What is Shipping Container Architecture?

Nowadays in order to create something unique and creative an architects and designers often use shipping containers. This form of architecture is called the shipping container architecture or cargotecture. This architecture became popular, as the containers are wide available and strong material at a low price. Moreover, the container buildings are more environmentally friendly than traditional houses that made of bricks and cement.

The container homes have their advantages and disadvantages.

Containers are a perfect material for building. They are enough strong and durable, as the shipping containers can resist harsh environment and they are created for carrying heavy loads.

Another advantage of all shipping containers is modularity, because they have the same sizes. The architects can combine them and design the large and unique masterpieces. And the creation of additional construction is an easy task.

The construction expenses of the container house may be pretty high, as the specialized labor is needed. But these expenses are still lower than the building of traditional house.

The transportation is also an advantage of the container architecture. The container modules have standard shipping sizes and can be delivered by truck, rail or ship.

We can use the shipping containers all around the world. So, the availability is one more advantage of this ideal building material.

As for the expense, the containers have the lower price than other finished structures that are made of bricks. The containers can be bought from transport companies at a reasonable price, $1,200 each. And if you want to buy new brand they will cost you $6000.

In addition the main advantage of shipping containers is that they are eco-friendly.

In spite of all advantages, the shipping container architecture has its disadvantages. The containers heat very well, so they should have better isolation than wood, brick or block structures. There is a lack of flexibility, because to create spaces different to the default size is expensive and takes a lot of time. For the construction of container houses a crane is needed, so the construction site should be enough spacious. In some regions there is required some building permits for steel construction. The last disadvantage is that the roof is not very strong. It has the limit of 300 kg.

Today the structures made of shipping containers are widely used. And they have different usage, sizes, appearances and locations.

Shipping Containers Sizes, Dimensions, Volumes, Weights and Loads

		20′ container		40′ container		40′ high-cube container		45′ high-cube container
		imperial	metric	imperial	metric	imperial	metric	imperial	metric
external dimensions	length	19′ 10.5″	6.058 m	40′ 0″	12.192 m	40′ 0″	12.192 m	45′ 0″	13.716 m
	width	8′ 0″	2.438 m	8′ 0″	2.438 m	8′ 0″	2.438 m	8′ 0″	2.438 m
	height	8′ 6″	2.591 m	8′ 6″	2.591 m	9′ 6″	2.896 m	9′ 6″	2.896 m
internal dimensions	length	19′ 3″	5.867 m	39′ 5 45⁄64″	12.032 m	39′ 4″	12.000 m	44′ 4″	13.556 m
	width	7′ 8 19⁄32″	2.352 m	7′ 8 19⁄32″	2.352 m	7′ 7″	2.311 m	7′ 8 19⁄32″	2.352 m
	height	7′ 9 57⁄64″	2.385 m	7′ 9 57⁄64″	2.385 m	8′ 9″	2.650 m	8′ 9 15⁄16″	2.698 m
door aperture	width	7′ 8 ⅛″	2.343 m	7′ 8 ⅛″	2.343 m	7′ 6"	2.280 m	7′ 8 ⅛″	2.343 m
	height	7′ 5 ¾″	2.280 m	7′ 5 ¾″	2.280 m	8′ 5″	2.560 m	8′ 5 49⁄64″	2.585 m
internal volume		1,169 ft³	33.1 m³	2,385 ft³	67.5 m³	2,660 ft³	75.3 m³	3,040 ft³	86.1 m³
maximum gross weight		66,139 lb	30,400 kg	66,139 lb	30,400 kg	68,008 lb	30,848 kg	66,139 lb	30,400 kg
empty weight		4,850 lb	2,200 kg	8,380 lb	3,800 kg	8,598 lb	3,900 kg	10,580 lb	4,800 kg
net load		61,289 lb	28,200 kg	57,759 lb	26,600 kg	58,598 lb	26,580 kg	55,559 lb	25,600 kg