CONTAINER BOX
WORLD NEWS
Along a busy highway, there is a mysterious orange container with an extra large roof, and possible second level, constructed on the shoulder of the road. If it was a shop, it would have been extremely dangerous to park there, since it's only several hundred feet from an exit ramp. That might have contributed to its eventual demise.
It appears to have been vacant for a while, since vegation has consumed the container's right side, however, it still seems in relatively good shape. Whoever constructed it really paid attention to certain aspects of the design, such as the iron supports, bathroom, and multiple steps.
Also, notice how they built it behind a guard rail? They couldn't build it on government land, so they put iron supports underneath and made it hover over a small hill. It's very interesting.
On a side note, it's funny how they embedded a portable toliet into the construction, which is something we haven't seen before. Clearly they didn't have running water, so the builders came up with the next best thing.
There is a fascinating Container Complex, less than a mile away from the ocean, that overhangs a river. The local zoning laws likely prohibit buildings from crossing onto the sidewalk, so they came up with a novel approach. Just build supports and have one-third of the container hang over the river.
Personally, I would be leery of going into one of those structures, especially in a country that has so many earthquakes. However, it appears that the owners have faith in the supports they built.
It proves once again that the human mind can find solutions to practically any problem.
Greenpeace (綠色和平) had a recycling container box on display for Christmas Week in Taipei, sharing a number of ways the world could reduce plastic waste. They demonstrated everything from reusable drinking cups to shared food dispensers, and stressed the importance of protecting the environment from harmful plastics.
The idea of recycling a container box into a display on plastic recycling was ingenious. We hope that people will take note and start making more of an effort to reduce hazardous plastic waste in our landfills, drinking water, and the ocean.
Some areas next to the ocean in Hsinchu are desolate and barren, similar to the desert in Palm Springs. So, when we came upon a Container with an unfinished roof, adjacent to a large dry piece of land, it had an almost Albert Frey-like feel.
(Work in progress...)
Out in an open field, less than a mile away from the ocean, there is an abandoned, little red container box office, isolated from the outside world. We know it's not being used because the air conditioner socket is empty, and there are no power boxes in the field.
There are also dangling wires from long, plastic tubes, where the electric lines used to be connected. They were obviously cut in haste, which is a clear indicator of urgent removal. Possibly because of rent being overdue, or the owner's property being sold.
Having no other solution, the owner placed the box in an empty field. Maybe it was a temporary solution, and finally it was left alone and forgotten. We can't help but feel sorry for this little red container box, abandoned in lonely isolation forever.
Next to an outdoor greenhouse and garden in Taichung is a Container Box Sign that directly faces a large Hospital Parking lot. It appears the owner was looking to capitalize on the container's unique location by selling advertising above his Container Garden Shed. The sign is also visible to an adjacent high-speed expressway.
It's a very creative idea, however, seeing how the sign is vacant and the container is rusting away, the venture obviously failed. However, it only goes to show... if you're ambitious enough, you can capitalize on anything.
Whether it's considered a rest area, a meeting point, or even an art installation, it's agreed that the Container Box Benches in Mitsui Outlet Park at Taichung Port (台中港) are one of a kind. Everyday there will be people of all ages sitting there waiting for their families or friends to finish shopping.
In addition to serving as a bench, they also serve as a tree nursery and garden, which is as noble a life that a recycled container box could have.
In honor of the Halloween season, we present the Mysterious Grey Cargo Box. While we realize this is most likely used as a storage container, the ominous undertones of a rustic cargo box with windowed prison bars can not be ignored.
That's why we saved this gem for October, the ghostliest month of the year. This Cargo Box must be the stuff of local legend. Every passerby on the road must be thinking the same thing... this location is perfect for Jordan Peele's next Horror Film. Seriously, can you think of anything more sinister than a desolate Cargo Box in the middle of nowhere?
So, our hat's off to the owner of this Cargo Box... you have captured the imagination of every Slasher Film enthusiast in the world. Who knows... maybe Stephen King will even put this Cargo Box in his upcoming novel.
