Introduction: Entrepreneurial Pop-up: Pho45

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Tinkercad Projects »

Hello! My name is Sienna Olen and currently, I am a rising Junior at Lakewood Ranch High School which is located in Florida. While I am still a high school student I am currently participating in a full-time dual enrollment program at a community college to get my associate's degree before graduating. I wanted to design a building that could be repurposed in multiple ways using an item that is currently overproduced: shipping containers. Shipping containers are slowly rising in popularity for creating homes, restaurants, and any kinds of structures. While shipping containers can be seen as less efficient, especially space-wise, compared to normal houses, they still prove to have especially beneficial price differences. For example, the average shipping container building can range from $10,000-$175,000 which shows a drastic range, but consumers should always keep in mind that their shipping container will cost a specific amount that is determined by how many changes they make. The benefit is that shipping containers do cost less than most houses, especially in the Florida area where numerous houses are in the high hundred thousandths. At the end of the day, a shipping container home or business is not for everyone, it depends on what you're looking for, but it is always important to think about the possibilities and the benefits. Another thing to consider when building a shipping container home or business is the possibility of incorporating solar panels and/or water filtration systems. Both of these options are extremely cost efficient since they save you money by lowering water and power bills through the use of natural resources provided every day. Throughout this page I will lead you through the building process of my entrepreneurial pop-up "Pho45" and explain what I added and my thoughts behind them. The first part will be focused on the designing process that occurred in TinkerCAD and why I choose this design. The second part will focus on the physical model where I walk you through every step in case you want to make something similar. I hope that you enjoy reading through this project and hopefully learn something new. Who knows, maybe in the future you'll consider buying a shipping container and designing it with all of its endless possibilities.

Supplies

Physical Model:

-Cardboard

-Paint

-Clay

-Hot Glue Gun

-Cloth

-Popsicle Sticks

-Paper Roll

-Aluminum Foil

-Lights

-Toothpicks

-Plastic Lid

-Scotch Tape


Actual Model:

-Shipping Container

-Wooden Sliding Door

-2 Solar Panels

-Water Container

-Portable Heater

-2 Picnic Tables

-Outside Base With a Waterproof Cover

-Sink

-Counter

-Oven/Stove

-2 Plant Holders

-Crops/Herbs

-Ceiling Fan

-Inverter

-Electric Panel

-Meter

-Water funnel

-UV Light Filter

-Water Dispenser

-2 Table Tops

-4 Chairs

Step 1: Rough Draft and Measurements

First, I wrote down and decided my measurements that are possible for a shipping container that is 20x8x9'6". The picture above shows a rough sketch of my plan and includes all the measurements and labels for every necessary item.

Step 2: The Base

-Currently, over five million shipping containers are in active use; however, out of the five+ million shipping containers in use, there are over seventeen million shipping containers made. In other words, only a small portion of shipping containers are actually used every year for the purpose of transportation. Since there are so many inactive shipping containers people began to use them for different purposes, such as creating a building for their business. Another pro for using shipping containers would be the relatively cheap cost which can range from around 2,000+ dollars.

-The first thing that I did was create a 20x8x9'6" shipping container on TinkerCAD. Once I positioned the shipping container in its desirable spot I decided to start putting holes into the container to create a functional pop-up restaurant. The door hole is located on the left side of the container with the dimensions of 7 ft high and 3 ft long. I used these dimensions because I wanted to make sure that people of all shapes and sizes could help operate this pho shop. The next hole that I added was on the front side in the middle, this hole will operate as a place for orders to be placed and served. The serving window allows easy access between the cook and the customer and provides customers with the chance to view the cooking process happening behind the scenes. The final hole that I made is in the shape of a circle on the top of the container. The hole will be placed over the oven so that steam and smoke can easily escape, allowing clean/fresh air to enter the kitchen.

