At present, exports from China to Europe are much greater than imports, which accounts for the surplus of Chinese containers that has piled up in Sweden. In the US, the UK and the Netherlands, thrashed containers have been successfully converted into homes. Today, Swedes intend to follow in their footsteps to plug the gaping holes in their housing market. In the first place, the low-cost housing is intended as accommodations for refugees, as well as for the young homeless.
"We looked up on the Internet how homes like this are built in the United States, and were inspired by their recycling ideas to make affordable, small accommodations of our own, Peter Eriksson, CEO of Svenska Containerhus in Skelleftea, told Swedish national broadcaster SVT.
Previously, this type of accommodation has been tried several times in Stockholm and southern Sweden. The idea had mixed success, but attracted significant criticism of the building quality, which compelled the city of Helsingborg to scrap plans for 100 container homes. This painful experience, however, would not deter Peter Eriksson.
"We build homes adapted for the Nordic climate. Besides, the containers are designed for a serviceable life of 20 years at sea in the wind and salt water. These homes are also easy to move," Eriksson said.
The lack of homes is most severe among newcomers. According to the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet, Swedish municipalities currently plan to invest nearly 100 million SEK ($11.2mln) in procuring apartments for new arrivals.
Across the country, various means of combatting the housing shortage among "new Swedes" have been tried, from conveyor-built modular housing to temporary renting of villas, hotel rooms and cruise ships. In December 2016, Stockholm tried accommodating newcomers in dormitories, where up to 16 people sleep jammed in a single room. The dormitory lacks kitchen facilities, and all the food is delivered there.
"Here I can neither study nor sleep. Everything is so difficult," A frustrated Gidey Germay, a refugee from Eritrea, told local news outlet Stockholm Direkt.