You may be surprised to learn that shipping containers are not exclusively used in the shipping industry to transport cargo around the world. There are plenty of innovative uses for shipping containers, for both domestic and commercial purposes.
From secure onsite storage to shipping goods worldwide, we know there are many other uses for containers outside of the recent home-building trend.
So, what other uses can you find outside of shipping container homes?
Data Centres
Servers and network equipment can take up a lot of space and most companies rely on offsite facilities rather than paying for extra floorspace. More advanced computing power is needed for businesses to keep up with their contemporaries, so this means that more companies need powerful computing abilities on site – and this will require more space.
Using a shipping container to contain hefty computing supplies can keep your business running at optimal speeds without cluttering your office space. There will be costs for the initial set-up of a steel container hire in London, but once your centre is ready you won’t be losing money to rented floorspace just for computers every month.
Pools
More often found floating on water, rather than full of it, German innovation has seen the creation of the shipping container swimming pool. There are plenty of containers that have been converted into a large swimming pool. Cost effective and convenient, this has offered a great means of cooling down for a great price.
Sauna
You could end up making an entire spa in your back garden if you’re willing to convert two shipping containers – one into a pool and the other into a sauna! This is a fantastic way to recycle old shipping containers into something new and interesting.
It could also become a fantastic DIY project if you’re looking for a trendy home improvement job to keep you busy.
Medical Aide
During pandemics, shipping containers can become an incredibly important resource for saving human lives. The ability to set up a sturdy and functional place to deliver care quickly could be vital to saving the population of an area. Once the threat has passed, a shipping container can also be easily moved to its next destination – making it even more invaluable.
Portable medical centres are sometimes equipped with solar power to improve their ability to function in a variety of places – including places that are a little off the grid. Features like this are especially important in war zones or places of extreme devastation, and they can help replace buildings where they may have been destroyed and offer medical assistance where it is most needed.
A portable and temporary medical aide may also be very useful for festivals and special events as an alternative to building a permanent structure. This is important when a festival is taking place on land that needs to be restored to its original condition at the end.
Shelter
In the case of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or worse, the need for emergency shelter is paramount. Shipping containers are being converted into waterproof and warm temporary accommodation for such situations. In Brighton, UK, these temporary accommodation areas are also being used to help house the homeless; indeed, they have been made into self-contained flats including bathrooms and kitchens.
Container City
Similar to the need for homeless shelters, containers are paving the way in creating more affordable housing for those families who might be priced out of an area otherwise. This innovation is based in the heart of London and is a new housing development that is made entirely from retired shipping containers.
Schools
Like shelters, schools are another vital aspect of society that requires space and building to function. Using shipping containers as a classroom is becoming popular in poorer countries that can’t afford to build expensive infrastructure for schools.
Shipping containers are a cheap alternative that provide children in developing nations with a good level of education. Renewable energy is being used alongside the makeshift classrooms to replicate a level of education that people in the UK can relate to.
Holiday Homes
For those with access to more resources and money where shelter isn’t an issue, a shipping container could provide the means to achieving a fabulous second home. Living in tiny homes has been a building trend of late, and with a converted shipping container it’s possible to own your own personalised tiny home.
A converted shipping container as a holiday home shares a lot of qualities with glamping and can be as glamorous as you want it to be.
Shopping Stores
Designer brands have begun looking into the idea of using containers as high street stores in a bid to entice shoppers in with trendy curb appeal. Starbucks is one of many highbrow brands to operate out of a shipping container on occasion, but it’s a popular move with unique shops and cafés that are looking to make a very visual impact on their visitors.
Microbrewery
With craft beer being popular at the moment, several entrepreneurs have started using storage containers in London to start up their own microbrewery companies.
The low cost of shipping containers allows owners to expand rapidly and keeps overall costs down long term. Owners are also able to easily move their brewery around to ensure they engage with as many clients as possible throughout the country.
Bar
If it’s possible to convert a shipping container into a café, school or microbrewery, then you can bet that you can turn a shipping container into a bar. Shipping container bars have a gimmicky appeal for punters and tourists so they’re often relatively popular due to being completely unique.
Construction Site Storage
One of the main uses for shipping containers, other than delivering goods across the world, is to provide temporary accommodation and storage for construction workers. They offer an easy access place to store tools on site, thus cutting down on daily transportation of supplies.
Alternatively, a steel shipping container might benefit a family getting a renovation by providing them with somewhere to store the furniture, without having it cluttering other rooms in the meantime.
If you need site cabins to help build your office, house, hotel, or for another purpose, then you can get in touch with us, and a member of our team can assist you in choosing the right containers for your needs.
