Container Architecture

container_ architecture

* image by photohome_uk, Flicr.com, april 2007

Building Systems Integration Case Study William J Penland November, 2008

The objective of this document is to study the different ways in which prefabricated elements of our global economic infrastructure (ISO shipping containers specifically) can be used as architecture after they have fulfilled their primary use in the shipping industry, by providing places of habitation for multiple sectors of the building industry.

* image by randomwire, Flickr.com, nov. 2006

ii

table of contents :

general...

shipping containers in america... 1 upcycling_W. McDonough...3 specifications_loads...5

massing...

kalkin house_adam kalkin...7 dwell home_ jpa...9 sanlitun south_lo-tek...11 nomadic museum_shigeru ban...13

connecting...

lateral connection_types...15

outfitting_finishing... cutting openings...17 making them habitable...19

shipping containers in america :

*http://bp0.blogger.com/_pMscxxELHEg/R_uhbdDCIvI/AAAAAAAABz0/SWx81Dszc3o/s1600-h/ContainersFeb2008.jpg

In America we import most of our goods from other countries, many times hundreds or thousands of miles away. These goods are typically shipped to our country using ISO shipping containers, however, once they arrive and are emptied, these containers are typically not refilled with goods and exported out to people around the world. Sadly, they usually end up in one of two places; being stacked in storage in large ports or train yards, filling up valuable urban land, slowly succombing to rust and weather, or they go the the scrap yard, where they enter an extreemly energy intensive process of melting them down to be recycled into useable steel. Why does this happen? because it is actually cheaper for exporting countries to make new ones for the next shipment instead of investing capital in transporting them back overseas to be refilled. This leaves america and other net importers with huge surpluses of shipping containers that we have no use for. * image by So Cal Metro, Flickr.com, jan. 2006

2

* image by OneEighteen, Flickr.com, aug. 2007

* image by myfear, Flickr.com, oct. 2006

* image by rustyjaw, Flickr.com, no. 2007

upcycling :

William A. McDonough * http://images.ted.com/images/ted/91_254x191.jpg

upcycling: the term “upcycling” was coined by William McDonough and Michael Braugart in their groundbreaking book on ecologically-intelligent design, Cradle to Cradle, published in 2002. In the simplest terms, upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value. * image by ubiquity_zh, Flickr.com, mar. 2007

4

this [architecture] or this [recycled] or this [wasted]

* image by guitarchitect, Flickr.com, apr. 2008

?

?

?

* image by Vincent, Flickr.com, apr. 2008

* image by Val Ann, Flickr.com, aug. 07

container specs_ measurements :

http://www.freightraders.co.nz/containerspecs.html

precise construction: standard ISO shipping containers are built to meet rigid international standard dimensions. They come in an assortment of sizes and shapes depending on the different types of freight needed to be shipped. The most popular, and most readily acceptable 20’ and 40’ low and high-box [8’6” high and 9’6” high respectively] are also the types typically used for container architecture

6

loads_forces: point loads roof/uniform load 300 psf [20 psf req’d by code]

stacking/axial load 211,670 pound/post [500 pound/post req’d]

end wall/lateral load 366 psf [20 psf req’d by code]

floor/uniform load 101 psf [40 psf req’d by code]

racking/shear load 16,800 lb [680 lb req’d by code]

racking/shear load 33,600 lb [1,600 lb req’d by code]

sidewall/lateral load 234 psf [20 psf req’d by code]

adam kalkin_ Kalkin House :

* image from ‘architecture & hygiene’ [Kalkin, 2002]

* image by chickpea studios, Flickr.com, aug.2008

* image from ‘architecture & hygiene’

8

Kalkin [Collector’s] House Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Vermont [2001] - simple vertical container stacking - container skin housed within industrial pre-fab skin [increased floor area, frames living spaces, decreases ISO thermal load] - garage door facades open to exterior [cross ventilation, blending of exterior & interior]

diagramatic model of container massing

description: a 2-story, 20’x80’ pre-fab shed houses 3 stacked ISO shipping containers, creating hybrid indoor/outdoor space by opening up facades with operable glass garage doors, and balconies with metal grids.

conclusions: the skin within a skin motif used here makes sense from a thermal comfort standpoint, especially with the addition of concrete floors. The simple vertical stacking strategy used, takes most advatage of space and load distribution from each container down to the foundation without the need for additional structure.

jones partners architecture_ Dwell Home : * image from ‘el segundo’ [J.P.A. 2007]

* image from ‘el segundo’ [J.P.A. 2007]

* image from ‘el segundo’ [J.P.A. 2007]

