Thinking inside the box 4: Strey Architects

VISI’s deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes invited 10 architects to explore the concept of container architecture in a South African context. We’re publishing the results in our Thinking Inside the Box feature.

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

See more VISI articles about container architecture here.