Richard Hammond and Gensler's Santa Monica office contributed to a unique container project for a Boy Scouts' campground in Emerald Bay (on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California). According to Metropolis, the low-impact cabin was made with old shipping containers, reclaimed lumber, durable rubber flooring, LED lighting, and solar photovoltaics. The roof — which is, perhaps, more eye-catching than the transformed containers — was made with a stretched silicone-coated fiberglass material.
The built prototype presents a new and sustainable, albeit less rustic, vision for scouting. All together, 20 more container cabins will be built at Camp Emerald Bay.
As an Eagle Scout myself, I'm confident that the project could be used as a platform for Scouts to learn more about ecology, architecture, and construction. It's hard to get the same platform with generic canvas tents or traditional cabin structures.
Gensler collaborated with several others to make the container eco cabin a success, including Arup, J. Miller Canvas, RMS Group, Primus Lighting Inc., and Nora Systems Inc.
Photo credits: Richard Hammond via Metropolis.
That’s a really interesting project.
Interesting to note how they decided to remove both the internal walls and roof of the containers the structure must have been a bit wobbly before that roof went on to hold it all back together.
At some point there is so much work involved that you have to ask if it was worth it – using shipping containers as building elements – not the project : )
I think the point is that instead of being dumped and used for nothing ever again, this sturdy (and non-reactive to many substances) stuff is perfect for an application like this. Why not use it to make sheds, storage units, carports, etc..? The work is the reward and something’s not having to be manufactured again, producing all the waste the manufacturing process involves {water, electricity, metal (including heavy metal) waste, smoke, gasoline, oil, synthetics, money, several people, metalworking machinery..}
What was the cost of these “cabins”? I am curious because I am looking at something which doesn’t require “construction” per se.
What was the cost of these “cabins”? I am curious because I am looking at something which doesn’t require “construction” per se.