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X-Tainer shipping container expands into a giant pavilion

X-Tainer shipping container expands into a giant pavilion
The X-Tainer is designed for a number of functions, such as public events
The X-Tainer is designed for a number of functions, such as public events
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The X-Tainer as a military shelter
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The X-Tainer as a military shelter
Two X-Tainers hooked together
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Two X-Tainers hooked together
The X-Tainer as part of a relief camp
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The X-Tainer as part of a relief camp
The X-Tainer folds into a standard container
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The X-Tainer folds into a standard container
The X-Tainer for a musical event
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The X-Tainer for a musical event
The X-Tainer as a warehouse
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The X-Tainer as a warehouse
The X-Tainer set up as a command and control center
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The X-Tainer set up as a command and control center
The X-Tainer is designed for a number of functions, such as public events
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The X-Tainer is designed for a number of functions, such as public events
The X-Tainer forming a temporary camp wall
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The X-Tainer forming a temporary camp wall
Diagram of the X-Tainer
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Diagram of the X-Tainer
The X-Tainer in various configuartions
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The X-Tainer in various configuartions
The X-Tainer as a greenhouse
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The X-Tainer as a greenhouse
The X-Tainer as a water purification station
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The X-Tainer as a water purification station
The X-Tainer as a temporary building warehouse
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The X-Tainer as a temporary building warehouse
The X-Tainer as an animal paddock
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The X-Tainer as an animal paddock
The X-Tainer unfolds to form a large shelter using a membrane roof
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The X-Tainer unfolds to form a large shelter using a membrane roof
The X-Tainer as a solar power plant
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The X-Tainer as a solar power plant
View gallery - 17 images

The lateral leap of shipping containers from goods movers to ready-made housing, offices, shops, and restaurants has opened up new possibilities for architects, event planners, and relief workers. With a few flatbed lorries and a crane, an empty space can, inside a few hours, turn into a shopping center, an exhibition space, an apartment complex, or a disaster relief camp.

Unfortunately, the very standard sizes that make such containers so useful also imposes limits. However you stack them, the containers are still a collection of uniform oblongs.

Having developed containers that can load and unload themselves, Excalibur Shelters has continued to think outside the box with the creation of the X-Tainer – a standard size shipping container that unfolds into very large shelters and pavilions.

Diagram of the X-Tainer
Diagram of the X-Tainer

The X-Tainer incorporates a series of folding panels inside itself. Once installed on site, the X-Tainer opens and the panels fold out to form walls in any of a number of selected configurations – each of which can be fitted with a bespoke membrane roof. The walls themselves can be fitted with electrical outlets, basic plumbing, monitors and television screens, speakers, and other gear.

The X-Tainer comes in two sizes. The 20 ft (6 m) model can hold up to 48 sq m (517 sq ft) of solid wall with a fold-down floor, while the 40 ft (12 m) version has up to 224 sq m (2,411 sq ft) of wall, but no flooring. The company also says that two X-Tainers can be hooked together to form up to 900 sq m (9,687 sq ft) of space that can hold a standing crowd of 600 people.

The makers see the X-Tainer as having a wide range of applications. Aside from the obvious potential as an emergency shelter or an event space, it could lo be used for military bases, agriculture, greenhouses, mobile solar power plants, water purification, and animal paddocks.

Source: Excalibur Shelters

View gallery - 17 images
1 comment
1 comment
Don Duncan
What is the stability? How high a wind can it take, no roof, and roof? How strong are the walls against wild animals? What is the R value? How temporary is temporary?