Designworkshop:SA shows that the possibilities presented by the container are almost endless and can completely transform the dynamic of city living.

Container concept

Designworkshop:SA wanted to showcase the versatility of the container as a building material. It believes containers are as viable as traditional building materials and, what’s more, they do not have to be constructed from scratch, are easily transportable, affordable and modular, meaning they can be stacked on top of each other or adjoined in whichever way you please. The result: a container can be used for almost any imaginable structure.

Designworkshop:SA demonstrated the following ideas: the space inside an apartment block can be maximised by placing the staircase outside the building in adjoined containers; extra rooms can be added to apartments without taking up floor space, for example in the case of an extra lounge area; a swimming pool attached to the side of a building means the roof space can be used for another purpose; placing containers in public spaces, such as parks, and converting them into functional spaces, such as a games room or cinema, is an easy way to facilitate community interaction; and dormitory-style rooms can be created by stacking containers on top of each other on the roof of an apartment block. Other container alternatives include a greenhouse, a caravan, a garden delivery container and a recliner.

Company profile

Durban-based Designworkshop:SA functions under the leadership of Andrew Makin, Janina Masojada and Mark Horner, who aim to continuously build and maintain a team of the best possible people, and to add to their individual and shared knowledge and skills. Their design process does not begin with reference to form and shape, but rather with reference to activity – from the scale of the individual to that of the collective (a family, community or consumer group).

“We understand the dynamic of the collective and the universal. We then develop a strategy that will enable an appropriate design response to both necessity and luxury,” explains Andrew Makin.

031 303 5191, admin@designworkshop.co.za, designworkshopsa.com

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By designing both an art gallery and a family home, Ink Design explored the vast possibilities of the container as a building material. 

Container concept

Ink Design wanted to showcase the versatility of the container by designing two spaces that are vastly different in both form and function. The company therefore designed a residential home and a public space – an art gallery. One of the main differences between the two is in the amount of floor area each one uses. Two 12m-long containers were used for the family home in comparison to the six 12m-long containers for the gallery.

When designing the residence, the main aim was to make maximum use of the limited available space. Much attention was paid to the finer details, which are more easily noticeable in a small space and can take the overall aesthetic appeal of the interior to a different level.

However, in the case of a larger public space, there is a greater emphasis on implementing larger features that make a bold statement. In the gallery, the laser-cut mild-steel plate featuring the word “Art” as a decorative element is a good example. When it comes to this type of creative space, it is also important to consider that the main decorative feature is the art. The design of the interior should therefore be a clean canvas against which artworks can be displayed at their best. Mild steel was the predominant material used in both structures as a way to embrace the industrial, contemporary look of the containers.

Company profile

Ink Design is a dynamic firm of committed professionals. The company specialises in such a wide variety of home and architectural services that it has often been called a one-stop-shop. Ink Design not only draws up the plans but can also decorate an interior with specially designed furniture. Services include: architecture; corporate, leisure, retail and residential interior design; space planning; turnkey design; building and project management; and the design and supply of furniture.

011 447 7641, george@inkdesignlab.co.za, www.inkdesignlab.co.za

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Smit Architects chose to add on rather than build from scratch, thus demonstrating how to optimise a living space with the help of containers.

Container concept

Smit Architects wanted to highlight the functional aspect of containers, such as their transportability and adaptability. The team focused on the kitchen, the study and the bathroom, as the placement of these three functional spaces in containers makes them versatile: they can be adjoined to different areas in the house, and can even be moved outside – “eating in” could become “eating out” and an office could be moved to another part of the property. Often it is only once a house has been completed that we realise that certain aspects could have been altered, or, specific preferences may have been limited due to affordability considerations. Simply adding on a container transformed into a functional living space is a viable, easy way to address these issues. When cleverly combined with more traditional building materials, the industrial look of a container also adds to the aesthetic appeal of a home.

Company profile

Smit Architects is most recognised for its work in the residential architecture field. The company works closely with the University of the Free State and most projects are therefore conducted with an academic work ethic: understanding the natural surroundings of a specific project is the crucial first step. With this comes an understanding of the climate of the area, which dictates what natural resources could be used as building materials. In turn, this determines the best building method for the project. Smit Architects creates by using the landscape not only as a canvas, but also as palette and paintbrush.

051 436 4169, smitjd@sci.uovs.ac.za

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Architect Hugh Fraser has fused together concrete and containers to create an interesting alternative to the traditional family home.

Container concept

The idea is to create a small living space and utilise every inch of it because, as seen internationally, the growing lack of space in cities will increase the prevalence of pigeon-hole living. The use of industrial materials, such as containers, for a residential space can become aesthetically monotonous, which is why it is crucial to personalise the space. Hugh has used two 6m containers for the bedrooms (one on its side and one on its end), and one 12m container for the living, dining and kitchen areas. This generated only about 55.7sqm, which is on par with South Africa’s new gated community developments. The trick is to design small spaces that work efficiently but don’t feel constricted. By punching holes into the containers for light, enclosing the containers with sliding doors and surrounding the house with pierced concrete walls, Hugh has explored his fascination with pierced coverings and the Islamic idea of geometric patterning.

