Air-Conditioned Container House

The air-conditioned container houses were used as athlete dormitories at the Nagoya Asian Games, but faced issues such as insufficient air-conditioning, cramped living spaces, and poor thermal insulation. Here is an analysis of their specific characteristics:

1. Insufficient Air-Conditioning Configuration
   Each unit of the container houses at the Nagoya Asian Games (comprising two households) was equipped with only one air conditioner, typically installed in the living room area. Due to the strong airtightness and poor thermal insulation of the containers, in hot and humid weather, closing the bedroom doors made it difficult to effectively cool the bedroom areas, resulting in stuffy and unbearable indoor conditions. The organizing committee even suggested that athletes open the doors for ventilation before going to bed and then close them, indirectly confirming the issue of insufficient air-conditioning power or quantity.

2. Limited Living Space Design
   Container houses are converted from standard containers, with an internal net height of usually only about 2.2 meters, making tall athletes (such as basketball and volleyball players) feel oppressed. Each household is planned as a two-bedroom, one-living-room layout, but there is only a narrow walkway in the double-bed room that allows one person to stand, making the space cramped. The bed size is 195 cm long and 90 cm wide, making it difficult for athletes over 2 meters tall to straighten their legs, affecting sleep quality.

3. Weak Thermal Insulation and Moisture Resistance
   The container material is metal iron sheet, which absorbs heat during the day and causes the internal temperature to rise sharply, creating an effect similar to a "tin can". Although some houses are decorated with wooden linings, the overall thermal insulation is still insufficient. In addition, the houses have poor moisture resistance, with cases of sink leakage and wet floors. During heavy rain, water even accumulated and flowed back, leading to the emergency evacuation of athletes.

4. Functional Zoning and Shared Facilities
   Each household has an independent toilet, bathroom, and changing room, but three athletes have to share one toilet, one shower, and one washing machine, which is inconvenient during peak usage times. The living room area is equipped with basic facilities such as a refrigerator and sink, but the space is limited and cannot meet diverse needs.

Improvement Directions: To optimize such houses, the number of air conditioners can be increased or their power can be upgraded, thermal insulation materials can be improved (such as adding rock wool boards), the internal space height can be expanded, and the functional zoning layout can be optimized.