Earlier this week, BMA's Public Works Department announced crackdowns on the illegal use of containers as homes, cafes, restaurants, and flea markets. The online mass panic that ensued, mostly by the owners of such buildings, made me realise one thing -- wow, there are so many of them.
So, why would anyone want to live or work in a container? Simply put, people today no longer have an aversion to limited space. It's a fact of life that we urbanites have to embrace. Thus, the new trend of container homes have been a big hit.
Chidpan Wattanapornmongkol, owner of Hiife Corporation (fb.com/hiifecorp) which designs container homes, said that containers actually allow for a lot of creativity since they are so simple.
"Container homes and container offices are popular because of three keywords -- easy, durable, and cost-effective. You can just place a finished container on a piece of land, so long as the foundation has been laid, without having to drive your neighbours up the wall with all the construction noise. Speaking of durability, most containers are designed to withstand sea transport, so they are very strong and resistant to sunlight and rain. You can stack a few containers on top of each other. However, make sure the construction is legal and meets architectural and engineering standards."
A hostel for students from containers. A new type of modular and eco-friendly houses. The idea originated in the Netherlands and then was introduced to the Le Havre city, France.
There are, of course, certain setbacks that come with container homes. First of all, metal absorbs and retains heat, so without the right coating, you'll feel like you're living in an oven. It is also important to check the container's background. "If the container has been used for certain jobs involving chemicals, you have to make sure the toxins have been cleared out before you build a home in it."
Economy-wise, container homes might be the answer to the limited budgets and labour shortage that the country is experiencing right now. Environmentally, it is a way of reusing discarded containers.
In addition to actual containers, some of such homes today are built from scratch to keep up with this new architectural trend. Chidpan, however, prefers using real containers, because the materials are more durable and it helps save the environment.
Container home designed by Hiife.
He is particularly impressed with Casa Incubo, a container home in Costa Rica by architect Maria Jose Trejos and shelters of earthquake victims in Onagawa designed by Shigeru Ban. Two other projects he likes are Illy Cafe by Adam Kalkin, which is a sophisticated cafe made from an old metal box and Keetwonen student housing in Amsterdam by Tempo Housing, which is the biggest container city in the world.
Container homes are the answer to his lifelong quest for a way to make it possible for those with limited budgets to have their own home or business. "I've always wondered why it was so hard for people to own a home or a shop and what I could do, as an architect, to help them. And this is it. With container homes, which are more affordable, people can have that home or shop of their dreams without breaking their banks."
