Unbox 2017 competition winners imagine new purposes for the shipping container

Architecture and design magazine Volume Zero's UnBox 2017 competition challenged participants worldwide to design public spaces  out of recycled shipping containers. The 2017 edition attracted 323 proposals from 57 countries.

The international jury — which comprised of Arjun Malik (Malik Architecture, India), Peter Walker (Cumulus Studio, Australia), Todd Henderson (Cumulus Studio, Australia), Ada Tolla (LOT-EK, USA), and Giuseppe Lignano (LOT-EK, USA) — selected three prize winners and 10 honorable mentions. Check them out below.

First Place: The New Eye
Participants: Reshma Esther Thomas, Ujjwal Sannala and Sai Sharanya Satoor | Country: India

Project summary: The entry looks at transforming the otherwise tumultuous relationship of the ocean with shipping containers...The design is built on the concept of the ‘periscope’ and can be enjoyed by the user as they look at the aquatic world beneath their feet. “The design is a prototype that can be stationed anywhere in the oceans of the world. As users approach these container boxes, set out in the sea by boats and ferries, they are transported to the oceanic world without physically causing any ravage to animal life”.

Second Place: Growing Cells
Participants: Emilio Bartolini and Benjamín Martínez | Country: Argentina

Inspired by a climber plant, the project revolves around unveiling the beauty of unused spaces within the city — spaces that are regarded as purposeless. The aim of the project is to give eminence to these spaces and empower the users to transform them in their own way. 

The design is a prototype that functions as a performance space between city limits. The entry gives prominence to sustainable design as the planes are controlled by pulleys and cables. The varying heights of the unit create vibrant settings for public performances.

Don't forget about the honorable mentions below! Find more about all the top-winning entries on Volume Zero's website.