project in the Netherlands transformed containers into design and innovation studios by bringing them together.
- Commercial Areas: Container houses can also be used as commercial areas. They can be converted for different commercial purposes such as restaurants, cafes, shops or exhibition spaces. For example, the “Boxpark” project in the United States is a shopping mall concept made of containers.
Advantages of Container Buildings in Terms of Cost and Time
- Lower Construction Costs
- Fast Construction Process
- Reduced Construction Waste
- Portability and Reusability
- Low Operating Costs
