Architecture Asia Special Issue - ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2020

HONORABLE
MENTION
Container House
A-1
Single Family
Residential Projects
Architect:
Zhang Haiao / Shanghai
Jiaotong University
Location:
Shanghai, China
The client is a young man who has just launched a start-up 3D printing business in Shanghai.
He faced problems in his business because of the high rental prices in Shanghai. Therefore,
he has temporally rented four container boxes at very low prices to serve as his office and
house. The container boxes are extremely flexible and stable. Because of the transformable
characteristic, boxes can be arranged in different ways. In the future, container buildings can
even be built like playing LEGO. This is a new way of living and working. The space can change
from one to another at different times.
JURY CITATION: The house was adapted from several containers for its low cost in a big city
like Shanghai, where the rental is too expensive for a young businessman. The project made
interesting use of material, arranged the limited space with flexible solutions for switching
among modes of family, office, and party. It provides insights into modern living in expensive
inner cities.
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