Container houses

Self Storage Facilities

When it comes to utilization of used shipping containers in Kenya, there exists a wide variety of options and one that has not been exploited is use of shipping containers as a storage facility instead of the conventional warehouses.

I believe that this option could be exploited to benefit people who are looking into storing their goods securely and in own spaces. I have been around the world and i have seen this type of storage especially in developed countries whereby you get your own storage container which you pay rent on a monthly basis to store your own items or commercial goods.

The advantages of this method of storage is that you get your own space and you are the only one with access to your container. The container itself is very secure and there are thousands of them in one place so the chances of your goods being stole is Zero unless of course you lose your key.

You can actually store anything in these containers ranging from the furniture you dont need in your home, temporary construction materials, commercial goods if you have a shop and even motor vehicles.

There is a company that is trying to implement this idea in Kenya and we will keep you posted about it.

your comments and suggestions are welcome.

would you vote for this storage option ?

self storage containers in kenya

There are many ways one can utilize used shipping containers in kenya not only for conversion into housing units but there are a lot of ways you can recycle the containers to your benefit.
We have talked a lot about conversion of used shipping containers into houses in kenya but today i am going to talk about re - using a used shipping container as storage facility.

used shipping containers can be utilized as storage facilities in your home, work place, business, schools, hospitals, church..... actually, i cant think of any place where you might not need storage, either for old stuff,business stock or collectibles and furniture that you use occasionally.

A used shipping container will give you a secure storage facility and the best thing about it is that you can move it from one place to another without removing the items stored in it. You can also keep it anywhere as long as you lock it securely.

used shipping containers can also be used to move your stuff when relocating from one place to another, you can actually move all your precious belongings in one shipping container.

Another advantage of using shipping container as a storage facility is that you can use it as it is without having to modify or convert anything as long as you buy a container that is in good condition. but just incase you buy a container that is aged due to weather or accidents, you can always contact shipping container dealers who deal mainly in converting containers, they also do repairs and maintenance.

Shipping containers last for a long period of time unlike other modes of storage where you have to do maintenance after every few months. all you have to do is purchase the container and paint it into your favorite color and you are good to go.

Construction Of A Container Home

Ideally,one would prefer a container house for various reason among them being that they are cheaper to set up since they are already made as boxes.one would only need to cut out windows, doors, partition and you are good to go. But there are other factors that you should put into consideration since implementing this concept is not just as easy as it seems. i have seen people who have bought shipping containers and just hired a welder to cut out and fabricate them only to end up with a sub standard structure unworthy of living in. outlined below are some of the things you should put into consideration when venturing into this idea.


People fail for  getting into something without a plan. you should first consult with people who have experience in designing a container home or people who are already living in container homes.
If you are looking at constructing a shipping container home one bit of advice i would strongly recommend is looking at other peoples first. Not only those constructed but concepts and ideas. Take their examples and compare with what you have in mind. 


The second step is to consult a designer to work on what you have in mind or you can make your own design. technology has made designing and architecture a simple task for the common man as long as you have the idea in you mind and especially when you are dealing with containers which are basically big boxes. you can use CAD 1 software to make a 3D design which is quite simple. 


One of the beauties of shipping container homes is they are an empty box leaving you to decide what suits your needs and what is practical. A small shipping container home may suit many where others want multiple units for family units. The modular system of the shipping container makes all these ideas practical.


Once you follow the steps above, the rest you leave to a proffessional who will set it up for you. Another advantage of constructing a shipping container home is that it only takes a few days to set it up unlike other methods of housing which can take months.

FUTURE OF CONTAINER HOUSING

It seems difficult to overstate the versatility of the humble shipping container. Just recently we’ve seen it used to create a pop up shopping mall in Ruaka area and a touring kitchen; past sightings have included clinics,cyber cafes in rural areas,restaurants and hotel rooms.

The brainchild of Manila’s Arcya Commercial Corporation, Citihub Mandaluyong is situated on a stretch of land in Mandaluyong along the Pasig River. Four shipping containers make up the dorm, which includes separate air-conditioned housing and bathrooms for men and women. Pricing is just PHP 1,500 Which translates to aboutt 3,000 ks per month including water and electricity.

Besides fulfilling what’s clearly a pressing unmet need, Citihub Mandaluyong is also a perfect example of we would call a function-all offering — one that’s simple, inexpensive and designed primarily with low-income consumers in mind. It also seems ripe with global potential; one to emulate in your neck of the woods?

If we can bring this to our economically strained country,we could fulfill our dreams of having affordable and environmentally friendly housing.