ATÖLYE Labs upcycle old shipping containers into an eco-friendly tech campus in Izmir

<a href="http://atolyelabs.com" target="_blank">ATÖLYE Labs</a> has captured the essence of upcycling with the Container Park, a recently completed tech park made up of 35 repurposed <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/shipping-container" target="_blank">shipping containers</a>. Located in the heart of Izmir's Ege University, the cargotecture cross-disciplinary campus mainly comprises lab space, but also includes a restaurant, showroom, cafe, hacker space, and offices. The eco-friendly project doesn’t just stop with the reuse of building materials—the Container Park also boasts a low-energy footprint thanks to thick insulation, LED fixtures, green walls, and natural ventilation.

Open to both Turkish and international companies, the 1,000-square-meter tech campus was created to spur research and development in sectors from biotechnology to software in a collaborative environment.

ATÖLYE Labs’ site-specific design with created in just nine short months from conception to final construction.

The placement of the container modules maximized north-south exposure and interaction among users.

The containers also features exposed beams and columns, electrical trays, and other visible technical details for easy dismantlement and modification over time.

Surrounding vegetation, shading devices, green walls, solar-coated southern windows, and natural ventilation help keep cooling costs to a minimum.

The container buildings are organized around an inner courtyard with modular seating options.

To create visual interest, the architects arranged the containers in different layouts.

The project features a diverse materials palette that mainly comprises natural materials such as cork, local stone, and wood wool.

iDEEGE Technopark by ATÖLYE Labs plan.

iDEEGE Technopark by ATÖLYE Labs eco-feature diagram.