Repurpose: Converted Shipping containers

Spotted in Nandihills, Kenya January 2009. I saw one just like this in Bungoma, but was not quick enough with the camera to get a good shot. Turns out Zain is using these as pre-fab offices in rural areas. I like the repurposing going on.

Converted shipping container to Mobile Office

Spotted in Nairobi, January 2008
At Lagoon, a bar/nyama choma (roast meat) joint.

Shipping Container/Office

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Posted in: Architecture, East Africa, Environment, Fun, Ideas, Kenya

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at 7:20 pm and is filed under Architecture, East Africa, Environment, Fun, Ideas, Kenya. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

15 Responses to “Repurpose: Converted Shipping containers”

bankelele March 24th, 2009 at 11:25 pm

you’re making Lagoon world famous ;-]
amyway i’d like to see more containers deployed as houses and especialy as kiosks

mshairi March 25th, 2009 at 9:19 am

I like the idea of the use of the containers for use as the photos above. They are probably much more fireproof than some of the kiosks in Nairobi. I am not sure about houses though. Wouldn’t they be like mabati houses – boiling hot when the sun is shining and freezing when it is cold (and noisy too)?

Mark Belinsky March 25th, 2009 at 11:07 am

These were used in the Soviet Union for temporary housing. For example, in Armenia after an earthquake. Then the USSR fell and these were made into permanent housing structures. (Arguably) the biggest problem is that they are much hotter than the outside in the summer and much colder in the winter. Nevertheless, perhaps they can be modded.

Denis March 25th, 2009 at 1:05 pm

I’d love to see them deployed en masse by the Zain or gvt as rural cybers with the upcoming ict villages. Set up with a fibre or vsat link, some cheap laptops etc. Much greater impact than a prefab office don you think?

Any ict board members reading? :-)

Taylor March 25th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Oh man! These are all over the place. The UN does pre-built offices and housing they ship into locations where they build bases. There are projects creating these for housing for developed nations. Lots of Uchumi and Nakumatts have these mini ones for some finance sharing service of some sort. I’ll get some pics if I can.

NATURALSCEPTIC March 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

They are available in Kenya as offices and for housing. Have a relative who is thoroughly pleased with his purchase of one:
http://www.steelstructureskenya.com/portacabin.htm

AfroMusing March 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

whoa, thanks for your comments everyone! I did not realise they were used in the Soviet Union…I wonder if the modded containers have some form of insulation. I think the one at lagoon was lined with (what do you call those thin sheets of man-made wood?)I really should have paid closer attention…

Looking forward to seeing more pics.

Denis, if you convert one for me with a Fibre link,I will relocate immediately! :) Guess what color I would paint my ka-container? – Green!

Peter Njenga March 26th, 2009 at 1:19 am

Repurposing these containers is both aesthetically and functionally viable.
These containers are strong and can withstand the elements.
They also look good, I must say.

Francisca May 6th, 2009 at 7:09 am

im all for repurposing and recycling i like the ideas

Mulumba May 7th, 2009 at 3:48 am

Neat post C! Our first offices in UNMIL in Liberia were prefab containers just as Taylor mentioned.

Looking at implementing something similar, got inspired by this briefing from Springwise: http://springwise.com/tourism_travel/41berangan/

Also check out http://www.containercity.com/

Ann I. Ball September 27th, 2009 at 8:15 am

I saw them used as Coke Cola kiosks/ drinks stands all over southern Uganda and Kenya.

Joel Leitson October 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 am

Great stuff here!
Containers, prefabracted steel, modular, prefab homes and buildings will offer solutions to the world’s building and housing shortage for the deprived, under-privileged and low income populations in society by providing a total system for basic, low-cost, quality built housing. The modular housing constructed with sandwich panels is the lowest in cost, most rapidly erected, simplest in design, and most structurally sound basic housing in existence today. Plus, you can ship 21 houses in a 40 foot container.
The information on this page pertains to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

DN October 5th, 2009 at 10:31 am

Repurposing these containers is both aesthetically and functionally viable.
These containers are strong and can withstand the elements.
They also look good, I must say.

Sam November 16th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

The modular housing constructed with sandwich panels is the lowest in cost,simplest in design, and most structurally sound basic housing in existence today.
I will go for it.

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