If that restaurant you just drove by seems familiar, look closer. It may very well have a similar look to the portable storage container you’re renting from A.B. Richards. That’s because restaurants, businesses, homes, and other structures are being built out of recycled storage units throughout the US and around the world. If you’ve ever noticed some of these buildings, you’ll be amazed at how creative the architecture is. It goes to show that there are countless uses for the extra space that portable storage containers can give you. So while we’re a storage container rental company and we can’t let you convert an A.B. Richards portable storage unit into a new home, we thought it would be fun to take a look at this growing phenomenon.
Taco Bell with a Storage Container Shell
In October, it was announced that a Taco Bell made from a recycled storage container was about to open in the Los Angeles area, according to L.A. Biz. The structure had previously been built for a festival in Austin, Texas. They hoped to open the new restaurant by the end of 2016.
“We repurposed a pop-up Taco Bell that was originally made from recycled materials, creating one of the greenest fast-food restaurants in the country,” said Paul Galvin, the chairman of SG Blocks, a firm that specializes in container-based structures. “Container-based, modular building is changing residential and commercial real estate. We are minimizing waste, speeding up construction and repurposing durable, seaworthy materials in order to create sustainable buildings.”
How Storage Units Are Contributing to Affordable Housing
It’s not just restaurants that are being built as part of this trend. Homes are also being constructed out of portable storage units. In Columbus, Ohio, they’re repurposing containers to create affordable housing. According to the Columbus Dispatch, a nonprofit housing agency is working to build 25 two bedroom apartments that will be about 640 square feet. They used 54 shipping containers for the project.
A Washington D.C. area architect used 40ft long containers stacked together to create three apartment complexes, according to MarketWatch. There are about 750,000 shipping containers available in the US and more than 2 million available around the world.
Storage Container Structures Have Unique Architecture
All over the world, architects are finding imaginative ways to use portable storage containers as the basis for their designs. From oceanfront property at Redondo Beach to an all terrain cabin in Canada, portable storage containers can give structures a unique look. Other structures, like London’s Container City, can serve several functions. There are four floors of work studios and apartments that are low cost and environmentally friendly. A second Container City built in 2002 included walkways and elevators.
Australian architects built an entire playground out of storage containers while builders in Amsterdam created a colorful design for student housing.
A.B. Richards Will Help You Find Storage Solutions
Whatever their client’s need, it seems like architects are coming up with an eco-friendly design that incorporates portable storage containers. If you rent a container from A.B. Richards, you know that there are just as many ways that our units can help with your storage needs. We also make it convenient and cost effective for you because we’ll deliver our storage containers and we’ll also pick them up for you. To get started, Contact A.B. Richards today.
