Flat-pack and expandable container houses
Container-sized units that ship flat or folded and are assembled on site in a short time.
How the system works
A flat-pack container house is a steel-framed unit that travels as a compact kit: roof frame, floor frame, corner posts and insulated wall panels. Several units fit in one shipping container, which keeps freight costs low. On site, the parts bolt together into a weather-tight building with windows and a door.
Expandable (folding) container houses take this a step further. The unit arrives as a single box and its sides unfold on site, creating several times the floor area it occupied in transit. Both types can be joined side by side or stacked to make larger offices, dormitories and facilities.
Typical specification
- Structure
- Galvanised steel roof frame, floor frame and corner posts
- Walls
- Insulated sandwich panels
- Footprint
- Based on standard container sizes, such as 20 ft and 40 ft
- Shipping
- Several flat-pack units per shipping container
- Assembly
- Bolted together on site with basic lifting equipment
- Used for
- Site offices, worker dormitories, canteens, storage and pop-up facilities
Typical values. Exact specifications depend on the product and your project.
Key benefits
Why clients choose this system.
Low cost
Compact shipping and simple production keep costs down.
Quick to set up
Units can be assembled or unfolded in a short time with a small crew.
Easy to move
Units can be taken down or folded and moved to the next project.
Combinable
Join units side by side or stack them to create larger spaces.
Robust
A steel frame with insulated panels stands up to site use.
Low site impact
Minimal foundations, often just level pads or blocks.
Things to consider
Every system has trade-offs. Here's what we'll talk through with you.
Best for temporary or semi-permanent use
They're ideal for camps, offices and storage. For long-term homes and villas, SIPs, LGS or volumetric modules give a higher-quality result.
Insulation and comfort
Panel thickness and core matter in the tropics. We specify units that stay comfortable with air conditioning.
From our gallery
A selection of recent enVision buildings.
What we build with this system
The services where this system is often a good fit.
Worker Accommodation Modular Buildings
Camps for remote sites, long-term project housing and seasonal quarters, deployed quickly.
View service
Commercial Modular Buildings
Offices, retail, education and healthcare buildings that open sooner.
View service
Modular Garden Buildings
Garden offices, studios and storage buildings that add space without a long build.
View service
Built in the factory. Finished on your site.
Built in sections
Each module is made in a controlled factory environment, away from the weather, with strict quality control.
Delivered to site
Finished sections are transported to your site while the groundwork is prepared.
Assembled into one building
Modules are joined into a single, cohesive structure, with site work completed in as little as four weeks.
Flat-pack & expandable container houses: questions answered
What is a flat-pack container house?
A steel-framed unit shipped as a compact kit of frames and wall panels, then bolted together on site into a finished building.
What's the difference between flat-pack and expandable?
A flat-pack unit is assembled from parts. An expandable unit arrives as one box and its sides unfold on site to create a larger floor area.
Can units be joined together?
Yes. Units can be joined side by side or stacked to create larger offices, dormitories and facilities.
Are they suitable as permanent homes?
They're best for temporary and semi-permanent buildings. For permanent homes we usually recommend SIPs, LGS or volumetric modules.
Other modular solutions
- SIPs panel systemStructural insulated panels with an EPS or PIR foam core: strong, airtight and highly insulated walls, floors and roofs.
- Light gauge steel (LGS)Precision-made galvanised steel frames that won't rot, warp or attract termites, for homes, extensions and commercial buildings.
- Ready modules from ChinaFactory-finished modules sourced from China, shipped to Indonesia and installed on your site. A cost-effective route for camps, offices and housing.
- Shipping container buildingsConverted steel shipping containers for cafes, retail, offices, studios and homes with a strong industrial look.
- Composite sandwich panel buildingsSteel-faced insulated panels with PU/PIR, EPS or rockwool cores. Our system for mine camps, warehouses and site buildings.
- Volumetric modules & podsComplete room-sized modules and bathroom pods, finished in the factory, from the CORE module to living PODS.
Is this system right for your project?
Tell us what you're planning and we'll recommend the best modular solution for your design, budget and site.