the cargo nest
Detroit, Michigan
Fall of 2024
Arch1 Competition Team with Lilijana Gregov, Anna Deyoung, and Miranda Lloyd
The Cargo Nest is an innovative educational facility that represents the intersection of play, learning, and sustainability. Central to this design is the transformation of mundane shipping containers into enchanting learning environments that entrance the imagination. Taking inspiration from the versatile form of toy building blocks, the Cargo Nest aims to harness children’s universal and innate attraction to playful, tactile spaces. Additionally, the Cargo Nest extends its imaginative approach by embodying an adaptable “shell” concept. With a framework that allows for educational models to develop and grow without the need for physical reconstruction, the Cargo Nest is a space that can serve its community through the generations. Despite their strength, shipping containers are often discarded in empty ports when they have fulfilled their intended purpose; therefore, using them to create lasting and playful institutions minimizes waste and brings life back to these durable vessels.
Situated just a 10-minute drive from downtown Detroit, the Cargo Nest offers convenient access to the city’s best features. With nearby and newly established neighborhoods in the area, the Cargo Nest would serve up-and-coming communities as an enrichment to their developing infrastructure. This strategic placement enables the school to not only meet the immediate needs of the area but also support the city’s ongoing development and growth.
Flexible Learning
The Cargo Nest’s two-story library is designed to facilitate both group and individual learning needs. With reading nooks along the walls, the library provides cozy and secluded spaces where kids can curl up with a book, fostering a sense of independence and agency over their educational journey. In contrast, the open floor of the library offers ample room for teachers to gather students for group learning and reading time, creating an interactive and community-centered learning opportunity. With large windows lining the upper walls, the library invites an abundance of natural light that enhances the overall atmosphere, making it a welcoming sanctuary for relaxation and imaginative exploration.
Dynamic Classrooms
As educational systems and curriculums develop, it is crucial for classrooms to accommodate change and diversity. Each classroom features an en-suite bathroom and external sink to minimize disruptions during class time, fixed storage elements such as cubbies and bookshelves, and an otherwise open concept that facilitates both group and individual learning. This open concept accommodates two zones, one dedicated to floor space for reading, movement and individual exploration, and the other equipped with tables for crafts and more structured activities. This division supports a mix of instructional styles, where kids can learn in a collaborative environment or in a personalized, self-guided experience. These classrooms find the balance between structure, adaptability, practicality, and inclusivity.
A Sustainability Standard in Educational Institutions
As educational paradigms shift, shipping containers offer a versatile “shell” that can provide durability and structure for change to work within. Additionally, shipping containers are constructed to withstand harsh conditions and protect their contents, making them ideal for lasting educational institutes. The use of shipping containers in architecture is also a community-friendly concept. The off-site assembly of shipping containers addresses a critical discourse within architecture and urban planning: the disruption of communities by traditional construction methods. These shipping containers not only mitigate the damaging impact on local communities but also encourage discussion on how educational facilities can be developed and constructed in a thoughtful and sustainable manner. In utilizing shipping containers, the intersection of sustainability and educational innovation can create spaces that are less disruptive and more adaptable to the future, setting a new standard for responsible educational architecture.