Original Design: Dpavilion Architects
Project Type: Community Facility (Polyclinic + Library)
Containers: 8 × 40 ft
Location: Kota Batu, East Java, Indonesia
Architectural Overview
The Contertainer is a bold, community-focused structure that merges creativity with social purpose.
Designed by Dpavilion Architects in Indonesia, this public facility was built entirely from eight reused shipping containers to house a free-access polyclinic and library for the local community.
Brightly painted in red, yellow, blue, and green, the building transforms industrial steel into a vibrant civic landmark proving that architecture made from containers can be both functional and inspiring.
Hybrid Cargotecture brings this concept to Sri Lanka as a scalable, fast-to-build solution for healthcare centers, libraries, classrooms, or rural outreach buildings - modular, durable, and environmentally responsible.
Design Concept
The Contertainer name comes from the fusion of Container + Entertainer - a building that serves people, educates, and uplifts its surroundings.
Each container forms a self-contained unit - medical consultation rooms, reading spaces, storage, and service areas - linked together through courtyards and covered decks.
The dynamic, offset arrangement celebrates the containers’ linearity while creating shaded outdoor spaces and natural airflow - essential for tropical climates like Sri Lanka.
Spatial Layout
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Ground Level: Reception area, waiting lounge, and general clinic
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Upper Containers: Library space with children’s reading area and digital access zone
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Central Courtyard: Open-air social space connecting all wings
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Structural Additions: Steel stairways and colorful shading elements
This playful geometry makes it approachable to both children and adults, blurring the boundary between architecture and art.
Structural and Material Concept
Each of the eight used containers was modified with large openings and placed on a simple concrete base, supported by irregular steel columns for visual rhythm.
The steel exteriors were sandblasted, rust-treated, and repainted in vivid tones.
Hybrid Cargotecture enhances the system for Sri Lankan use by integrating:
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Spray foam insulation and ventilated walls
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Heat-reflective coatings and rain-screen panels
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Solar energy integration for off-grid sites
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Cross-ventilated passive cooling design
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Marine-grade steel paint for coastal zones
Sustainability and Social Impact
The Contertainer is a living example of architecture with purpose.
By reusing shipping containers that once traveled the world, it redefines global waste into local opportunity.
Its modular design can be replicated for schools, hospitals, or community hubs across Sri Lanka - delivering affordable, fast, and durable social infrastructure.
Hybrid Cargotecture specializes in building similar containerized facilities for:
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Public health clinics and mobile hospitals
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Rural libraries and digital learning pods
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Disaster relief and emergency housing units
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CSR and NGO community projects
Why This Matters
In developing nations, accessibility, cost, and time often delay essential public buildings.
This project shows how architecture can serve people faster - built from recycled materials, installed within weeks, and designed for beauty, function, and dignity.
Hybrid Cargotecture now applies these same principles to empower local governments, NGOs, and corporate CSR initiatives in Sri Lanka to make a real impact through modular construction.
Technical Snapshot
| Feature |
Specification |
| Structure |
8 × 40 ft shipping containers |
| Total Area |
Approx. 4,000 sq ft |
| Use |
Polyclinic + Library + Courtyard |
| Foundation |
Concrete slab on grade |
| Roof System |
Extended shade canopy with steel trusses |
| Energy |
Solar-ready with backup generator option |
| Finishes |
Exterior steel paint + fiber cement interiors |
| Build Time (Sri Lanka) |
12 – 14 weeks |
Perfect For
What This Means for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka faces growing demand for fast, durable, and low-cost community facilities.
Through containerized design, Hybrid Cargotecture offers a real alternative - faster construction, reusable modules, and eco-friendly materials.
These hybrid solutions can reach even the most remote areas while maintaining a professional, inviting aesthetic.
Build with Hybrid Cargotecture
From concept to completion, HCD delivers full design, fabrication, and installation support for container-based public and community projects.
Every build is engineered for tropical weather, energy efficiency, and long-term use.
