tamassociati: container medical complex for the salam centre

the medical complex for the salam centre

looking at the amount of discarded containers laying around the building site of the salam centre in the city of soba, sudan italian firm tam architecture had the idea to use them again to house international staff in the complex. placed besides the hospital, in the surroundings of the nile river it is realized around a courtyard full of mango trees. it consists of 90 x 20ft containers for housing and  7 x 40 ft containers for the cafeteria. every lodging is 20sqm and is realized with one and a half containers; the lodging is composed of bedroom, bathroom and a small veranda on the court side.

particular care has been dedicated to insulation and energy saving. the containers are insulated with a ‘layer system’. inside the container 5cm insulating panels have been placed. the outside ‘skin’ is realized with a second insulated roof and a bamboo brise soleil panel system. in this way the sun rays never hit the containers. an innovative air conditioning system has been tested by using solar panels and chilling machines. solar panels also supply hot water for the entire compound.

interior

shipping containers prior to being converted

construction of the medical complex

discarded shipping containers

project info: location and date: soba, khartoum (sudan), 2008 – 2009 client: emergency ong onlus dimensions: area: 8 663mq covered surface: 1668mq design team: program coordinator: emergency technical office, project: studio tamassociati, structural engineering: francesco steffinlongo, site engineer: alessandro tamai, roberto crestan