Back in the day, shipping containers were just that—industrial shipping containers that carried items from one place to another, normally on a boat or plane. But recently, people have begun using shipping containers in more creative ways. You can find shipping container hotels in New York City and shipping container offices in remote areas. Keep reading to learn about three unexpected things you can do with a shipping container, either for your home, business, or community.
Personal Use: Swimming Pool
You’ve probably heard of using a shipping container as the main part of a house, but what about as a home accessory? Make your home the best place to spend the summer with a shipping container pool. You can use this container as an above-ground pool, or give it a little elbow grease or extra money to create an in-ground pool. While this type of pool is incredibly durable, you’ll still need to place some type of sealant or liner on the inside of the container to protect the metal from necessary pool chemicals. You’ll also need traditional pool equipment like pumps. Even with all these typical pool features, a shipping container swimming pool will add a unique aspect to your home.
Business Use: Pop-Up Eatery
Pop-up bars and restaurants are popular in many major cities since they allow you to take your business almost anywhere and reach any clientele. Unfortunately, they can also require a lot of work to set up. Skip some of the set-up stress with a shipping container pop-up bar or restaurant. While you can’t leave too many loose pieces inside your shipping container when you move it, you’ll still save yourself from having to set up a stall every time you move somewhere. And you’ll have better protection from any inclement weather that blows in.
Community Use: Library
Education is one of the biggest factors in eradicating poverty, and libraries are the perfect place for free education. While some communities think they don’t have the funds or space for a library, a shipping container library can solve both problems. Without needing to spend money on building a library, communities can focus on buying what they really need to make a library function, like books and education supplies. And you don’t need to worry about getting enough land since shipping containers are much smaller than traditional library buildings. The smaller size will limit how many people can use the library at one time, but it’s still an affordable way to make education accessible for everyone, which is the most important aspect of the library.
With these unexpected things you can do with shipping containers, consider using them to improve your home, business, or community. These structures give you the opportunity to turn a blank slate into something great.
