Old Container Renovated House
It is feasible to renovate old containers into houses, and there have been many successful cases. During the renovation, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as structural safety, functional adaptability, and environmental protection and energy efficiency.
In terms of structural safety: The spacing between the longitudinal beams of the bottom frame of traditional containers is large, and the floor stiffness is insufficient for direct living. This can be addressed by installing C-shaped steel purlins between the bottom beams to evenly distribute the load to the main beams, enhancing structural stability. For example, Baotou Xinxing Color Plate Steel Structure Manufacturing Co., Ltd. adopted this method, enabling the stacking of three container bodies while maintaining stability. At the same time, anti-corrosion treatment of the container surface, such as shot blasting for rust removal followed by spraying with zinc-rich primer and polyurethane topcoat, can ensure a relatively long effective service life in harsh environments.
In terms of functional adaptability: Renovation is carried out according to different usage scenarios and needs. For example, to meet residential functions, the interior of the container can be reasonably planned to divide areas such as bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. In some cases, containers have been transformed into cozy internet-famous cottages, with interior decorations featuring a natural wood style paired with green plants, projection screens, open-plan kitchens, and complete bathrooms. Others have combined multiple containers to create more fully functional homes, incorporating designs such as hydraulic decks and foldable beds to meet various living needs.
In terms of environmental protection and energy efficiency: Container houses have the advantage of full-lifecycle material recycling. Compared to traditional prefabricated temporary buildings, they have lower carbon emissions, less disassembly and assembly loss, and can significantly reduce construction waste generation. In terms of thermal insulation performance, a broken-bridge lining structure can be adopted to reduce the heat exchange efficiency between the inside and outside of the container, reducing reliance on heating or cooling equipment for energy consumption. In addition, a self-circulating sewage system can be integrated, such as installing sewage collection tanks and gravity separators to treat gray water and black water separately, improving water self-sufficiency.
