Shipping Container Modified House

A shipping container modified house is a building space with residential and office functions, formed by modifying and designing based on shipping containers as the basic modules. The following is an introduction from multiple aspects:

Modification Methods

• Structural Modification: Generally, key structural parts such as the railings on the top and bottom of the container and the corner posts are not damaged. The main modifications are made to the sides, such as creating doors and windows. When creating doors and windows, wood or steel bars are used for reinforcement to ensure structural stability.
• System Installation: Water pipes, electrical, and mechanical systems are installed in the modified container to meet daily needs for water and electricity.
• Insulation Treatment: Insulation materials are used to insulate the container. Commonly, spray foam plastic is used. It expands and fills the holes in the container walls to prevent problems such as condensation. However, wool insulation material is more sustainable than foam plastic but has a much higher cost.

Advantages and Characteristics

• Low Cost: The cost of a 40-foot container is usually much lower than that of traditional building materials with similar square footage, enabling more people to own houses. Moreover, with proper maintenance, they can be used for 25 years or more.
• Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable: Compared with traditional buildings, they usually require fewer building materials. The use of recyclable containers further promotes environmental protection and sustainable development.
• Flexible Design: The sturdy steel structure of the container provides a sturdy and durable frame plan that can cater to different needs and preferences. Its modular nature also allows for future expansion or reconfiguration to adapt to changing living environments.

Application Scenarios

• Residential Buildings: Houses of various sizes can be built, from 15-square-meter mini homes to multi-bedroom large houses. For example, a foreign couple transformed an oversized container into a mini home deep in the forest; there are also large houses with multiple bedrooms, including master suites, built using multiple containers.
• Commercial Venues: They can be transformed into offices, gyms, shops, etc. For example, Kubed Living has transformed containers into residences, offices, and gyms; there are also old containers that have been transformed into street-front shops and mobile commercial buildings.