Containers: The new way forward for tensile fabric architecture?

From year to year we see the textile architecture industry change to adhere to current trends. So what’s next for these structures?

More recently, we have started to see the increase of businesses using shipping containers as a more sustainable and lower cost building alternative. Containers can be adapted to host various applications such as retail and storage.

Key Benefits of Using Containers:

Environmentally Friendly

Recycled shipping containers provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly material to work with. Upcycling is a process of changing an objects physical state to recreate a new, raw material – this is something that is regularly used with shipping containers.

As the product is being reused from old material, it provides a lower cost alternative whilst still being durable.

Durable & Structurally Sound

Shipping containers are usually made from corten steel, therefore they are known for their efficient durable design. They are purposely built to withstand the harsh sea environments and tough weather – because of this they provide a safe and hard-wearing material to upcycle.

Bespoke, Modular Structures

Shipping containers are originally designed to be space savers on overseas trips. Their simplistic design and measurements ensure that they are easy to stack and provide easy mobility when needed.

Due to the flexibility of the design, it allows them to be upcycled into a range of different business types to suit all requirements.

Cost Effective

As we have briefly mentioned, when reused - shipping containers provide a cost effective material.

The cost that is spent on the containers is entirely down to the owner and how much they want to invest.

Why integrate with Tensile Fabric?

At J & J Carter we are always looking for the newest, environmentally friendly trends within the our industry. Not only can shipping containers provide cost effective solutions; but hidden within the container lies an immense amount of steel which is perfect for kentledge. 

All tensile fabric structures will require a form of kentledge to counteract the wind uplift. However if this kentledge can be provided without the need for foundations we are also then saving clients money on groundwork’s.

The container is designed around a set common nodes which enable stacking. By connecting into these nodes with standard construction details, we can attach our tensile fabric roofs.

Shipping containers can provide a cost effective, solution to create a bespoke structure. Offering many key benefits.

We have recently worked at Herne Hill Velodrome to provide a bike park to store, repair and maintain the bikes of visitors to the Velodrome – made from recycled shipping containers!

Discover more about this exciting, award winning project here.

Tensile Fabric Structures with J & J Carter

The versatility of tensile architecture is what makes it so unique, allowing for the design of existing and practical roof forms that would be almost impossible with traditional building methods.

Working alongside the client's professional advisors, we can provide architectural solutions using the latest in fabric developments. With an in-house team of structural engineers, project managers, installers, designers, membrane fabricators and steel/aluminum fabricators, we provide a single source of supply for architectural fabric tent structures. 

Please contact us to learn more about our full array of unique, award-winning and location enhancing structures we have produced for a range of organisations.