# Shipping Container Cafes The Hualien Bay Mall Starbucks by Kengo Kuma is Located in Taiwan By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2018-10-04 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hualien-bay-mall-starbucks References: [newatlas](https://newatlas.com/kengo-kuma-starbucks-shipping-container/56600/) & [starbucks](http://starbucks.com/) The Hualien Bay Mall Starbucks has been designed by Japan-based architect Kengo Kuma as a new location for the coffee brand that is located in Taiwan and sure to offer a distinctly unorthodox appearance amidst surrounding structures. The cafe is made using a total of 29 shipping containers that work to offer a total of 3,444 square feet of retail and seating space that is spread over two floors. The containers have all been reinforced, modified and painted to give them a stylish aesthetic that doesn't skimp when it comes to ample area for the brand to operate. The Hualien Bay Mall Starbucks comes as the brands 45th example of a [shipping container cafe](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ironworks-caf) that speaks to its penchant for stressing [sustainability in architectural terms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shenzhen). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.8/10 - Popularity: 98% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Shipping Container Architecture:** Innovations in designing and constructing buildings from shipping containers create opportunities for businesses to decrease their environmental impact while still providing functional structures. - **Pop-up Retail Spaces:** The use of shipping containers to quickly create retail spaces offers businesses an affordable and flexible option to explore new markets and engage with customers in unique ways. - **Sustainable Branding:** By incorporating sustainable architecture into their branding strategies, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility and attract eco-conscious consumers. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food and Beverage:** Incorporating shipping container architecture into food and beverage businesses presents opportunities to experiment with unique atmospheres and designs while also emphasizing sustainability in their branding. - **Retail:** Using shipping containers to create retail spaces presents an opportunity for businesses to quickly and affordably test new markets or create temporary pop-up shops. - **Architecture and Design:** Shipping container architecture represents a disruptive innovation within the field of architecture and design, offering new opportunities to create functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing structures. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Wooden Pillar Japanese Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blue-bottle-coffee-cafe.md) - [Coffee Kiosk Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valley-fair-kiosk.md) - [Pared-Back Coffee Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blue-bottle-coffee-shop1.md) - [Sweet Potato-Powered Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-and-kirishima-shuzo.md) - [Restored Cafe Culture Retailers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-coffee-house.md) - [Ethereal Mesh Canopy Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cs-somme-cafe.md) - [Green China-Based Coffee Chains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shenzhen.md) - [Micro Train Platform Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-japan-shinkansen-platform.md) - [Ruin-Adaptive Shipping Container Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barneys-ruins.md)