Metal shipping containers offered by BSL Offshore Containers and other companies continue serving an important role in delivering products from one location to another. However, modern architects, designers and other creative individuals have found that these sturdily built vessels also make great foundations for a number of residential, commercial and public structures.
Housing Electrical Equipment
Heavy electrical equipment require a strong, secure space for frequency converters, controls systems and switchgears. Converting a shipping container to house components of electricity manufacturing components ensures having a sturdy exterior structure that will withstand any type of weather. When used for this purpose, the interiors are also typically insulated for climate control. The structures must additionally have the ability to withstand the weight associated with electrical equipment. The stability of the heavy gauge steel aptly provides the strength needed. The fact that the containers are easily transported from one location to another makes this type of set-up especially convenient in the event of a disaster. The containers are quickly moved to any location needed. For these reasons, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, often referred to as FEMA, regularly uses 40-foot shipping containers as mobile control centers.
Unique Scoreboard
While baseball, basketball, football and hockey remain at the top of the list of favorite spectator sports in the country, soccer is not far behind. In commemoration of the World Cup Soccer competition, renowned luxury auto manufacturer Audi constructed what is probably the world’s largest scoreboard. On the shores of Brooklyn, cranes and trucks delivered and stacked 45 open-ended shipping containers and 28 full-sized A8 Audi cars. The cars were arranged in a specific configuration, which allowed the headlights to serve as the light source for displaying match scores. The uppermost central containers were also illuminated from the inside, but boasted signs featuring the various team countries. Via remote control and synchronization, the headlights formed the scores of each team in a display that measured 40 feet in height. Not only was the board visible from across the river toward Manhattan, but also by planes flying overhead. The board remained in use through the entire month.
Urban Farm Project
While rural areas have an abundance of open horizontal space form gardens or farms, the same is not true of inner city landscapes. Surrounded by buildings of various heights and square feet of space, the only open space available in urban areas means going upwards. A corporation known as OVA Studio proposes filling a vertical New York City space with a unique modular farm structure created from shipping containers. Closely resembling the popular stacking game Jenga, the array would consist of a tower of vessels stacked and jutting out in all directions. Plans include making the “Hive-Inn” City Farm a completely self-contained system where crops and livestock might thrive. The concept includes recycling waste and water. Rainwater would serve as the source of irrigation and undergo recycling through the technique of hydroponic farming. Animal and human waste would act as fertilizer. Low-wind turbines and solar panels would supply all of the electricity needed.