Container House Living

Container houses can be used for living, but their application in the Nagoya Asian Games has exposed many issues, requiring careful evaluation of their suitability.

Feasibility of Living in Container Houses

Container houses inherently possess living functionality. Their structures are primarily made of steel, with factory-prefabricated walls, floors, and basic installations for water and electricity. They can be directly used after on-site assembly. For example, container houses are widely used in domestic engineering camps and commercial pop-up stores. Some products, designed with a full steel structure frame, can withstand wind speeds of up to 12 levels and earthquakes of up to 8 levels, meeting basic safety requirements. Additionally, container houses are modular, supporting rapid deployment and flexible adjustments, making them suitable for temporary accommodation needs.

Issues Exposed in the Nagoya Asian Games

1. Cramped Space
   The container houses used in the Nagoya Asian Games had a ceiling height of only 2.2 meters, with a possible net height of less than 2.1 meters. Tall athletes, such as basketball players over 2 meters tall, could touch the ceiling with their palms while standing. The bed dimensions were 195 cm in length and 90 cm in width, narrower than university dormitory beds. Athletes over 195 cm tall had their ankles hanging in the air when lying down, limiting muscle recovery. The aisles in double-bed rooms were narrow, allowing only sideways passage, and suitcases could not be opened normally.

2. Inadequate Facilities
   Each container house was equipped with only one air conditioner, installed in the living room, making it difficult to cover the bedrooms at night. The organizing committee suggested "opening the door to dissipate heat before going to bed and then closing it," revealing inadequate ventilation and cooling capacity. In terms of sanitation, three people shared one toilet and shower room, leading to queues during peak morning hours and affecting pre-game routines. Additionally, the sound insulation of the houses was poor, requiring earplugs for sleeping at night.

3. Poor Adaptability to Extreme Weather
   In September 2026, Nagoya experienced record-breaking rainfall, with an hourly precipitation of 104.5 mm. Container houses, located in low-lying areas of the port district, suffered from waterlogging and leakage, forcing the emergency evacuation of approximately 400 athletes. Some houses even faced the risk of being washed away during the rainstorm, highlighting defects in their flood control and drainage designs.

Suitable Scenarios and Improvement Directions

Container houses are more suitable for short-term, low-density use scenarios, such as engineering camps or commercial events. If used for accommodation in large-scale events, design optimizations are needed: increasing ceiling height and bed dimensions, adding independent sanitation and air conditioning facilities, and strengthening waterproofing and flood control capabilities. Additionally, strict verification of product qualifications is necessary to avoid using non-standard, unbranded products and ensure structural safety.