Keetwonen (Amsterdam Student Shipping Container Housing)

Keetwonen (Amsterdam Student Shipping Container Housing) is the name of one of the biggest container citys in the world.  Living in a converted shipping container was a new concept in the Netherlands when launched by Tempohousing, but the city of Amsterdam took the courageous step to contract Tempohousing to go and realize it.

It turned out to be a big success among students in Amsterdam and Keetwonen is now the second most popular student dormitory offered by the student housing corporation “De Key” (www.dekey.nl).  The initial fears  that the container homes would be too small, too noisy, too cold or too hot, all turned out to be unfounded. The apartments are relatively spacious, quiet and well insulated and certainly offer value for money, especially when compared to other student homes in the city.

The units  also come complete with amenities often missing in other student dormitories: your own bathroom and kitchen, balcony, separate sleeping and study room, large windows that provide daylight and a view and even an automatic ventilation system with variable speeds. The heating is from a central natural gas boiler system. The hot water is supplied by one 50 liter tank per home and a high speed internet connection is included, as well as a central audio phone system for visitors at the main door downstairs. The whole project was designed with an eye on how students like to live: a place to live, not having to share the shower and the toilet with strangers, but at the same time lots of possibilities to participate in the social life of the dormitory, including the many parties that come with being a student. The blocks have a closed off internal area for safe bicycle parking.

Although the project was initially meant to only stay on this site for 5 years (and to be relocated after that – container homes are ideal for that, you move and you take your house with you!), it is expected that the relocation will be postponed until 2016. The project started at the end of 2005 (first 60 homes commissioned) and was completed mid 2006.

Courtesy Of: TempoHousing