Instead of leaving them lying around, taking up space while they wait for their rusty end, the brilliant minds at Urban Space Management have come up with a perfect way to repurpose old shipping containers. Take a look!
Located at the Trinity Buoy Wharf in London, Urban Space Management spent 5 months (yes, that fast!) building an impressive structure out of repurposed shipping containers.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
Completed in 2001, the living and working community was named Container City. It originally featured 3 floors and 12 work studios.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
But due to a large demand, a fourth floor was added in 2003, adding 3 apartments. The builders soon began work on an extension to Container City, which they named Container City II. It was built right next to the first one and features interconnecting bridges to connect both of the cities into one “giant storage container megaspace”.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
The repurposed storage containers were cost-effective to build, not to mention environment-friendly since over 80% of the buildings were made with recycled materials.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
The individual containers were prepared at a different location, then set into place at Container City using a giant crane.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
The method proved to be extremely effective and efficient since it took the builders only 15 days to create the original structure – which by the way consists of 73 container units.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
The goal of Container City’s unique architecture is “to create stylish and high quality, yet affordable, accommodation for a range of uses.”
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
Container units vary; the studios range in sizes from 200 sq ft to a little over 1,000 sq ft.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
The original Container City was designed as a living and working space, while the second city was specifically designed to be an arts workspace.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
According to the builders, “Trinity Buoy Wharf remains committed to the growth of the arts and creative industries and as such is willing to negotiate prices for artists.”
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
The units themselves are also environmentally friendly. The studios are all thermally efficient, and “the heating and lighting systems are carefully designed to reduce energy consumption.”
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
Every one of the city’s container units remained modular in nature. “It can be added to or reorganized during its life. Should the land be required for other use, the structure can be unbolted and reused on another site.”
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
Container City is truly an amazing feat and is probably the most famous housing and work development of its type. Urban Space even used similar architecture and design “to create classrooms, office space, sports halls, nurseries, community centers, artist studios, [and] retail space.”
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.
Container City continues to receive praise from both the the government and business community for their innovative, environment-friendly design.
Urban Space Management (Container City) Ltd.