SIPPING CONTAINERS

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has designed the first Starbucks in the Asia Pacific region to be built from recycled shipping containers.

The drive-through in Hualien City, Taiwan was inspired by the foliage of coffee trees combined with the traditional Chinese bucket arch.

A total of 29 used containers have been stacked into a twostorey structure that covers 320 square metres, with skylights enabling natural sunlight to flood the interiors.

This is the first time that Kuma has used shipping containers - but 45 of these prefabricated modular stores, which are built off-site prior to delivery and installation, have already opened in the United States, minimising the environmental footprint generally associated with new buildings.