What are container homes? Discover projects that have been developed by CASACOR
Learn a little more about the construction method that offers several advantages, is good for the environment and has a reduced cost
By Yeska Coelho
Submitted at Apr 13, 2021, 6:00 AM
08 min de leitura
CASACOR São Paulo 2019 - Container House by Marilia Pellegrini (Romulo Fialdini)
(Romulo Fialdini/CASACOR)
Shipping container homes are becoming increasingly popular. With a predominant industrial style, these constructions are more sustainable and quick to build. Many options are even available in nature for those who want to visit. The search for buildings that reconnect people and nature is growing. With the evolution of cities and all the movement they bring, a moment of tranquility in contact with the environment is one of the most sought-after options. And to break out of the routine, this change of scenery is accompanied by simpler habits and a more minimalistlifestyle .
Janelas CASACOR is also very aware of this new concept , with more than 10 exhibitions spread across Brazil that used containers as a housing proposal. This project was an initiative by CASACOR to give visibility to trending projects amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
History of container houses
Architecture and sustainability go hand in hand in the 21st century . New ways of living include a commitment to the environment and a concern for contributing to a healthier planet. It is in this scenario that containers gain a new function.
Invented in the 1950s by American entrepreneur Malcolm McLean , they revolutionized the transportation industry at the time. Little by little, they spread throughout the world and became common, carrying cargo on ships and trains. But it was in the early 2000s that they received a new use - unlikely, but with a lot of synergy with the architecture segment .
(Jomar Bragança/CASACOR)
A group of English architects realized that the modules were being discarded by shipping companies after eight years of operation. They checked the composition of the material and saw that it could be extremely functional for construction - made of steel, the containers are very strong, yet light enough to be transported from one place to another.
The idea was a success and gained followers not only in England, but all over the world. In Brazil, container homes and companies began to be built in the last decade.
Advantages of investing in container homes
The advantages of the construction model are many and range from lower cost and low environmental impact to durability and mobility .
The very decision to reuse the container is already a good start: the structure reduces the cost of other raw materials, such as sand, bricks, cement and iron. The reduction in these elements provides a clean and dry construction , without the need for high water consumption.
01/06 -
CASACOR Minas Gerais 2013 - Pocket House by Cristina Menezes Arquitetura
(Divulgação)
02/06 -
CASACOR Minas Gerais 2019 by Vila Atelier
(Jomar Bragança)
03/06 -
CASACOR Minas Gerais 2016 - Box 16, by Felipe Soares
(Divulgação)
04/06 -
CASACOR São Paulo 2019 - Container House by Marilia Pellegrini
(Romulo Fialdini)
05/06 -
CASACOR Minas Gerais 2016 - Box Office by Flávia Freitas
(Daniel Mansur)
06/06 -
CASACOR Peru 2016 - Recycled House by Sachi Fujimor
(Divulgação)
This means that construction costs are reduced by between 20% and 40% compared to a masonry house of the same size and finishes.
Furthermore, it is not necessary to purchase land to install the container, as the housing is easy to transport, the property can be rented. The construction is also considered temporary by most city halls in Brazil, which speeds up the approval process. of the work.
The size of the building can vary according to the client's needs. As they are internationally standardized, there are two sizes of containers: the smaller ones, 20 feet (2.45 m x 2.60 m x 6 m), and the larger ones, 40 feet (2.45 X 2.90 m X 12 m). The modules can be coupled in different ways and receive the most varied coatings.
(Divulgação/CASACOR)
Container homes promote a new ideal of sustainability, which goes beyond the realm of nature and embraces a modern way of life. Always valuing quality and comfort, but avoiding accumulation and waste.
Aware of trends and concerned with sustainability, CASACOR exhibited its first Container House in 2011, designed by architect Brunete Fraccaroli. Since then, the construction model has become one of the most admired by the exhibition's audience.
Below, we list 10 container homes that have been highlighted over the last few years at CASACOR :
01/10 -
Bruna Bonfante and Juliana Lima took a bold step when designing the Container Office for CASACOR Minas Gerais 2015. Sustainable and elegant, the space featured features such as: a green roof, recycled flooring, a bike rack and a deck with a reflecting pool. The glass enclosure ensured continuity between the interior and exterior of the building. The building was designed to be mobile, meeting the needs of companies that need temporary spaces in cities far from their headquarters. Made from a 40-foot container, the structure includes a meeting room, a director's office and a kitchen.
(Divulgação)
02/10 -
Architect Daniel Kalil and interior designer Karinna Buchalla designed the CASACOR São Paulo 2015 Container House. If on the outside, the container was kept characterized, on the inside, elegance and comfort dictated the rules. The 170 m² structure was made up of four 40-foot modules and one 20-foot module. The larger containers housed eight rooms: kitchen, dining room, living room with TV room, gallery, couple's bedroom, son's room, daughter's room and bathroom. In the smaller module, there are leisure areas, including a mini spa and a wooden deck with a swimming pool. For thermal and acoustic insulation, pet wool was used. The lighting was made entirely using LED, reducing energy consumption.