Step 3: The Back and the Top

-In efforts to make this pop-up more eco-friendly and cheap, the water system collects rainwater. When it rains, the water will go through a funnel that has netting to catch the substances that are not rainwater (dirt, rocks, leaves, etc). Then the water will travel down the pipe and pass through a UV light filtration system which kills off harmful microorganisms and stops them from multiplying. The process of actively using rainwater is cost-effective and helps reduce your carbon footprint by no longer relying on energy consuming plants that transport and treat water. The filtered water will be collected in a rectangluar container through a connecting pipe. The container also contains a nozzle for freely gaining acess to the newly filtered water which can be used in cooking, cleaning, and water the plants. Since this design will also have a watering can (step 4), fresh rain water can be collected instead of passing throught the filteration system. This rain water can also be used for the vegetables and herbs growing inside the shipping container. Rather than containing salts, chemicals, and unecessary minerals, rainwater has a perfect Ph balance and contains nitrate which helps benefit all plants, according to bluebarrelsystems.com, for free .

-Instead of paying high electricity bills every month, this business would be powered with solar panels. On the roof, two solar panels are placed with their purpose to power the building and appliances. But, the energy collected from the sun's rays still needs to be converted before it can properly power everything. The solar panels produce direct current energy, but with the help of an inverter, the electricity is converted to an alternating current which is used on the electrical grid. According to goehs.com, using a 5kW solar panel in Florida saves the average user around 80 dollars a month, using more than one 5kW solar panel will in turn save the user even more every month. Over time the extra money saved will be extremely useful especially as prices continue to rise, these extra dollars will help the owners spend more money on food and maintenance rather than on electricity bills.



Step 4: The Sides

-Since this pop-up will be located in Florida it's very important to mention how prone to hurricanes we are. When hurricanes do strike people can sometimes be stuck in a building or shed due to the harsh winds that usually occur. So, to combat any chance of someone getting stuck I decided to design a sliding door that will have no problem pushing against strong winds since it will move horizontally instead of outwards. To maintain a safe environment the door will have a lock system inside and outside (such as hooks) to keep the door in place. If very severe weather were to hit the pop-up, another resort could be to put metal hurricane shutters over the ordering window and the door. Another benefit of this sliding door is that it's made out of wood. Wood has many benefits that include being resistant to weather, such as wind and rain, rust-free properties, and requires little maintenance. Since wooden doors don't require as much maintenance (such as fixing rust), these doors are able to last longer and help the owners avoid unnecessary costs.

-Since Floridians don't often experience cold weather, when it is cold most locals are not used to the weather. That's why I'm adding a portable heater to this design. This portable heater can be solar-powered or one that needs electricity, but either way, it will help maintain a nice environment for customers.

Step 5: The Inside

-As mentioned previously, this pop-up will have a garden inside the structure that will focus on growing herbs and vegetables. These plants will be able to receive the necessary amount of sunlight from the ordering window and the open sliding door. They will also receive all their needed nutrients through the rainwater that can be collected in the watering can. So, not only does the incorporation of plats into the pop-up require little expense they also help promote sustainability by encouraging others to grow their own plants.

-The sink has a cabinet with a portable water bucket inside, the water filled inside the bucket will be connected to the sink's nozzle and dispense clean water whenever the sink faucet is turned on. The water that is filtered outside will be used for the sink so that dishes and pots can be filled with water for free instead of constantly worrying bout expensive water bills. Another great thing about the sink is that the chief can use it as more space for preparing the food. Behind the sink's nozzle is a cutting board that can easily cover the sink's hole and acts as another counter space for cutting the freshly grown herbs and vegetables. When the cutting board is not needed it can easily go back behind the sink's nozzle to maximize the available space in the kitchen.

-I also decided to incorporate a fan into the design that requires minimal wiring/installation. Since I wanted to have another source for air circulation I decided that this design would have a battery-powered and solar-powered fan. Companies, such as Carro Electrical, sell these types of fans that just require wiring to connect to the solar panels on top of the shipping container. The fan will be very useful for the constant heat experienced in Florida along with cooling down the chef during humid days. Not only would the fan help keep the chef cooled and comfortable, but it would also help circulate the air in the shipping container and make the steam/smoke leave the cooking area.