Company profile

Hugh Fraser’s peers refer to him as a “globe-trekking architect”. He is famous for his pioneering work with concrete as a building material and the innovative way in which he has applied it to his designs. Although concrete is often regarded as a dull, pale material when still in its natural form, Hugh has shown that, when used creatively, it can even be applied as an artistic element. He is also a consultant for the Cement and Concrete Institute (C&CI) and has worked in conjunction with this non-profit organisation for many years. The C&CI was established to promote the interests of the Portland cement and construction industries.

011 315 0300, cnci.org.za

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One quarter of the container used by Ellis & Associates Architects in the Waiting for Change project is buried in a rock face in the Bo-Kaap. The remainder cantilevers over the informal settlement below, perched marginally above the anticipated raised sea level caused by global warming. 

Container concept

The successful design of small spaces is achieved through simplicity. The Waiting for Change container has been divided across its length into three zones: sleep, wet core and living; and across its width into three zones: utility (dress, wash, eat, audio-visual), circulation, and a “working” wall (library, kitchen, sitting/sleeping). A glass shard is wedged into the body of the container to provide light – and a view – to the interior spaces. The base of the shard is an aquarium – a “live” floor – with a lid of glass.

Company profile

Haydn Ellis & Associates is a small design practice established in 2001 to focus on high-end single residential housing, although farms, corporate interiors, restaurants and boutique residential clusters have also been taken on as projects. “I don’t like the ‘look but don’t touch’ approach one sees everywhere these days because this is like a curse to residential architecture,” explains Haydn. “Even when you are dealing with second and third homes or holiday homes, you are dealing with family dynamics and a relationship between people and places. Success is ultimately the degree to which one is able to interpret a specific brief and deliver something at once appropriate and extraordinary.”

021 422 2824, ellisassociatesarchitects.com

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26’10 South Architects created a DIY-home kit that can be built wherever a road or helicopter can take you – the inspiring Karoo landscape, for instance.  

Container concept

In order to create a four-bedroom, three-bathroom family home, two standard containers have been
combined with an additional roof and verandah. The inclusion of the roof and verandah in the plan, results in the creation of a loft on the second storey, and the open-plan verandah can be utilised in such a way that there is enough space for two lounge areas. The roof consists of a pre-cut and drilled timber and steel structure, with composite roof sheeting, and the walls are made from polycarbonate sheeting. For a green alternative: face the verandah north to admit winter sun and block summer sun, use solar collectors to heat water on the roof, use grey water from the shower to flush the toilet, and use ventilation fans in the verandah and two
wind-powered rotating vents on the roof instead of air-conditioning.

Company profile

26’10 South Architects was started by Thorsten Deckler and Anne Graupner in 2004. This award-winning practice, recently awarded the Daimler Chrysler Award for young South African Architects, specialises in all spheres of the South African environment. Their portfolio boasts a variety of residential, commercial, community and urban design projects. While both partners have worked and lectured internationally, they feel that the most appropriate solutions can be developed through observation of what can be found on their own doorstep. The team that worked on this project comprised: Thorsten Deckler, Anne Graupner, Eugene Cloete, Sue Groenewald and Carl Jacobz.

26’10 South Architects, 011 830 0220, thorsten@2610south.co.za, anne@2610south.co.za, 2610south.co.za

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For his solution, architect Friedrich Strey used shipping containers to create a cosy chalet fit for a ski resort. He has also eliminated problems caused by a container’s awkward dimensions by developing an alternative unit called Modul8.

Container concept

To create a comfortable living unit at a new ski resort in the northern Drakensberg, choosing three shipping containers was the logical choice as they are snow- and rainproof. Most modcons were fitted before the journey and the containers proved easy to transport up the mountain. However, the downside is that size restrictions don’t leave much room for creativity. The team therefore chose to view the interior layout in the light of a yacht’s design rather than that of a traditional home. As a result, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a galley-style kitchen, a spacious lounge and dining area, and even an entrance hall with doors on both sides to keep the extreme cold at bay, were incorporated. A second storey was created by welding brackets to the outside of the containers and bolting on planks to which cladding could be fixed. This enhanced the visual appeal, creating the look of a cosy ski chalet. The horizontal hardwood cladding doubles up as burglar proofing over tilt-and-turn windows, allowing the chalet to convert into a lock-up-and-go unit.

To eliminate the downside and enhance the positive side of containers, Friedrich also invented a modular prefabricated unit called Modul8 that, although generously proportioned, can either be transported by truck or disassembled to fit inside a shipping container. It can then be stacked together on site (much like Lego blocks). Modul8 is versatile: you can start with one unit and add onto it when you need more space; it is mobile: when you tire of your location you can simply disassemble it and move to your next destination; it is flexible: units can be stacked on top of each other to form a multi-storey block, or positioned beside one another to form a school or community centre; every unit can be altered to suit individual tastes; it saves time: the entire process of assembling and moving in will take no longer than three months.

