Residential Container House

Residential container houses are modular buildings constructed or modified from containers for human habitation. They offer flexible adaptability and cost control but have revealed numerous issues in the Nagoya Asian Games due to design flaws and extreme weather conditions.

Structural and Functional Characteristics

Container houses are typically modified from standard containers, featuring a fully steel structural frame that provides high structural stability. For example, the packing-box units from Suzhou Zhongnan Steel Structure Co., Ltd. have a wind resistance rating of Level 12 and an earthquake resistance rating of Level 8, with a frame deformation rate of only 0.18%, well below the industry's acceptable threshold of 0.3%. Their interior spaces can be flexibly divided, with common configurations including two-bedroom apartments with a living room, independent bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas. Some products are also pre-installed with facilities such as refrigerators, sinks, and washing machines to meet basic living needs.

Practical Application Issues in the Nagoya Asian Games

1. Spatial Design Flaws
   The container dormitories used in the Nagoya Asian Games had significant spatial shortcomings: single beds measuring 195 cm in length and 90 cm in width made it impossible for athletes over 2 meters tall to straighten their legs; a ceiling height of only 2.2 meters resulted in narrow aisles, requiring athletes to avoid each other when moving simultaneously; poor sound insulation necessitated the use of earplugs for sleep. Additionally, each unit was equipped with only one air conditioner, making it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature in hot and humid weather. The organizing committee even recommended opening doors for ventilation before sleep.

2. Inadequate Response to Extreme Weather
   In September 2026, Nagoya experienced record-breaking rainfall, with an hourly precipitation of 104.5 mm, leading to severe waterlogging in the container area and the emergency evacuation of over 400 athletes. This exposed deficiencies in the drainage design and flood resistance of container houses, particularly in the temporarily assembled wooden dormitory areas, which had weaker disaster resilience.

3. Commuting and Support Service Issues
   Due to the scattered locations of the competition venues, some athletes had to travel by shuttle bus for 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the venues, consuming additional physical energy. Furthermore, the accommodation system was divided into more than 30 standards, including cruise ships, containers, and hotels, leading to management chaos. Some officials were assigned to homestays or hotels in different locations, further exacerbating logistical pressures.

Industry Improvement Directions

To address these issues, the industry needs to strengthen structural stability testing under extreme conditions, optimize spatial layouts (such as increasing ceiling height and widening aisles), and enhance supporting facilities (such as adding air conditioners and improving sound insulation). Additionally, a unified standard for temporary buildings should be established to prevent the deterioration of living experiences due to cost-cutting measures.