Step 6: The Front

-Due to the durability of wood, I knew that I wanted to incorporate more into this design. I added 3 wooden platforms that will act as a resting place for food. For example, on either side of the ordering window lays a slab of wood long enough for the placement of foods and drinks (4x2 ft). This area will act as another option for seating for those who came to eat by themselves or with one other person. Each slab of wood is accompanied by 2 stools to comfortably seat a total of four people. Another 12 ft slab of wood is placed right on the edge of the ordering window. This slab of wood will provide not only more space for food to be placed while someone waits for the rest of their orders but also an added measure of comfort and safety. When I mention an added layer of safety, I mean that the possibility of anyone hurting themselves on the cut metal, by leaning on it/etc., will be reduced with a clean slab of wood. Something else that I incorporated into my design on the wooden window slab was a flower pot with a blue flower. I added a flower to my structure to symbolize beauty and hope for the future, hope for a more sustainable and cheaper world where everyone can have a place to go. Even though this design will originally act as a popup, shipping container housing has endless possibilities and this pop-up should be a clear demonstration to customers of all the possibilities that they could have.

-Since this shipping container is currently being used as a pop-up restaurant, I also added a menu on the far left side of the building. Wanting to not produce unnecessary waste, I decided to add this menu as a permanent reference instead of also offering paper or plastic menus. Also, since the menu is right next to the ordering window, customers can easily think about what they want while waiting in line and/or ordering.

Step 7: The Tables

-The outside area was a very important component of this design because I wanted a space where people could enjoy the outside environment instead of always being inside. So, this design uses 2 picnic tables that comfortably seat 6-8 people. In total, this pop-up can comfortably seat 20 people total. The tables are also covered with cloth made out of regenerated nylon. The problem with nylon is that it has added to the global plastic waste and has heavily influenced the ocean's pollution levels. But, regenerated nylon works toward reversing these effects by creating a circular regenerative industry according to panaprium.com. Regenerated nylon works toward cleaning the ocean and recreating brand-new items to save natural resources. It not only reduces nylon's global warming impact by 80% but also has water-repellant properties which work perfectly for cleaning up after customers and dealing with rain. The tables also include a biodegradable piece in the middle to hold salt and pepper shakers, a paper towel roll, and a hot sauce container.

-Another way to incorporate biodegradable items would be through take-out containers. Since there is no guarantee that customers will always finish their food, this pop-up would offer these eco-friendly containers so that they can store their food without wasting more food and plastic. These containers could also bring more customers to this pop-up. For example, if the restaurant is too busy/full to hold more than 20 people, then the customers can order their food and take it home with them or take the food on a picnic to enjoy the outdoors. If I wanted to encourage customers to eat outside rather than at home, then it would be best to place this pop-up near a park that allows outside foods and beverages.

Step 8: The Cover

-As mentioned previously, Florida can be very hot and often experiences many storms. So, I wanted to add something to my design that would help combat these inconveniences. I designed a sturdy wooden structure, due to the durability facts mentioned previously, that has multiple components to ensure that the structure won't fall down. The top has a more angular shape to help prevent rainwater from pooling on top, instead, the rainwater will glide down. The structure also includes fabric that can roll down and cover all sides of the structure. The fabric is the same fabric used for the tables due to its water-repellent properties: regenerated nylon. So, not only can the covers be lowered to protect customers from rain splatters, but they can also be lowered on cold days when you want the heater on in an enclosed area. Lastly, the base provides shade whether the covers are up or down which protects against harmful UV rays.

Step 9: Ground Level

1) Using a cloth-covered base, I painted a green rectangle with the dimensions of 9x12, the purpose of this step is to create a base that represents the outside grassy area.

2) Once the grass layer is painted, grab a hot glue gun and create a border along the edges

3) Once the glue is completely cooled, paint the border a dark gray to represent the cement borders often seen near everyday areas (A possible reference could be the dividers placed in parking lots)

Step 10: Base With Additions

1) Taking a cardboard box, make two equal pieces with a height of 4 inches, a width of 4 inches, and a length of 9 inches

The plant holders:

1) Grab one of the two pieces and glue it down onto the edge of the grass border (as seen in picture one)

2) Using popsicle sticks, cut 3 pieces to the length of 4.5 inches

3) Next, cut two popsicle sticks to 1 inch

4) Using a hot glue gun, glue each piece together to create a rectangle with an open top (as seen in picture one)

5) Using a piece of scotch tape, create a base by placing the tape inside the rectangle, slightly elevated from the base

6) Once the tape is secure, paint it brown to represent dirt

7) Using clay, create different vegetables and herbs (10 total)

  • For reference, I did four carrots and a group of herbs on the top plant holder. For the bottom plant holder, I created 5 leaves to act as freshly sprouted crops.