10

Dwell Home Pittsboro, NC [2003] description: - uses J.P.A.’s PRO/con system utilizes ‘PRO/con’ system, built of 20’ ISO contian [20’ containers used as basic building ers and steel framed infill panels for roof and floor block to create an almost limitless on driven steel piles; aluminum sliding glass door variety of dwellings] and solid interior partition system. - massing of containers around central interior volume [containers contain bedrooms/bath rooms and enclose living spaces in the void] - container becomes a habitable wall

diagramatic model of container massing

conclusions: the systematic approach presented by Jones Partners attempts to use the container as a building block within a larger, more complicated system. Seemingly endless possibilities of spatial and structural articulation are made possible with the use of a logical organization pattern.

lot-ek_ Sanlitun South :

* image from lot-ek.com

* image from lot-ek.com

* image from lot-ek.com

12

Sanlitun South Beijing, China [2005] - contianers idependantly supported within conventional structure - containers become extrusions from fa cade, providing for signage and retail level pedestrian protection from precipitation [seem to float out in space, visually interesting but structurally intensive]

description: organized like a medieval village with a dense fabric of narrow openair alleys [circulation channels] between low-rise buildings connected by elevated walkways and bridges throughout. with shipping containers inserted randomly into facades, functioning as canopies for the floors and entrances below.

diagramatic model of container massing

conclusions: The insertion of shipping containers into larger structures allows them to be utilized for functions other than just program. They can have multiple purposes and operate in various ways at the same time. Incorporating them with other architectural moves [solar shade screens] allows for passive cooling, reducing energy consumption.

shigeru ban_ Nomadic Museum : * image by PaoloMazzo, Flickr.com, sept. 2006

* image by PaoloMazzo, Flickr.com

* image by PaoloMazzo, Flickr.com, sept. 2006

* image by PaoloMazzo, Flickr.com, sept. 2006

14

Nomadic Museum worldwide [debuted N.Y.C. 2005] - staggered vertical container massing [maintains point loads] - containers and canvas sheets provide a semi-enclosed exhibition space - designed for mobility [primary structure is shipping con tainers and recycled paper collumns]

diagramatic model of container massing

description: designed as a temmporary structure to house the Ashes and Snow photography and film exhibition by Gregory Colbert The museum is an on-going project that changes and evolves as the years go by. The design discussed here is the origional.

conclusions: the clever staggering of the containers in the horizontal while maintaining the integrity of the axial point loads provides a unique opportunity to pay equal attention to the mass and the void. the use of used container adds an extra layer of depth and meaning to the temporality of the structure.

connecting multiple containers : how are containers connected together to allow for structural stability throughout the entirety of the structure?

- connectors are used at adja cent corner fittings to clamp adja cent container together. these are used at each connection to tie together individual neighboring units [in the vertical and/or the horizontal] and provide stability to the whole stack.

- various tyes of connectors may be used depending on project requirements. see ‘container connector clamps’

http://www.tandemloc.com/ for additional examples of container connectors

* image by sixbysixtasy, Flickr.com, sept. 2008

16

basic screw-type container connector clamp

perforating the container_ cutting holes: how are habitable spaces made within the fairly constrained interior dimensions of the shipping container? - sometimes larger spaces are required by program than can be provded by one container. when this happens, cut desired opening into corrugated metal facade and frame with structural steel. [framing required due to loss of lateral stability in facade due to cut opening] - this same approach is taken for cutting all types of openings [doors, windows, & room expansions]

- where framing is not applicable [the removal of an entire facade], tie structural member of neighbor ing containers together, or [in the case of replacing with a glass cur tain wall] add tension bracing to achieve lateral stability.

* image by j_mills, Flickr.com, mar. 2008

18

structural framing around container openings

finishing out the container_ making it habitable: how are habitable spaces made within the fairly constrained interior dimensions of the shipping container? - sometimes larger spaces are required by program than can be provded by one container. when this happens, cut desired opening into corrugated metal facade and frame with structural steel. [framing required due to loss of lateral stability in facade due to cut opening] - this same approach is taken for cutting all types of openings [doors, windows, & room expansions]

- where framing is not applicable [the removal of an entire facade], tie structural member of neighbor ing containers together, or [in the case of replacing with a glass cur tain wall] add tension bracing to achieve lateral stability.

container structure

extruded foam insulation gypsum board

tie with connectors cap void between containers

*note: see compact disk [included] for closer details of digital container models.

floated floor [wood stud] * image by petraalsbach, Flickr.com, mar. 2007

20

example container building elevations [front, side]

example container building sections [front, side]

example container building digital model

bibliography :

architectureandhygiene.com firmitas.org flickr.com Jones, Partners: Architecture, “El Segundo”, Princeton Architectural Press, NY, 2007 jonespartners.com Kalkin, Adam “Architecture & Hygiene”, BT Batsford, London, 2002 Keetwonen http://www.tempohousing. com/projects/keetwonen.html Lot-ek.com shigerubanarchitects.com