Designed by Patalab Architecture, 118 Vallance Road in Whitechapel will see the containers stacked nine high, with a steel frame providing additional structural support.

At 26m in height (plus lift overrun), the project will be the tallest shipping container building in the world - just beating the famous Freitag Store in Zurich.

Patalab said: “A key driver in the design has been to ensure that low build cost is paired with good design. Specifying container construction we are able to achieve this; exposing the raw structure where appropriate, yet maintaining the appearance and longevity of a permanent addition.”

The studio added: “The commercial popularity of container construction and its intrinsic aesthetic has already been demonstrated in the same part of the city by projects such as Containerville (Cambridge Heath) and Box Park (Shoreditch High Street). Both of these examples have distinctive branding that embraces their appearance as containers, and this aesthetic is something that we aim to achieve in the interior treatment of the scheme - we propose a colour scheme based on freight companies and walls lined with corrugated metal. Externally, the module of the boxes will be expressed in the form of a gridded facade, however, the raw nature of the containers will be treated with a unified cladding and softened with glazed balconies and planting.

“Raw container stacking is acceptable in the examples as they are only 2-3 storeys high and their plots allow them space to either side, where as our nine storeys with party walls requires a more sophisticated approach. Associated with ‘meanwhile space’, container construction is generally restricted to temporary planning permission and the use of vacant space until permanent developments are erected in concrete or steel frames, however, the planning permission we have obtained is for a permanent structure.”

An important aspect of the development is the focus on sustainability, resulting in a BREEAM rated ‘excellent’. Aside from the fact that the structure is almost entirely recycled, photovoltaic cells will be incorporated on the roof.

Images courtesy of Patalab Architecture