“Interlocking Container House” -

RAISE: “India Homes 2020” Competition

Year: 2012

Client: Tata Tiscon Present

Location: India

Gross Floor Area: 1500 sqm (per unit)

The highly standardized shipping containers offer an effective and convenient way to carry goods across the world in this modern age. In recent years the prospects of using shipping containers for spatial needs have been explored also as a way of prolonging their lifecycle beyond logistics used. The containers are used for shipment for sometime in their lifespan but could be put to better use to address the issue of affordable housing for the poor and lower income groups.

Adaptive reuse is the most sustainable approach to recyclability. We don’t merely use cargo containers as they are; but improve its lifecycle and longevity through innovative design and combining with other architectural finishes. Modular shipping containers are readily available and offer a relatively inexpensive and a sustainable solution to low cost, affordable housing. This structurally sound module provides a highly stable, long-lasting framework and remains flexible to link adjoining units and creates larger inner space.

As India has a number of port cities, shipping containers are readily available and could be put to better use after their use for transporting goods across the world. Adopting this concept of creative reuse and capitalizing on the robustness of cargo container structures, we aim to transform cargo containers into family housing units offering a decent housing and forming a sustainable community for the needy.