Surprising shipping container modifications go beyond the more well-known pop-up shops and tiny homes.
There’s a whole world of lesser-known uses that showcase the extraordinary versatility of shipping containers.
New uses for them often surprise but these amazing steel units continue prove their mettle.
Following are a few exciting examples of what is already possible when it comes to shipping container modifications.
Backyard Swimming Pools
Shipping container pools, although relatively uncommon as yet in Queensland homes, have managed to attract mainstream attention.
Their appeal lies in how quickly they can be installed. Their sturdy walls minimise the structural concerns that can afflict traditional above-ground pools.
Container pools can have their interior walls sealed with watertight liners. Filtration systems can be readily installed. Transparent viewing panels can be added for a modern twist.
But not all shipping container pools are above ground. They can also be installed in-ground.
The rigid steel frame and rectangular shape of a shipping container offers another great advantage in that relocating it is not only possible, but also relatively easy.
Sources:
• [1] Modpools
• [2] ABC News article on shipping container pools.
Sub-Zero Research Stations
Another surprise for anyone who assumes shipping containers are purely for cargo transport is their popularity in polar regions for their use as research outposts, pop-up labs, and emergency shelters in Antarctica or the Arctic.
The snow-blown conditions and howling winds are powerless against the steel shell of an expertly modified shipping container. These modifications would include added insulation, ventilation, and specialised flooring to retain warmth.
With their combination of durability and easy transportability means ready-made research stations can be shipped, offloaded, and quickly set up.
Sources:
• [3] British Antarctic Survey: Halley Research Station
Why Shipping Containers Work Here
Their rigid construction and modular form make them easy to stack, reinforce, and insulate.
Rainwater Harvesting
By simply installing gutters along a shipping container, lengthwise, and adding filtration, you can have a bonus rainwater harvesting unit.
Directing rain as it falls into collection tanks, this shipping container roof-based rainwater catchment system makes an easy solution for potable water needs.
Why Shipping Containers Work Here
The naturally water-resistant steel structure of a shipping container means it will easily handle humidity and heavy rains. It can also be positioned on raised platforms away from rising floodwaters.
Architectural Statement in the Desert
Desert locations are subjected to extreme heat, occasional sandstorms, and very little shade. In California’s Mojave Desert, The Starburst House in Joshua Tree is a project that features shipping containers—21 of them—in the starring role.
“Each container,” says UK architect James Whitaker, “is orientated to maximise views across the landscape, control light entering the house, or to use the topography to provide privacy, depending on their individual use.”
American Psycho film producer Chris Hanley, commissioned Starburst. Prior to the project being built, he decided more space would be needed. So the proposed 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 2,100 square-foot container home plus 22.5 acres of land was listed for sale at $US3.5 million.
Why Shipping Containers Would Work Here
Given the heat in their Mojave Desert location, the steel containers would be painted white and are designed to be viewing extensions from the central building.
Source:
Spectacular Starburst House Waits to Bloom in the Desert.
Fortified Field Stations in Dangerous Environments
For field stations in disaster-relief zones and in areas with high security needs, shipping containers can be easily fortified with extra locks, reinforced doors, or bulletproof panels.
The narrow shape of the containers can be strategically arranged to form barriers or protective enclosures around command posts and storage units.
Many humanitarian groups and military forces have used modified shipping containers as mobile command centres.
Sources:
• [4] UNHCR Port Sudan Office
Why Shipping Containers Work Here
Pre-existing corner castings simplify anchoring, and thick steel walls boost security.
Animal Shelters
A 40-foot shipping container has been modified for the City of Launceston to form a mobile animal shelter for use in natural disasters. It is insulated, air conditioned, LED lit, and has extraction fans, running water, and an office area.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said, “The great benefit of repurposing a shipping container is of course that it is portable. Within a few hours we can have the mobile shelter on a truck and in transit to anywhere in the municipality, and indeed anywhere in the State.
“The shelter will be able to temporarily house the most at-risk animals in a natural disaster where they can be monitored and cared for by our officers.”
Why Shipping Containers Work Here
The portability of shipping containers is ideal when relocating enclosures, while the steel exterior is resistant to damage from the impact of large animals or weather conditions.
Horticulture Breeding Lab
Shipping containers can be converted for use as controlled environments for running a plant laboratory and producing high-quality, disease-free plants.
Viscon Group’s ViCabin is equipped with an area for preparing media and cutting plants, as well as a multi-layer propagation area. This ‘plug-and-play’ tissue culture lab is a low threshold entry into tissue culture production with all the benefits of a regular lab combined in three 40ft shipping containers.
Why Shipping Containers Work Here
The sealed design and climate control capabilities of shipping containers help maintain strict conditions for temperature, humidity, and sterility.
Conclusion
The popularity of shipping containers stems from their robust steel construction, modular dimensions, and cost-effectiveness. Easily modified for use as a backyard swimming pool, the humble shipping container offers a near-limitless capacity to adapt.
It has great potential for quite spontaneous deployment in unusual locations and environments, as well as providing a controlled environment for laboratory purposes.
Shipping containers continue to inspire thanks to their unique qualities and, no matter the use case—real or envisioned—these amazing steel boxes are fit for the challenge.
Why Gatehouse Container Modifications?
As the name says, we specialise in converting shipping containers at Gatehouse Container Modifications. Creating ingeniously functional and stylish spaces, we work closely with you to ensure that your shipping container modification meets and even exceeds your expectations.
Contact us today. Let’s bring your vision to life!
