Book excerpt: Shipping containers are the quintessential symbol of commerce and product distribution around the world. They represent global mobility and our capacity to move anything from anywhere. It is ironic, then, that they are increasingly being used for architectural installations, forming more static temporary and permanent structures, including housing. This book provides an informative overview of the advent of containerization and investigates a great range of modern architectural applications. It explores creativity in commercial design; innovative use of space; pop-up trends; plug-in architecture; how to balance budget with aesthetic concerns; and technical and structural considerations. Richly illustrated, with unique design narratives, the full-color case studies throughout showcase the innovative use of modern containers.