Are you looking for a sustainable option for a mobile office, studio, retail business, or living space? Have you considered recycled steel shipping containers? These versatile containers can be modified for a variety of purposes.
Currently, there are more than 17 million of these steel shipping containers in circulation; however, since only 6 million of these are actually being used to transport goods, there are 11 million available. Given the large number of unused storage containers, it makes sense to repurpose rather than store them.
Container Auction states that when well-maintained, steel cargo containers can last 20 years. As a result, when you buy new or used shipping containers, they can be modified to address the demand for working and living spaces. Furthermore, they can also be used to store business inventory and supplies.
When you repurpose a shipping container, bricks, mortar, and wood don’t need to be used to construct the office or living space’s frame. Since each shipping container represents approximately 3,500 kilograms of steel being recycled and repurposed, it makes a significant contribution to the environment.
If you’re thinking about using one or more of these containers as an office or studio, you may be interested to know that Jacobs, a major design and workspace construction firm, states the average workstation has grown smaller over the past decade or so.
In 1992, for example, the size of a workspace was approximately 70 square feet. Currently, however, workstations have been whittled down to about 39 square feet. This is possible, in part, due to a unique and creative way of optimizing space.
Used shipping containers can be a creative solution for pop-up shops, too. The standard-sized container, for example, can hold approximately 3,500 shoe-sized boxes. A 40 foot high cube, however, can hold over 8,000 shoe-sized boxes. This is a considerable amount of inventory.
To assist you further with creating a visual, there are a variety of custom features that you can have included in your shipping container. These include, but aren’t limited to, the following types of modifications:
- Doors
- Windows
- Skylights
- Climate control
- Interior modifications
- Locking mechanisms
- Shelving
- Painting
Since you’re looking for an environmentally-conscious solution to your living or working space, steel shipping containers are a viable option. Given the versatility of these 40 foot shipping containers, and the modifications that are possible, you can have a unique and workable custom-made space.
