Container House with Basement

A basement can be set up under a container house, with the following common scenarios:

Building a Basement Directly with Containers

Container buildings are mostly ground-based in daily life. However, in special terrains or when homeowners have specific needs, basements can become a choice for the building structure. For example, a studio with high privacy requirements adopts a two-story building structure, with one floor underground and one above ground. Three walls on the above-ground floor are replaced with glass to ensure sufficient natural light underground, and the two floors are connected by a long staircase. This design meets the privacy needs while utilizing the basement space.

Building a Basement with Bricks and Stones as the Foundation

In some relatively humid areas, to prevent the steel container at the bottom from being eroded by contact with moist soil, bricks and stones are used at the bottom of the container to create a stable structure. For example, a residence is composed of eight 1A-type 40' shipping containers. The upper four and the lower four are slightly staggered to form a vertical 'Z-shaped' structure. At the very bottom of the residence is a basement built with bricks and stones. The entire residence has three floors, and the basement on the lowest floor is used as a small reception area.

Building a Basement with Concrete

Some container houses retain the original appearance of the containers and are transformed into two-story residences using seven containers. Below them, a basement made of concrete provides an 800-square-foot spacious garage and ample storage space. This design combines the convenience of containers with the practicality of a concrete basement.

Burying Containers Underground as a Basement

This is an innovative and practical building renovation method that combines the modular and standardized characteristics of containers with the concealment and stability advantages of underground space. The key is to solve problems such as waterproofing, moisture-proofing, ventilation, and structural reinforcement: For waterproofing, waterproof coatings need to be applied to the outer walls of the containers and waterproof membranes laid; for moisture-proofing, it can be achieved by installing dehumidifiers or using moisture-proof material linings; the ventilation system should be reasonably designed; and structural reinforcement requires necessary support and fixation of the containers according to the underground soil conditions. Its application scenarios include residential basements (which can be used as storage rooms, gyms, or entertainment rooms), agricultural warehouses (suitable for storing agricultural products such as grains and seeds), commercial facilities (creating unique underground consumption experiences), and emergency shelters (providing safe refuge spaces in areas prone to natural disasters). Before renovation, a structural safety assessment should be carried out, waterproof and moisture-proof measures should be well implemented, the ventilation and lighting systems should be reasonably designed, and local building regulations should be understood to ensure compliance. The costs include the purchase (or rental) cost of containers, renovation costs, excavation and backfilling costs, and possible approval costs. Compared with traditional underground buildings, it can usually save a significant amount of costs.