How To make a Container cafe cracked open in 4 weeks

A design competition has inspired Israeli interior designer Liat Eliav to bring her winning shipping container cafe design to life. Known simply as The Container, the mobile coffee shop was built in just five weeks
The sustainable architecture competition is run by the Israeli Building Center and Gal Marine Ltd, Israel?s oldest container terminal services company. The initiative aims to promote the use of recycled, converted cargo containers that would otherwise become environmental pollutants once retired.

The Container was prefabricated offsite at a factory in Ashdod Harbour before being transferred on the back of a semi-trailer to its new home. Compared with the lengthy timelines and big budgets of conventional construction, the assembly of Eliav?s portable container cafe was remarkably swift, inexpensive and effective.

In just five weeks, the abandoned 20-foot container was transformed into a stylish coffee bar. A wooden ceiling was built in, concealing the original industrial steel surface to create a warm, cosy ambiance. In contrast, the external fa?ade retains its original industrial aesthetic.

The floor of the container was covered with cement board, and drywall and thermal insulation were installed to cover the interior walls. Big windows and transparent doors let in lots of natural light to create a spacious, airy atmosphere. The addition of several outdoor chairs and tables complete the set up at this innovative container cafe.