daiken-met architects / nawakenji-m: sugoroku office

'shipping container studio' by daiken-met architects, gifu, japan
image © shinkenchiku-sha


japanese practice daiken-met architects have designed and completed 'sugoroku office', their personal studio
in gifu, japan. a three storey mobile framework supports stacked shipping containers, forming the work areas
and future living spaces on the penthouse floor. this building represents a model solution for those interested in surpassing
the difficulty involved with making rental contracts for small scale structures in their city as well as responding to
the local dilemmas of decreasing population and increasing vacant land.

the firm obtained a short-term contract by proposing a temporary structure which does not require construction
below street level. the steel structural grid may be easily assembled and serves to reduce loads on the containers from
the weight of its shell, furniture and users. upon completion of the lease, the structure may be disassembled and
reconstructed elsewhere. a casing pipe joint in the middle of columns enable and simplify this process. storage systems
were formed with used plywood or packing bands found on construction sites.



ground level entry
image © shinkenchiku-sha



side elevation with ground level entry and stair to first floor
image © shinkenchiku-sha



ground floor studio space
image © shinkenchiku-sha



first floor kitchen
image © shinkenchiku-sha



view from surrounding context
image © shinkenchiku-sha



view from across the street
image © shinkenchiku-sha



during construction



section



axonometric of structural frame


project info:


location: gifu, japan
design: daiken met, nawakenji-m
use: office, housing
total floor area: 111 m2
completed: 2011