Japan's Container Modular Housing

Japan used container modular housing as temporary accommodation for some athletes at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games, but the actual living experience had numerous issues.

I. Basic Housing Information
These container houses were converted from standard containers and were called 'Asian Games Villas'. Each house was 12 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, with two units combined to form a two-bedroom, one-living-room layout, accommodating up to three athletes per household. The organizing committee claimed that container buildings are movable facilities that can be transformed into hotels or emergency shelters after the event, aligning with sustainable and environmentally friendly design concepts.

II. Living Experience Issues

1. Cramped Space: The interior ceiling height was only 2.2 meters, forcing tall athletes (such as basketball players) to lower their heads to avoid bumping while walking inside; the bed size was 1.95 meters long and 90 centimeters wide, making it difficult for athletes over two meters tall to fully stretch their legs when lying down, severely affecting sleep quality.
2. Inadequate Supporting Facilities: There were issues such as leaks in the bathroom sinks, and due to space constraints, basic needs like storage and activities were difficult to meet.
3. Frequent Failures: Some houses experienced problems such as leaks and electrical failures during the event, further reducing living comfort.

III. Background and Controversy of the Plan
The Nagoya Asian Games initially planned to build a traditional athletes' village, but due to high construction costs (the budget soared from 85 billion yen to nearly 240 billion yen) and difficulties in post-event utilization, the plan was ultimately abandoned. The organizing committee proposed an alternative plan to accommodate participants using a combination of cruise ships, container temporary housing, and hotels in multiple locations, with about 2,400 athletes arranged to stay in container-style housing at the port dock. Despite the organizing committee's emphasis on the environmental friendliness and sustainability of container buildings, issues such as budget overruns and unreasonable space design during actual implementation led to complaints from athletes and officials from multiple countries.

IV. Conclusion
Japan's intention in using container modular housing at the Asian Games was to control costs and achieve environmental goals, but the design failed to fully consider the actual needs of athletes, resulting in a poor living experience. This case reflects the need to find a more balanced solution between functionality, comfort, and sustainability in temporary buildings.