Dec 26, 2013
Designboom
philip stevens
originally only used to transport cargo across the globe, shipping containers were so cheap to manufacture that it was economically more viable to leave them at the freight’s destination, rather than to return them to their origin, or re-use them for the same function. consequently, the last few years have seen architects and designers repurpose the steel enclosures, utilizing their flexible and adaptable nature, which means that they can be constructed almost anywhere. cheap, lightweight, and readily available, designboom’s TOP 10 shipping container structures of 2013 includes a range of imaginative and inventive uses for the modular units.
‘ECOntainer bridge’, by israeli practice yoav messer architects, will soon be under construction in ariel sharon park, a nature conserve rooted in the ideas of environmental ecology and sustainability. the deck will accommodate pedestrian and light vehicle traffic, freeing the roadways for vehicles and improving the flow of both. the containers’ modular characteristic makes it ideal for replacing or repairing parts, modifying certain points of the design, and using the natural proportions to frame specific views.