Container architecture in the hot-humid tropics: potential and constraints

Abstract

Current trends in building industry show that container architecture emerged as one of the simple yet practical alternatives to fulfil the people's needs for instant housing, comfortable workplace or even for recreational facilities. This is due to the numerous benefits that have been associated with this type of architecture, which offers large useable area within small building footprint and it can be provided with low construction cost at shorter time, but with huge structural strength. In fact, the container also has advantages in terms of modularity and transportability, which make it as a popular type of building used for retreat residence, cabin resort or site office. Despite these benefits, the tendencies of the building consultants or end users to design it with a very weather-tight of solid steel envelop and minimal size of openings for security and safety reasons in some ways have affected the quality of vistas towards or outwards the container, its indoor environmental quality and occupants' health and comfort on the whole. Therefore, a series of literature surveys had been conducted to investigate the potentials and constraints of implementing this building container as one of the contemporary architectural styles, particularly in the distressing atmosphere of the hot-humid tropics. These potentials and constraints were discussed in this paper based on several main aspects that encompasses its structural strength, modularity and transportability, cost and construction technique, and its compatibility with the local climate condition.