Company profile

Strey Architects, under the leadership of Friedrich Strey, is committed to ensuring that each new project is completely unique. This is achieved by listening to the client’s needs and desires, and by custom designing for each individual site and budget while continually incorporating innovative design principles.

Strey Architects, 0861 782 724, info@streyarchitects.co.za, streyarchitects.co.za

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The third solution, from Earthworld Architects, uses existing buildings combined with containers to address the unresolved issue of sufficient inner-city accommodation is still an unresolved dilemma. By using existing buildings combined with containers, has come up with an answer. 

Container concept

Hotels and apartment blocks are springing up in Cape Town’s city centre and it won’t be long before maximum capacity is reached. With this in mind, Earthworld Architects decided to utilise existing buildings when designing accommodation, rather than building from scratch.

The idea is explained as follows: “The exchange of information, products, ideas and beliefs thrives in urban conditions of proximity and density. For this reason, travellers do not want to be anywhere else but in the centre of the city.” By using containers as the viable building material (their shape, weight and size make them the most labour-effective option) and attaching them to structures built on the exteriors of pre-existing buildings, the company has found an innovative way to create additional living spaces.     

Company profile

Earthworld Architects was established in 1998 and provides a variety of professional services that include architecture, project coordination, detail design, technical and tender documentation, construction administration and inspection. The ethic of Earthworld Architects is to establish a synergy between client, architect and contractor. The company’s technical expertise and thorough knowledge of the building industry has enabled it to successfully present clients with final products of excellent quality. 

The team that worked on this project comprised Braam de Villiers, André Eksteen and Leon van der Westhuizen.  

012 346 5400, info@earthworldarchitects.co.za, earthworldarchitects.co.za

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Here’s the second solution, Containa® by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, which is a digital game for those who want to design their own homes, or for architects seeking design solutions. Never before has the planning of architectural spaces been so easy – or so much fun.

Container Concept

Over the years many simple games such as crossword puzzles, Sudoku, Tetris and Rubik’s Cube have achieved iconic status as pastimes among people with widely varying abilities. Containa® allows one to digitally throw “blocks” to form a template that can be turned into a building by using a library of standard components such as swimming pools, living and dining rooms, and spa and wet rooms.

The game (apparently popular with both Bill Gates and Pamela Anderson!) offers solutions to urban and low-cost housing problems, and even ready-made spaces that can simply be altered with decor features. The game is available in various models (with different difficulty gradings): Containa® (for all levels), Containa® MBA (for MBA students in need of creative inspiration), Containa® Relax (for anyone who feels like taking a breather), Containa® Architect (a course for students) and Containa® Artistique for those who want to design their own building components.

Company Profile

Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens are well known for their ‘hand-crafted haute couture’ approach and the award-winning eco-tourism lodges they have designed all over Africa. Most projects also include the development of skills in local communities, as well as the use of local artisans.

011 486 1525, 082 900 9935, adventarch@mweb.co.za

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VISI is sharing the solutions in our Thinking Inside the Box feature. Hopefully, says Annemarie, somewhere in this country, there are developers and readers who will find inspiration in the 10 ideas showcased and will be able to take them further on a practical level. First up… Fluid Architecture & Interiors’ solution.

Fluid Architecture & interiors joined forces with other design practices to conceptualise three ways to use containers as vessels for recycling and to increase awareness of sustainable development.

Container concept

The aim was to achieve three things with this project: to raise awareness of sustainable development and help people develop the necessary respect and responsibility; to help reduce the human impact on the Earth; and to cast recycling in a positive, accessible, safe, fun, creative, interactive and even glamorous light. In the design, Container 1 is used as a beacon “to announce, receive and measure”, Container 2 is used as a retail gallery in an attempt to get us to think “out of the box” and see “trash as treasure”, and Container 3 is a vessel for “collection and storage”.

Company profile

Fluid Architecture & Interiors consists of Simon Mountford, Vaughan Russell and Eloise Collocott-Russell. They form a dynamic team of professional designers who guarantee architectural and interior design work of the highest quality. They share an office with three other design practices that share the same design vision: Perry + Anderson Architecture (Victoria Perry and Stuart Anderson); Tamem Richa Architecture & Interiors; and Processing Design (Paraam Virdee).

Fluid Architecture & Interiors 021 465 6926, info@fluidarchitecture.co.za
Tamem Richa Architecture & Interiors 083 632 1775, tamem@tiscali.co.za, tamemricha.com
Perry + Anderson Architecture 021 461 1844, info@perryanderson.co.za, loudonperryanderson.com
Processing Design 072 902 7793, studio@processingdesign.net

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