The Dynamic Shipping Container

That big metal box used to ship everything from shoes and fruit to car parts and whiskey is more transformable (and cool) than ever before.

Shipping Container House

The standard shipping container first came about in the 1950′s and since has revolutionized global trade.  Almost everything you have in your house has seen the inside of a shipping container at some point, as well as most of the food in grocery stores.  But after 2000, people started getting creative with the old metal box.

Shipping Containers as Student Housing, Netherlands

ISBU, or Intermodal Steel Building Unit, is the term for a shipping container that is used as a building structure.  Whether it be converted into a Puma store that travels the globe , student housing in Amsterdam, or a stylish home in Manhattan, the shipping container is hotter than ever.

"Puma City" traveling store made of... shipping containers!

My favourite use of this object, and the inspiration for this post, is the Muvbox. Created by Daniel Noiseux from Montreal, a very clever Quebecian!  It’s a restaurant, and it works like a play house, with automated drop-down walls, a built-in kitchen and seating, art all over the outside, and solar panels on the roof.  It’s the coolest restaurant I’ve ever laid eyes on.

The Muvbox... push button open and close, like a toy!

Want more information?  Inhabitat and Treehugger (two favourite sites here at Innovate!) are always posting about cool uses for shipping containers, and Ships and Boxes is a great site for the history of the box and more.