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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT George Boorsma, Heinrich Schipper and Kirstin Cavanagh -
Plywood or Supawood panels make up the interior wall cladding -
Galvanised steel sheets are for flashing and extensions -
The residential home consists of two 12m containers with a concrete floor (with cork sheeting) -
The residential home consists of two 12m containers with a concrete floor (with cork sheeting) -
Standard container walls open up and down. -
Mild-steel flat bar balustrades with interior cladding of plywood or Supawood panels -
The art gallery consists of six 12m containers with exterior/interior balau decking -
Top view of the art gallery
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.
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
See more VISI articles about container architecture here.
