Upcycling Shipping Containers – 16 Ways to Transform ISO Containers

St. Charles container house made out of Super Cubes containers

Are you ready to be different than everyone else? Are you wanting to build something out of a box? If you are saying yes to both questions, shipping containers may be a route for you! ISO containers are a great way to build a unique structure that can be within reach of the average person.

Shipping containers were designed for storing and transporting goods. However, there are so many different ways to upcycle steel containers into a wide variety of new structures.

So, what can you REALLY build with a shipping container? The short answer is really - anything! - even if shipping containers are commonly used by business and home owners. Containers provide a scalable building block to create extra storage, retail space, restaurants, homes and so much more. Here is a general list along with images of how containers have been and are continuing to be utilized:  

• Storage and Sheds. Sure it is the most basic use, but containers are great at storing things.

• Cabins, guesthouse, tiny homes and vacation/main houses. The hottest trend in the past few years in containers is container architecture.

• Offices and building extensions. Containers can add in extra space for people too. Containers can fitted out with insulation, electricity and desks easily.

• Fire training stations. Containers can be burned again and again! As long as you replace that wood floor with something that doesn’t burn. We have all sorts of ideas on how to change the space to keep your team on their toes.

• Saunas, pools and pool houses. Who doesn’t want one of these?!

One of a kind sauna

Outdoor container pool

• Food trucks, restaurants and bars. Containers make everything more fun!

• Portable toilets. Ground-level entry that can be moved to wherever you need them. And everyone will be happy they’re not a port-a-potty.

• Retail shops and malls. Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas is a perfect example of how to take a great, creative idea and make it a reality.

Food trucks take over Toronto

Las Vegas, here we come!

Super Cubes container attracts people to Victoria Burrow bar

Cinquecento restaurant’s outdoor bar in Boston

• Theaters. Detroit Globe Theater (A Super Cubes customer) is a fantastic example of taking something old - Shakespeare’s Globe Theater - and putting a fresh twist on it. The classic feel of live theater in the round with the ability to transport the theater as needed.

CGI renderings of what the theater will look like

Starbucks Coffee in Salt Lake City

• Bistros and coffee shops. Starbucks has been running with this idea for a few years, but there are so many more takes on getting caffeine to those in need.

• Studios, art gallery and workshops. Maroon Arts Group in Columbus, OH has turned containers into an art gallery, a stage and a restaurant called the MPACC Box Park.

• Gymnasiums and sport centers. It’s pretty neat to say you can get your energy out while being active in a shipping container, Dunraven’s Sports Hall in Streathan, London.

• Hotels. Super Cubes customer Alchemy Architects built a 20’ stand-along, off-the-grid hotel room.

Super Cubes hotel stay - Mobile hotel made out of OUR 20’ shipping container

• Student housing facilities and schools. The most classic example of this is TempoHousing in Amsterdam.

• Emergency hospitals/disaster shelters. Containers can be moved around quickly and easily, making them a choice for quick response. The real hold-up here has been finding the way to create government-approved solutions that can be made where they are needed and at the right price point.

• Nurseries and indoor gardens. This is such a great, sustainable way for locally grown food just about anywhere. Check out how they do it in Antarctica, Las Vegas and just about anywhere you can set down a container.

To find the right container for you, just contact us directly at 877-374-5452. We’d be happy to help make your vision a reality!

Hottest interior decor trend - Shipping containers

The bar at Victoria Burrow showcases shipping container decor

Victoria Burrow in Victoria, MN recently opened. The restaurant features street food and drinks served out of our shipping containers along with a wide range of fun activities — axe-throwing, mini-golf, bocce ball, virtual reality, an arcade, darts, bean-bag toss/corn hole, oversized Connect 4 and more!

Victoria Burrow bought two 20’ containers from Super Cubes - a red one-trip/”new” container and a blue used/wind- and water-tight container. They cut up the containers to use as decor throughout the restaurant.