Having an extra storage facility is actually a common practice for many home owners these days. Rather than spend a few hundred a month on a storage locker, why not just have a cargo box outside your home? That's what these ingenius home owners decided to do.
Within a couple of years, the Cargo Box costs will pay for itself. It will be more easily accessible. And you can park the car inside it as well. Plus, you can install your own automatic spiral door, which can open by remote control. The benefits of having a cargo container within a few yards from home are immeasurable.
The only downside is that the grass and shrubs need to be cut once in a while.
Once upon a time, there was an enchanted Apple Cafe' and it was going to be the fairest coffee shop in all the land. Then one day, the world changed, and the mystical Apple Cafe' closed down. In it's wake, only the cargo box seating area remains.
What caused the coffee shop's demise? And why did they leave the cargo box frame behind? Maybe these questions will never be answered and the mystery ghost shop will just slowly fade away.
What can be more secure than storing your cars in a storage box? Especially when it has automatic doors!
Plus, if you ever decide to relocate, you can just put your worldly possesions and furniture inside the garage and have it shipped to the next location. It's probably the most economically feasible way to move.
We also liked the home-made driveway, which was probably made one afternoon with a bunch of buddies and a 24-pack of beer. The only thing the owner had to worry about was getting the technician out to insall the automatic spiral doors, which is much easier in Taiwan since most businesses use the same doors on their shops.
It's always a pleasure seeing the many local uses of discarded cargo boxes. The Double Cargo Garage will probably be used on a daily basis for the next 20 years, and will have a shelf-life far outlasting any Cargo Shop or Cafe'.
Sometimes simplicity is the key to design, and there's no better example than this Cargo Box Garage with a metal grate driveway ramp. We searched online to see if something like this was available for purchase, however, it was to no avail.
After closer inspection, we finally realized this was a home-made creation, which used slotted-angle shelving posts welded together on the bottom. It is also light weight, which allows for easy transport, and it prevents seepage and cracks, two common problems with concrete. Rain drainage is always important, especially in a humid environment such as Taiwan.
It is an ingenius, simple design and the owner should be applauded.
There is nothing more aluring than the faded grandeur of Cargo Art. While traversing the streets of Taichung, we have seen many examples of Cargo Box artwork that has been lost to time, either by abandoment or just sheer neglect.
(Work in progress...)
Probably one of the most popular uses for Cargo Boxes in Taiwan is for public restrooms. Scattered around parks, government buildings, and especially the docks, you can see them everywhere.
At first they are hard to distinguish, however, take a look at the top and you will see a hook on every corner. That's a dead give-away that it used to be loaded on the ships. It's always good to see these discarded cargo boxes be turned into something useful.
Scattered beside and underneath bridges, peppered every few miles on long stretches of roads, and covered in wild grass in open fields, there are abandoned Cargo Boxes everywhere in Taiwan. Maybe their owners discarded them, or maybe they were extra boxes left over from a larger plan... whatever the reason, there's hundreds of abandoned containers littered around Taiwan.
For example, in Neihu, we stumbled upon a bunch of Cargo Boxes that seemed to be left over from a possible restaurant, or even from some old clothing shops. Whatever they were once used for, they are now slowly being forgotten, collecting dust in a large open field. Hopefully, they can be recycled and possibly find new life once again.
As I was traveling the train in Tamsui, I noticed an unusual site through the window and on the street below. It was an abandoned cargo container sitting next to a stream. Naturally, I hopped off my train car and ran to take a look.
Along the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in the Tamsui District of New Taipei City in Taiwan, there are many Cargo Boxes that have been converted into shops, garages, and storage units. Once in a while, you will see the remnants of old Cargo Boxes collecting rust in the fields or next to streams.
At the Mitsui Outlet Park in Taichung, Taiwan, in the heart of the Taichung Harbor, they have the World's Best Cargo Box Rest Area. The best Cargo designs always integrate the material planet with nature, and they did that beautifully.
