Street-side Container House

If legally and compliantly set up, street-side container houses can serve as buildings for temporary commercial and public service purposes; if set up without approval, they are considered illegal structures, posing safety hazards and affecting the urban appearance.

Legitimate Uses of Container Houses

• Temporary Commercial Uses: Container houses can be transformed into temporary shops, such as creative retail stores, coffee shops, milk tea shops, etc., commonly found in commercial streets, night markets, and scenic spots. They offer advantages like mobility, quick setup, and low cost, meeting the needs of short-term commercial activities. For example, during the World Cup, containers were used to build fan villages, quickly providing accommodation and supporting facilities.
• Public Service Uses: Container houses can be used to construct community stations, libraries, government service halls, and other public service facilities. Their modular design allows for quick combination and layout adjustment, enabling flexible changes according to service needs. For instance, the Shanghai Rong·Gubei Station uses containers as a platform to provide residents with one-stop government services such as information registration, employment consultation, and matter handling, while regularly organizing themed markets and resident council meetings to stimulate community vitality.

Problems with Illegally Built Container Houses

• Safety Hazards: Some unauthorized container houses use flammable materials in their construction, such as polystyrene and polyurethane foam, posing significant fire safety risks. In the event of a fire, the flames spread rapidly, making firefighting difficult and endangering the escape of trapped individuals.
• Impact on Urban Appearance: Illegally built container houses are often placed haphazardly in public areas like streets and sidewalks, occupying public resources and affecting the normal passage of citizens and the overall image of the city. For example, both Changhai Road Subdistrict in Yangpu District and Touqiao Subdistrict in Yunyan District have identified and rectified illegally set up container houses.