Illustrated Types of Container Houses

Container houses are mainly divided into two categories: directly modified types and factory-prefabricated types, which can be further subdivided based on materials, uses, and structures.

I. Classification by Production and Processing Techniques

1. Directly Modified Type: Modified directly from shipping containers, retaining the original frame structure, and adding doors, windows, and ventilation openings through cutting and welding. For example, a Danish man transformed nine containers into a family home, featuring visible corrugated metal textures inside and large glass windows on the exterior to enhance lighting. These houses are cost-effective but require solutions for thermal insulation, commonly used in temporary buildings or low-cost housing projects.

2. Factory-Prefabricated Type: Custom-made top and bottom frames in factories according to container dimensions, connected by columns and using color-steel sandwich panels for walls. For instance, the modular houses produced by Qinghai Guangzan Light Steel Company enable standardized production and rapid assembly. These houses enhance structural precision through industrial manufacturing, making it easier to pass building code certifications, suitable for long-term living scenarios.

II. Classification by Materials and Structures

1. Material Differences:

   • Steel Containers: High strength and structural stability, but require anti-corrosion treatment, mostly used for modifying shipping containers.
   • Aluminum Alloy Containers: Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, suitable for customized architectural needs.
   • Fiberglass Containers: Excellent thermal insulation but high cost, relatively less applied.

2. Structural Innovations:

   • Composite Structures: Combining materials like concrete and wood, for example, an eco-house in South Africa uses a container frame mixed with wooden structures.
   • Modular Combinations: Connecting multiple containers with bolts to form multi-level or staggered spaces, such as the Quartz House in Cornwall, UK, built by stacking two 20-foot containers.

III. Classification by Uses and Functions

1. Residential: Including single-story homes, multi-story apartments, and villas, such as the first certified two-story container home in Southern California, USA.
2. Commercial: Covering sales centers, art galleries, hotels, etc., for example, the sales center of Wuhan Dongyuan Lejian City uses containers for low-cost and rapid construction.
3. Public: Involving temporary facilities like schools and hospitals, such as the student dormitory in Amsterdam, Netherlands, designed with modular building containers.
4. Special Uses: Such as desert container buildings adapting to extreme environments with geothermal heating systems, and sustainable living labs integrating green planting functions.