(Divulgação)
03/10 -
The structure formed by joining two 40-foot containers was the main character of the CASACOR Store, designed by architect Gustavo Calazans at CASACOR São Paulo 2016. Inspired by traditional wooden and indigenous constructions, the space was lined with an assembly made of 200 MDF pieces fitted into the walls and ceiling. The intersection of shelves and vertical uprights created niches, in which pieces by great national artisans and designers were displayed for sale. The lighting work, developed by light designer Sergio Funari, further enhanced the composition.
(Divulgação)
04/10 -
The container was the symbol of versatility in the Casulo at CASACOR Minas Gerais 2015, designed by the quartet Bernardo Horta, Giulianno Camatta, Guilherme José and Pedro Lodi. The 14 m² space was designed to function as a mini residence, a barber shop, an office or even a place to gather friends for a celebration. All of these possibilities were achieved simply by changing the arrangement of the multifunctional furniture. The table, for example, could easily be retracted into the wall, while the bedroom could be transformed into a workspace by simply building in the bed and repositioning the lamp. In the ambiance, the professionals chose to translate Brazilianness into the color palette and tropical vegetation. Another option was to use low-cost and highly creative materials, such as the pallets that covered the ceiling.
(Divulgação)
05/10 -
In an innovative proposal, architect Eduardo Baldelomar built the Refugio Contemporáneo at CASACOR Bolivia 2016. The 55 m² mini-house was designed in two containers and took 30 days to complete. The ground floor module houses the entrance hall, bathroom, kitchen, living room and dining room. The upper floor houses the bathrooms and bedrooms. The structure also includes a garage, laundry room and barbecue area. To ensure ventilation and natural lighting, five large glass cutouts, which go from floor to ceiling, were made.
(Divulgação)
06/10 -
Specialist in sustainable construction, architect Juliana Jagelski designed the Ticket Office and Entrance Lounge for CASACOR Santa Catarina 2016. Despite being built using different methods, the two spaces were interconnected by the premises of Bioclimatic Architecture. The Ticket Office was developed from a shipping container, while the lounge was assembled with EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Panels) walls - a material that eliminates the need for bricks and concrete blocks. The façade of the spaces was inspired by a bird's nest, with metal porticos and wooden weaves alluding to twigs. The entire ambiance worked on minimalist premises, with exclusive pieces by architect and designer Richard Gorh.
(Divulgação)
07/10 -
The trio of architects Aldo Cristaldo, Laura Oviedo and Andrea Delmas, developed the Casa en Contenedores, exhibited at CASACOR Paraguay 2017. Built from three containers - two 20 feet and one 40 feet -, the residence was 320 m² and enchanted. for lightness. The sides of the modules were removed and replaced with glass, bringing views of the garden to every corner of the house. Access to the main floor, the last, was via an 18-meter external ramp, built with iron. The prototype was developed especially for the exhibition and took 60 days to assemble. It included nine rooms and two external areas - living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms, bathroom, library, closet, terrace and garden. The company estimates that the price of the project is between 5% and 10% cheaper than a traditional house costing US$700 per m².
(ABC Color)
08/10 -
The Ticket Office, created by Flávia Freitas, was the space that welcomed visitors to CASACOR Minas Gerais 2016. The idea was to create a space that was both contemporary and cozy, taking advantage of the view of Lagoa da Pampulha. The structure was developed from two containers. The upper part, built in a cantilevered position, housed the office of the director of the Minas Gerais exhibition. On the lower part, a foyer, filled with designer pieces, welcomed visitors. The wood and porcelain coverings, combined with the neutral tone palette, created a cozy and modern ambiance.
(Divulgação)
09/10 -
Box 16, designed by Felipe Soares, at CASACOR Minas Gerais 2015, fulfills the function of a compact house well, but without giving up the conventional functions of a house. In the 28 m² of internal area, a nine-meter-long bookcase, designed by the professional himself, is responsible for separating the spaces reserved for the kitchen, table, toilet, closet and library. The feature keeps the environments integrated, but with a certain privacy, and guarantees the fluidity and light look of the house. The thermo-acoustic treatment of the container was made using PET wool, from the reuse of more than 12 thousand bottles.
(Divulgação)
10/10 -
Three cut-out shipping containers, coupled together and with thermoacoustic coating, made up the Container House at CASACOR Paraná 2017, designed by Carolina and Denise Leal Ribas. Measuring approximately 125 m², the project was permeated by an urban and uncomplicated atmosphere. The multifunctional spaces, created to encourage family interaction, did not require partitions. The professionals gave a sophisticated look to the rustic container, investing in technological resources for the furniture, 3D coating on one of the walls, and pieces designed by great designers, such as the Dunas armchairs by Ronald Sasson.
