To solve the problem of "urban delinquents" loitering in apartment hallways, the French port of Le Havre has set up "false lobbies" to hang around in instead.
The fake entry ways are made of old shipping containers and mimic the hallways of apartment buildings, just without the building attached. This gives them somewhere to go, without disturbing residents.
"For several week, s "false lobby" ha been erected on a stretch of grass in Graville la Vallee, a poor neighbourhood nicknamed 'Chicago' in the northern city that houses about 1,500 people, mainly of immigrant extraction," the Globe and Mail reported.
"A red 12-metre-long shipping container has been furbished to create the illusion that it is the foyer of an apartment building, with a door and windows, an intercom, a wall of mail boxes, a false elevator and a staircase leading to the roof."
People have been getting creative with shipping containers, which in the past have had no further use than to take up space. Check out Trend Hunter's top recycled shipping container uses:
False Lobbies
Container Hall For Urban Delinquents
Trend Themes
1. False Lobbies - Creating fake entryways as a solution to loitering problem can provide innovative opportunities for community spaces.
2. Shipping Container Reuse - Repurposing shipping containers can create new opportunities for creative design and sustainable solutions.
3. Urban Design Innovation - Integrating unusual design elements in public spaces can bring about unique opportunities for engagement and community building.
Industry Implications
1. Real Estate - False lobbies can offer a unique selling proposition for apartment complexes and other real estate properties.
2. Architecture - Using shipping containers for building design can offer cost-effective and sustainable solutions for architects and designers.
3. Community Development - Innovative urban design can support community building initiatives and foster more inclusive and safe neighborhoods.