Customers are able to experience our containers by first walking through a set of blue container doors and then are greeted by a container display in the entry way. Another cool attraction is the restaurant bar. The bar is physically made up of red container doors, side and portions of the container wall that are awning over the bar area.

If you ever want to experience seeing a container from the inside, here is your chance! You are able to sit inside one of the containers while enjoying your meal. You can hang out on the original container floor which also has an opening to the unique bar. The container area acts almost as a private seating section within the bigger space of the restaurant. From “inside” the container, customers can REALLY take in the physical container structure, as well see all other distinct aspects of the restaurant. If this seating area is taken up, no worries! Tucked back by the axe-throwing area, there is a second smaller seating section made out of container roofs.

Diners also can experience the containers up close when ordering and picking up their food. Similar to food trucks, all food items are ordered and picked up at concession windows that are made out of the containers.

We really enjoyed seeing the containers transformed — from first meeting with customer at the container yard to pick out their containers to viewing end product - Victoria Burrows restaurant!

To get more of a live effect, just click on all of our pictures!

Now, do you have big plans for containers? Call us at 877-374-5452 and we’ll help you with it!

Welcome to Victoria Burrow

Doorway into the restaurant

Container provides a great entry way and seating

Sit inside a container

Super Cubes team

Patrons enjoying containers

Street food options

Street food feel

Plenty to do

Take a break from axe-throwing

The bar container invites people in

Ramping Up More with Container Ramps

Way back in May of 2013, we posted about ramps. And while the concept of ramps has not changed in that timeframe, options for container ramps has. We’re taking a fresh look at ramps and what your options are.

Why to consider purchasing a ramp?

Container ramps are aimed to make loading and unloading items safer. Cargo container thresholds are approximately 6 inches from the ground without blocking under a container, which can make it more difficult to get heavy items in and out of the container.

Lifting loads can cause unnecessary short- or long- term injuries. Some loads are on wheels and are simply too heavy to lift into a container. Using a ramp decreases the likelihood of injuries to occur, reduces health risks related to lifting heavy objects and lowers the risk for loads falling or spilling.

Cement ramp made with indentations for the lockrods so the doors can open

Do you want a permanent or portable ramp?

There are pros and cons to both options. Here are some things to consider when trying to decide the best route to go.

Permanent Ramp

Pros

• Easy to use

• Don’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt putting it in place

• No lip – easy to roll right into the container

Cons

• Hard to build to work well. The lockrods that lock the door shut extend down beyond the bottom of the door, so you need to make allowances for that. Most people remove one set of lockrods and then make indentations in ramp for allow for the lockrods.

• You cannot move your container around after you build a permanent ramp.

• Only works with one container

Various portable ramps

Portable Ramp

Pros

• Can work with multiple containers

• Many different options available

• Generally no need to customize anything

Cons

• Must consider the weight of the container and who will be moving it around

• Must train employees to use the ramp safely

• Must store the ramp in or out of the container

What is the right style of ramp for me?

Ramps come in a variety of sizes and styles. To figure out the best option for you, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What is the weight limit you will need for the container?

• Do you need a smooth rolling surface for managing a pallet jack with small wheels or are you moving in larger, heartier wheels that can handle a variety of surfaces?

• Will the ramp be used in a variety of different kinds of weather? Rain and snow can make a ramp very slippery.

• Who will be using the ramp? Will the weight of the ramp be an issue?

• Will the ramp be stored in the container, along side it, or somewhere further away? You may want to consider something lighter if the ramp will be moving around a lot.

Ramps come in various lengths with different weight limits. They come in different surfaces: a grit coat surface, aluminum curb, punch plate or wedge ramp. We have listed different options below including their specs so you can check through what will work best for you.

The right ramp for you really depends on your situation, who will use it and what you want to put into it.  At the end of the day, if you can get things in and out of your container safely and easily, that is all that matters.

How to figure out ramp pricing?

Call us!  We would love to help you pick the right ramp for you.  Depending on the specific ramp, pricing will vary.