Can Container Houses Be Lived In?

Container houses can be lived in, but those used in the Nagoya Asian Games suffered from design flaws and extreme conditions, resulting in extremely poor living experiences and even affecting athletes' preparations. Their 'livability' only meets the minimum standards, and their actual applicability is questionable. Here is a detailed analysis:

Livability of Container Houses: Meeting Minimum Standards but with Poor Experience

The core requirements of the Olympic Council of Asia for athletes' accommodation are safety, hygiene, and meeting basic rest needs. The container houses in the Nagoya Asian Games met this baseline in terms of configuration: each unit included an independent bathroom, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, and an accessible ramp at the entrance, hitting the 'minimum standard line' on paper. However, the actual living experience was far below conventional standards:

• Cramped Space: The interior height of a standard container is about 2.4 meters, and after decoration, the net height is only 2.1-2.2 meters. Tall athletes (such as basketball and volleyball players) feel cramped when standing and may even be afraid to look up. The aisle in a double-bed room is narrow, requiring two people to pass sideways, and suitcases cannot be opened normally.
• Unreasonable Beds: The single bed is 195 centimeters long and 90 centimeters wide. Athletes over 2 meters tall have their ankles hanging in the air when lying down and are prone to hitting the wall when turning over. When an average-sized adult lies flat, extending their elbows touches the bed edge, resulting in extremely low comfort.
• Poor Ventilation and Temperature Control: Container materials have strong heat absorption and high airtightness. Only one air conditioner is equipped (mostly located in the living room), making it difficult to cool the bedroom. The organizing committee suggested 'opening the door to cool the room before going to bed and then closing it', reflecting the insufficient power of the air conditioner and the stuffy and unbearable indoor environment in hot and humid conditions.

Extreme Conditions Exacerbate Living Problems

• Rainstorm Disaster Exposes Safety Hazards: On September 8, 2026, Nagoya experienced a record-breaking rainstorm (104.5 millimeters of rainfall in one hour), causing severe waterlogging in the container area and the emergency evacuation of about 400 athletes. The houses suffered from water leakage and floor soaking under extreme weather conditions and even faced the risk of being washed away by floods, directly threatening living safety.
• High Commuting Costs: The container camp is far from some competition venues, and athletes often spend more than one hour on a single commute, consuming extra physical energy and affecting their training and competition status. For example, the Chinese men's basketball team had their pre-game training interrupted due to the rainstorm, disrupting their preparation plan.

Compliance Does Not Equal Rationality

Although the container house plan passed the inspection of the Olympic Council of Asia and met the 'minimum standards', its design did not fully consider the actual needs of athletes (such as beds for tall athletes and ventilation and cooling). In essence, it was a makeshift solution due to budget overruns. These houses were originally intended for temporary use in earthquake relief, and their long-term living experience is inherently limited, making them even more cramped when used for large-scale events.