8) Once your crops are molded, paint them their respective colors (I used orange and green), and then glue all of them on the plant holders (5 for each holder).

The front:

1) Next, Grab the other carboard piece that was previously cut and use an Exacto knife to create a hole in the middle(my dimensions read as 1.5x4.5)

2) Once the window is cut, glue together two 2-inch pieces of popsicle sticks and glue them onto the wall adjacent to the window hole. (I used a hot glue gun and placed glue all over the bottom to ensure that they don't fall apart)

  • Repeat these steps to create another table for the other side of the window

3) Then, grab a popsicle stick and glue it in the middle of the window hole as seen in picture two. (push the popsicle stick all the way to the left side leaving a tiny space for the next step).

4) Next, grab a popsicle stick and cut it to be 1.5 inches long. Glue the newly cut stick vertically in the leftover space of the open window as seen in picture 2.

The flower:

1)Now, grab some clay and create a small flower pot by molding a circular shape and then sticking a flat surface in the middle to create a hole for a flower.

2) As the pot dries, grab another piece of clay and create a flower by rolling out the clay to create a cylinder/stem, then create petals by flattening three small balls of clay. Now, roll a small ball of clay and connect the petals to it. Once the petals are connected, connect the stem to the bottom of the flower before grabbing another piece of clay and pressing it flat to create a leaf. Attach the leaf to the end of the stem. Lastly, grab the newly made flower and place it into the flower pot. (I use paper clay, this means that I need to use water to make the petals and leaves stick together)

3) Lastly, paint the pot a dark gray, the leaf and stem a green, the petals a light baby blue, and the middle a metallic blue.

Step 11: The Tables

1) Grab six popsicle sticks and glue them together to create a top for the outside table.

2) Next, grab two popsicle sticks and glue them together to act as a bench.

  • Repeat this step once more to create a bench for both sides of the table

3) Now, grab two popsicle sticks and cut the round edges off both of them.

4) Place the two popsicle sticks horizontally (have the skinny side touching the ground), grab a bench and glue it down onto the horizontally laid popsicle sticks. (Repeat this process for the other bench)

  • As seen in picture one, the benches should be glued right on the edge of the popsicle sticks.

5) Next, grab two popsicle sticks and cut them in half.

6) Using the popsicle halves, glue each stick diagonally onto the horizontal popsicle stick and adjacent to the bench.

(Picture one demonstrates this step in case the directions are not clear, this step is meant to act as the legs for the table)

7) Now that the base of the table is done grab the tabletop that was made in step one and glue it to the table's base.

(to do this easily apply glue to the four legs/diagonal popsicle sticks and place the tabletop in the middle)

8) Now that the table is complete, grab a piece of gray fabric and cut it to measure 3.5x3.5

9) Next, glue the piece of cloth flat onto the table diagonally.

  • I used a black sharpie and drew a horizontal line across the edge of the table on the fabric to create an extra design (this can be seen in pictures 2 and 3)

10) Now, grab a thin piece of cardboard and cut it out to the dimensions of 1x1.

11) Glue the cardboard piece in the middle of the table.

12) Grab some clay and create two small cylinders, let them dry before painting.

  • Paint the base of the cylinders a light blue, the top should be a dark grey. Using the same grey, paint an "s" on one of the cylinders and a "p" on the other to represent salt and pepper shakers.

13) Grabbing some more clay, create two cylinders with one thicker than the other. Place the smaller cylinder on top of the larger one and wait for it to dry before painting.

  • Paint the whole thing red with a light blue strip going horizontally in the middle of the container. On the blue strip, grab dark grey paint and draw a thin squiggly line to represent writing. This red bottle is supposed to act as a hot sauce.

14) Once all the condiments are dried completely, glue them onto the cardboard in the middle of the table.

  • leave space in one of the corners for the next step.

15) Grab another piece of thin cardboard and cut it to be 1 inch high and 0.5 inches long.

16) Create a spherical shape with the cardboard piece by gluing the vertical edges together.

17) Next, grab a sheet from a paper roll and cut off some to be the dimensions of 1x1.

18) Glue one side of the paper onto the cardboard.

