The world today has become aware of the reckless utilization of natural resources and is now making conscious efforts to move towards a sustainable future. In this endeavor, it has become imperative to rethink our approach towards building materials to ease the pressure on the conventional ones.
The Shipping Container is one such potential building material that boasts of good structural quality, can be recycled easily and is universally available. With over two million unused containers docked on ports around the world, the UnBox 2017 aims to explore the prospective functionality of these as efficient structural components that aid in the creation of ingenious ideas and in reimagining sustainability.
UnBox 2017 intends to illustrate the inventive functionality of the material to the masses by using the containers to craft spaces in the public realm. The competition wants to enhance the future of public spaces with material innovation that fosters disruptive architecture and sustainability.
The challenge
UnBox 2017 welcomes all students, architects, designers, teachers, thinkers, innovators and everyone who believe in the idea of creating a sustainable future.
Participants are to design a public space in an urban or rural area using 4 container units. They can use the container units from the following sizes:
Type 1: 8’ x 10’ x 8’6”
Type 2: 8’ x 20’ x 8’6”
Type 3: 8’ x 40’ x 8’6”
Participants are free to select a site for their project. The designed solution should strike a dialogue with its surroundings. The containers themselves should be designed to become disruptive and the solutions crafted should be adaptable to the changing demographical dynamics of the site. The design should also respond to the site context selected.
The design model can be a prototype that can be replicated at other locations.
The designed space has to be sustainable in nature and should cater to the public domain. The participants are to challenge the way the containers are used presently and create inventive solutions that are used for public utility.
