Recycled

Planning permission was recently granted for a new shipping container-based office building in London. It'll rise to a height of 26 m (85 ft), making it the world's tallest shipping container-based building once complete and will also boast some sustainable additions, including solar power.

Some plastics can be recycled relatively easily, others like bubble wrap and stretchy pallet wrap may not be accepted by municipalities. Gomi design studio is looking to do something about that, and has created a portable wireless speaker that's made using recycled flexible plastics.

For about 8 years, Above All C6(n) has been designing sustainable structures for use in the construction industry. The firm's most recent project is a temporary shelter made from recycled plastic that's designed for use at music festivals, sporting events or as homeless or crisis accommodation.

​When it comes to recycling plastic waste, the Dutch are a pretty inventive bunch. We've seen office furniture fashioned from Amsterdam's canal waste, and plastic trash street furniture too. Now the first cycle path constructed using recycled plastic has opened in the municipality of Zwolle.​

A floating shed packed with musical instruments, a vintage taxi, and a luxurious yurt all feature in this year's Shed of the Year shortlist. Created by enthusiastic amateurs, the competition contains some of the most interesting self-built architecture you'll see in one place.

​As the Ocean Cleanup Project readies its floating barriers for collecting waste plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a similarly green project much closer to its home has opened a floating park in Rotterdam's harbor. The Recycled Park features connected blocks made from waste plastic.​

Locals in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, got involved in the construction of this temporary structure called the People's Pavilion by donating their trash and lending building materials to Bureau SLA and Overtreders W. Once the project ran its course, the items were eventually returned unharmed.

UK-based firm Invisible Studio made great use of recycled and inexpensive materials while building this appealing little prototype cabin in the woods. Named Trailer (Equivalent #2), it's envisioned as a residence or workspace and its total cost came in at just £20,000 (US$28,000).

MB Architecture harnessed its extensive experience with shipping container-based projects while designing a new media lab for Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Comprising four recycled containers, the prefabricated building was delivered in two parts and installed in just half a day.

Shipping container-based architecture seems like a bad idea. They'e cramped, offer no insulation, and often require heavy modification. That said, limitation occasionally proves fertile ground for innovation, as evidenced by the imaginative shipping container projects that we're highlighting here.

Architects never seem to tire of experimenting with shipping containers and some of the many uses conceived for the metal boxes include houses, offices and swimming pools. We can now add water sports center to the list, courtesy of engineering firm Sweco.

Re Arquitectura and DAO were commissioned by a family who wanted their three adult sons to have their own homes but remain close by. Three recycled shipping containers were used to create a like number of dwellings on the family property that don't require air-conditioning.