19) Wrap the paper around the cardboard and glue the end strip down to make sure that it does not unravel

  • Only glue down half of the paper at the end, then grab the unglued part and fold it over before gluing it down as seen in picture 2.

20) finally, glue the paper towel roll onto the cardboard in the middle of the table.

21) Repeat steps 1-20 to make another table.

22) Glue down both of the tables at the edge farthest from the building.

  • leave space in the middle so that pedestrians can easily walk between the tables.

Step 12: Adding Details

1) First, paint the whole cardboard structure a light baby blue color.

The seats:

1) Now it's time to create some seats for the tables attached to the building. Grab some clay and create a cylinder, a flat circle, and a half-sphere (all of these shapes can be made by using your fingers and rolling and/or pressing down on the clay). Once the shapes are ready grab the half-sphere and place the cylinder on the top of the round side, then place the flattened circle/seat onto the cylinder in the middle. (make sure to smooth everything down with water so that the piece remains together)

  • The seat cushion should be painted a baby blue and the bottom should be a dark grey. Refer to picture two for the building and painting process.

The water tank and watering can:

1) Next, I found a cardboard box with a height of 3 inches, a length of 3 inches, and a width of 0.5 inches; I glued one of the longest sides to the edge of the cardboard wall to act as a water holder.

2) Grab some clay and mold a cylinder shape, on one end poke a hole at the edge to act as a water dispenser.

  • Once the piece has dried, paint it a dark grey before gluing it in the middle of the "water container" edge.

3) Using more clay, grab the end of a pencil and mold the clay around it up to 0.75 of an inch, once the clay dries remove it from the pencil to create a bucket shape. Then, create a cylinder and curve it to form a rainbow shape before attaching the curved clay to the bucket's inside (as seen in picture 3 the clay should be on either side of the "bucket"). Lastly, create a nozzle by making another cylinder and bending it halfway. Using one of the bent halves, press it down onto the base and smooth it out to create a smooth transition between base and nozzle. On the nozzle tip, place a few holes to act as an escape route for the water. Allow the clay to dry before painting the newly made watering can.

  • The watering can should be a bright yellow everywhere except for the base of the nozzle which is a dark grey as seen in picture 3.

The Menu:

1) Grab the other cardboard piece, which is the front of the shipping container, and glue a thin piece of cardboard on the far left side above the "table" with the measurement of 2x1.

2) Paint the cardboard sign black before grabbing white paint and writing out the menu items.

  • My menu reads as: Pork Egg Rolls; Shrimp Spring Rolls; Pho with: beef, chicken, pork, tofu

Step 13: Completing the Base of the Kitchen

The Sink:

1) Find or create a cardboard box with a height of 1.75 inches, a width of 1.5 inches, and a length of 2.5 inches.

2) Using an Exacto knife, cut a 1x1.5 inch rectangle from the top of the box. (put the piece aside for later use)

3) On the designated front side, make a square incision leaving one side uncut, look at image 1 for guidance (this side will allow the cardboard to remain on the base and act as a cabinet door)

4) Grab the rectangular cardboard piece from step 2 and open the newly made cabinet door, glue the rectangular piece inside the sink's base (slightly lowered from the top, reference pictures 1 and 3 for guidance)

5) Now, grab a piece of clay and roll it out into a cylinder shape. At the top of the cylinder, pinch down and slightly lower the "head" as seen in picture 1 to create a sink nozzle.

6) Repeat step number 5 with a smaller piece of clay to create a sink faucet lever.

7) Grab one more piece of clay and create a dome shape, by pinching the top of a circle, as seen in picture 1 (this will be used for the cabinet door)

8) Using hot glue, glue the sink nozzle and faucet lever on the top of the base and glue the handle made in the previous step on the cabinet door (reference picture 1 for placement)

9) Next, paint all of the clay objects a light gray color and the cardboard base a dark grey color.

10) Lastly, glue the sink next to the plant holders.

