Want to upgrade your outdoor area and make a special cooking space? Think about changing your backyard with creative shipping container kitchen concepts. By adding the cool look of shipping containers to your outdoor style, you can make a useful and trendy outdoor kitchen that is different.
What is a Shipping Container Outdoor Kitchen?
Shipping containers, first made for moving goods worldwide, are now used to build outdoor kitchens. These strong steel containers are great for making kitchen areas with everything you need for cooking, storing, and dining.
Advantages of Outdoor Kitchens Made from Shipping Containers
1. Easy to Move and Flexible
Shipping containers can be easily moved, so you can change the location of your outdoor kitchen if you want. This makes cooking adventures more flexible.
2. Eco-Friendly
Turning shipping containers into kitchens helps the environment by reusing these industrial structures. It’s a creative way to reduce waste and support green practices.
3. Personalized
One great thing about shipping container kitchens is that you can make them fit your needs and style. You can customize everything from how it’s set up to how it looks inside.
4. Strong
Shipping containers are tough because they’re made to handle rough travel conditions. When used as outdoor kitchens, they can withstand different weather conditions, lasting a long time.
Design Ideas and Inspirations
1. Container Bar Concept
Picture a cool bar made from a recycled shipping container, with a smart counter, seats, and nice lights. This idea gives a modern feel to outdoor parties.
2. Compact Mobile Kitchen
For people looking for a small option, a portable kitchen in a shipping container gives you a complete kitchen that you can take anywhere. Great for food trucks, events, or short-term setups.
3. Rustic Outdoor Dining Space
Convert a shipping container into a cozy outdoor eating space with wood touches, comfortable seating, and a delightful vibe ideal for dining outdoors.
4. Pop-Up Restaurant
If you own a restaurant and want to show your menu to new customers, think about a pop-up container kitchen. It’s like a flexible food truck that you can move around. You can try a temporary spot or a smaller version of your main restaurant for takeout or outdoor dining.
Factors to Consider When Converting a Shipping Container into an Outdoor Kitchen:
Transforming a shipping container into an outdoor kitchen involves important things to think about:
- Make sure it’s sturdy: Check that the container can handle modifications for the kitchen.
- Keep it cozy and airy: It needs good insulation and ventilation to control temperature and airflow when using hot appliances.
- Set up plumbing and wiring: Arrange plumbing for sinks, faucets, and maybe gas lines. Ensure safe electrical wiring.
- Connect utilities: Get water, electricity, and gas connections in place correctly. Hire professionals to further assist you with your needs.
- Plan layout and look: Think about where to put appliances, counters, storage, and seating.
- Pick sturdy appliances: Choose tough outdoor-friendly appliances like stainless steel gear, fridges, and grills.
- Protect from weather: Seal gaps, use weatherproof materials, and add proper roofing for weather protection.
- Looks and usability: Balance looks and practicality by matching designs with your outdoor area for a useful and beautiful kitchen.
- Follow the rules: Check local laws for permits and rules when changing a container into a living space.
- Keep it maintained: Regular upkeep is important to keep the outdoor kitchen working well.
Different Size and Door Configurations of Dry Van Shipping Containers for Your Outdoor Kitchen
When thinking about using shipping containers for an outdoor kitchen, there are various types to pick based on what you need and like. Here are some common types of dry van containers that can be transformed into outdoor kitchens:
- Standard Shipping Containers: These are the usual type for shipping goods. They are usually 20 or 40 feet long in standard height and work well for basic outdoor kitchens.
You can opt to have double doors on one end or choose a tunnel container where you can enter from one side and exit from another. Tunnel containers, with doors on both sides, make it easier to get to what’s inside, helping with better organization and finding things more easily. This setup also improves airflow inside the container and helps lower moisture levels.
- High Cube Containers: High cube containers are like standard containers but have an extra foot of height, giving more vertical space. This can be helpful if you need more room above for cabinets or appliances.
Similar to standard shipping containers, you can opt for a tunnel container or a single-door model at one end, depending on your design requirements and needs.
- Open-Side Containers: This dry van container has side doors that go all the way down, so you can easily reach things from the side or the end. These are available in both 20-foot and 40-foot lengths, including a 40-foot High Cube option. You can turn these containers into useful outdoor kitchens by adding windows, ventilation, insulation, and kitchen stuff.
Examples of Restaurants Using Shipping Containers as Outdoor Kitchens:
Restaurants always look for special ways to be different and give customers a memorable dining time. One cool idea that’s becoming popular is using shipping containers as outdoor kitchens. These reused containers bring a fun twist to dining and have benefits like being easy to move and customize.
The Gulf, Orange Beach, Alabama, USA
Alabama’s coast has white, super soft sand. They have a restaurant, The Gulf, sitting right on it. The place is made from reused shipping containers and stuff, giving it a cool, casual feel. They serve up fresh local seafood, salads, and grilled food. You can sit at different levels, all by the beach. They even have a bar and a cute store. It’s pretty much a perfect beach spot.
Market 707, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Each restaurant at Market 707 is located in a reused shipping container. The outdoor area has a variety of food stalls and small shops, offering a colorful mix of cuisines.
Spark: York, North Yorkshire, England, UK
In Piccadilly, within the city, Spark: York is a modern and trendy community spot. It’s a hub with various businesses in shipping containers, including small unique shops and a food market.
Conclusion
Shipping containers are so versatile! They can be turned into cool outdoor kitchens that suit different styles and spaces. You can create a workspace and kitchen in one container or even make a whole restaurant out of them.
By thinking about how things look, how useful they are, and where you’ll eat outside, people can mix the industrial look of shipping containers with cozy outdoor kitchens. This mix adds a special touch to your outdoor area and makes eating and entertaining even better.
by on-site_storage