Festival exhibits are temporary by definition, so using building materials that will not go to waste when they end makes a lot of sense. That's why BDP Architects chose shipping containers for a colorful and creative children's music installation at the Manchester International Festival last month. Working with the festival organizers, BDP transformed 78 of these upcycled behemoths into a lighthearted "Music Box." Intermittently stacked and scattered in an elliptical form, the containers created an acoustical playground that delighted children and adults alike.

Set up at the Salford Quays docks in Manchester, the “Music Box” also featured performance spaces, theaters, recording studios, and a series of creative and interactive rooms. Although the city is never super hot, recycled truck tarpaulins provided shading, while graphic banners tied to the ends of the boxes helped visitors navigate their entertainment space of choice.
Manchester is a bustling port city with no shortage of shipping containers so we can’t think of a better, more creative way to re-use them than to infuse children with a love of play and sound!
Via Designboom