Development of special container buildings: backgrounds, examples & ideas
Inspired by Han Slawik's container architecture, we develop modular solutions — sophisticated, reusable and technically up to date.
Inspired by Han Slawik's container architecture, we develop modular solutions — sophisticated, reusable and technically up to date.
Containers have long since evolved from pure transport containers to versatile modular components. One of the architects who discovered the potential of container solutions for urban spaces, mobile living and has recognized sustainable construction methods, is Han Slawik. His projects show how new sustainable habitats in containers can be created through intelligent planning, sustainable concepts and functional custom-made products.
His work inspires us to constantly develop the special container design. Our Custom-made products from containers range from technically demanding Catering and event containers up to functional AirBnB, Office and residential solutions with the latest equipment. Through our own prototyping We develop innovative modules, we want to do it as soon as possible new material composites test and optimize our containers for maximum efficiency. The result is solutions that are not only flexible and durable, but also economical and adaptable — for industries ranging from industry to event management.
During classic steel containers offering a solid basis for innovative buildings, we also know that steel as a material is not climate-friendly. That is why we are increasingly looking at sustainable alternatives and new material compounds that make container solutions more efficient, lighter and more robust.
Typical areas of application for our container solutions:
Han Slawik (*1944) is a German architect, university lecturer and expert in modular construction, mobile living and sustainable architecture. He studied architecture at the Technical University of Braunschweig and specialized early on in flexible building systems. From 1994 to 2009, he taught as Professor of Experimental Design and Construction at Leibniz University Hannover, where he influenced generations of students with his innovative approach.
He became particularly known for his research and designs on container architecture, mobile housing solutions and temporary construction forms. His work includes numerous publications in which he explores the potential modular construction systems analyses and develops.
What many people don't know: Slavik deliberately worked in a small, experimental studio — with part-time employees and students. Despite limited resources, it provided decisive impetus. Many of his ideas became initial impulses for other players in the construction industry, who further developed and implemented his concepts on a large scale.
Among other things, we had Mein Lagerraum³ make an individual pedestal for our stacked tire containers — and are completely satisfied with the result. As with previous projects, the collaboration was professional, transparent and solution-oriented right from the start.
The pedestal was a necessary measure for us, as we had to stack the containers on top of each other due to limited space on the site.
Particularly noteworthy are the workmanship, the high stability of the design and the timely implementation — even under time pressure. The platform fits perfectly into the existing container structure and meets all functional and design requirements.
We would like to thank you again for your excellent work and look forward to further joint projects.”
As a pioneer of modular container architecture As early as the 1990s, Han Slawik experimented with container conversions and custom-made products to create flexible living space.
An outstanding example is that “Swimming house”, which was presented at the Fürst-Pückler-Land International Building Exhibition (IBA) in 2008. Here, he combined sustainable construction methods with the modularity of containers — a pioneering concept for alternative living.
But Slavic's work was not limited to water. He also provided strong impetus in urban areas: temporary housing solutions, mobile offices and sustainable special buildings made of containers impressively showed that the classic steel container can be much more than just a means of transport — namely a versatile building element for modern architecture.
Containers as hope for street children
An outstanding example of the social use of containers is the project “Bed by night” in Hanover. Under his leadership, a temporary shelter for homeless young people was built.
The IBA_DOCK — a floating masterpiece of modular architecture — is located in Hamburg's customs port. With impressive flexibility, it offers innovative space solutions on the water.
With the “Campus” project, Han Slawik set an innovative example for modular container construction. The result was a prototype for mobile, recyclable living:
The works by Han Slawik show how modular designs open up new paths in architectural thinking. At the same time, they ask questions about the choice of material: Steel is robust, but energy-intensive to produce and recycle. We are therefore working intensively on how we can make containers lighter, more durable and more climate-friendly.
Our answer to that: We implement Special construction projectsthat the requisitions our customers and partners — from CO₂ filter containers to laboratories and bars to event containers, pop-up stores, swimming containers and tiny houses. We develop solutions together, which meet the exact requirements of each application — always flexible, functional and with a view to the future.
In this way, we are creating the basis for a new generation of modular buildings: suitable for urban densification, temporary infrastructure and customized room solutions — always close to the wishes and challenges of our customers.
We believe in the enormous potential of container construction — not just as a functional solution, but as an opportunity to set new standards with modular construction. In our special construction projects — from laboratories to event containers — we show how containers can be flexibly and economically adapted to a wide range of uses. In doing so, we always stay close to the specific requirements of our customers without losing sight of sustainable and sustainable construction.
Thanks to Prof. Han Slawik
We would like to thank Prof. Han Slawik for the open exchange and exciting insights into his work on container architecture and modular construction methods. His many years of experience, his experimental approach and his focus on temporary and flexible usage options have given us important impulses.
We wish him all the best for his continued work in his new studios in Bad Bentheim and Amsterdam.
Prof. Han Slawik Architect
Stoltenkampstr. 3-A DE-48455 Bad Bentheim T +49 5922 5808066 M +49 172 5172584
Krom Boomssloot 4-B NL-1011 GV Amsterdam
Image rights:
Floating container: From Inet k - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65015624
Han Slawik: By Maarten Feenstra (Feenstra Fotografie, Almere, NL) - uploaded by AxelHH, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66100490
Red container building: From Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66220107
Social project:
Photo: Axel Hindemith, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65306276
Container Atlas, Die Gestalten Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Mariannenstr. 9-1010999 Berlin https://gestalten.com/products/container-atlas-de
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