Disadvantages of Container Houses

The disadvantages of container houses mainly include limited space, poor thermal and sound insulation, safety hazards, and subpar living experiences.

1. Hard-to-overcome flaws in spatial design
Container houses are constrained by their original structure, resulting in typically narrow interior spaces. For example, in the container dormitories used at the Nagoya Asian Games, the single beds were only 195 centimeters long, preventing athletes taller than 2 meters from straightening their legs. Insufficient ceiling height and narrow aisles further exacerbated the sense of confinement. Additionally, the waterproofing at the joints was prone to failure, as evidenced by the leaking sinks and flooded floors reported by Korean athletes, highlighting the limitations of containers in long-term use or harsh weather conditions.

2. Inadequate thermal and sound insulation
The main body of a container is made of metal, which has high thermal conductivity and poor sound insulation. Low-end products, due to insufficient material use, struggle to provide adequate thermal insulation, becoming excessively hot in summer and losing heat quickly in winter, necessitating the installation of additional thermal insulation materials or air conditioning units. Meanwhile, the resonance effect of the metal walls results in weak sound insulation, allowing external noise to easily penetrate the interior and affecting living comfort. For instance, the container dormitories at the Nagoya Asian Games were equipped with only one air conditioner, and the organizing committee even suggested that athletes open the doors for ventilation before closing them to sleep, indirectly reflecting the inadequacy of their temperature control capabilities.

3. Safety hazards and durability issues
The steel structure of containers poses risks in high-temperature or humid environments. When the temperature reaches 600℃, the strength of the steel significantly decreases, potentially leading to deformation or even collapse; prolonged exposure to humidity can cause rusting, necessitating fireproof coating and anti-corrosion treatment to enhance safety. Additionally, non-standard products, due to unstable structures, may experience frame deformation or wall cracking under extreme conditions such as strong winds or earthquakes, resulting in high rework costs. For example, during heavy rainfall in Nagoya, some container camps experienced emergencies, forcing hundreds of athletes to evacuate urgently.

4. Subpar living experience and inadequate supporting facilities
The temporary nature of container houses leads to incomplete supporting facilities. For example, the container dormitories at the Nagoya Asian Games were far from some venues, resulting in commute times of over an hour for athletes, consuming additional physical energy; some containers lacked independent bathrooms or kitchens, relying on public facilities and reducing living convenience. Furthermore, although the modular design of containers facilitates transportation, the sealing at the joints is susceptible to impact, requiring regular maintenance to prevent rain leakage or water seepage.