The chopping board:

1) Cut a thin cardboard piece to the dimensions of 1x2

2) Paint the cardboard piece brown, some layers lighter than others to create a wood grain effect, and let dry

3) Once the paint is dry, place the newly made cutting board either on top of the sink or behind it as seen in pictures 4 and 5

The portable water container:

1) Grab a spray bottle (such as a hand sanitizer one) that is 1 inch wide

2) Using an Exacto knife, cut the top off to be 3.5 inches long

3) Take off the sprayers cap, leaving only the white cord that can be seen in picture 2

  • before continuing, makes sure that the piece fits inside of the sink's cabinet (i tested this out in picture 1)

4) Take out your hot glue gun and create a bottom for the plastic container

5) Once the glue dries, paint it white (picture 2 can be used as a reference)

6) Scre off the lid and add water before screwing the lid back on

7) Place the portable water container into the sink cabinet and close the door (the white cord would connect to the sink nozzle which would allow the water to pour out of the sink in a real-world environment)

The cabinet and the stove:

1) Grab or makes a cardboard box with a height of 1.5 inches, a length of 3.25 inches, and a width of 1.5 inches

2) Paint the whole cardboard surface a light grey

3) On the far left side of the surface paint a dark grey square with the dimensions of 1.5x1.5 as seen in picture 3

4) Using a sharpie, draw small circles on the top of the grey square and 2 medium circles on the bottom (reference picture 4)

5) Glue the cabinet and stove combo piece on the left wall as seen in pictures 1,3,4, and 5

Step 14: Adding Details

The door:

1) Grab 4 popsicle sticks and cut them all to have the same length of 3 inches

2) Position the four popsicle sticks next to each other and glue them together with a hot glue gun

3) Next, grab and cut a toothpick to form two 0.5-inch pieces

4) Grab another toothpick and place hot glue on the ends of it

5) Before the glue dries, place the two 0.5-inch pieces from step 2 on the hot glue, perpendicular to the toothpick

6) Now, grab some clay and make three small cylinder shapes by rolling the clay between your fingers

7) Position the popsicle sticks that were glued together in front of the longest toothpick

8) Grab the three clay cylinders and wrap them around the toothpick

9) Once the clay is wrapped around the toothpick, connect the door to the clay by pushing down on the ends (reference picture 1)

10) Allow the clay to dry before gluing the smaller toothpick ends on the side of the "shipping container", in front of the door hole.

  • The door should be able to move back and forth along the toothpick

The dishes:

1) First, grab a ball of clay and push it down to create a falt circle with a diameter of 0.5 inches

  • repeat this step two more times

2) Grab another ball of clay and push the middle of it down while keeping the sides up to create a bowl shape as seen in picture 3

  • repeat this step two more times

3) Once the clay dries, grab a plate and glue a bowl onto the middle of the plate (repeat this step for the remaining bowls and plates)

4) Next, paint all the bowls and plates a dark blue color

5) Lastly, glue the bottom of each plate onto the counter space seen in pictures 2 and 3

The pot:

1) Grab a medium sized ball of clay and mold it around the end of a pencil to create a pot shape, the pot should have a height of 0.75 inches and a length of 0.5 inches

2) Once the clay dries, paint the pot the same dark blue color as the plates and bowls

3) When the paint dries, pour some hot glue in the middle of the pot to represent water as seen in picture 3

4) Lastly, Glue the bottom of the pot on one of the black circles previously made on the stove top, this will represent a pot of boiling water

Step 15: Outside Cover

The base:

1) Grab four popsicle sticks and a glue gun

2) glue the ends of 2/4 popsicles sticks together to create a straight line

3) At the each end of the newly created line, glue one popsicle stick perpendicular to it

  • Repeat this step for the other end of the line

4) Next, grab two popsicle sticks and glue them sticking out perpendicularly along the straight line in step 2 (a right angle should now be formed)

  • both ends of the straight line should have one popsicle stick sticking out (reference one side of step 1 for extra comprehension)

5) Cut two 1.5-inch pieces from a popsicle stick and glue them diagonally between the leg and the straight line made in step 4 (this will add extra support to the base)

6) Repeat steps 1-5 to create the other half of the base

7) Place each side onto it's legs and glue the popsicle sticks added in step 4 together

  • If you're looking for extra support, before gluing both side together, add a popsicle stick that would be placed vertically in the middle of the piece, it should act as another leg. (this can clearly be seen in picture 2)
  • If you add the extra leg, add two 1.5-inch pieces of popsicle sticks diagonally on either side of the extra leg just as it was done it step 5

8) Next, repeat step 2 and glue the new line going across the middle, as seen in picture 1

The roof:

Now that the base is done, we're going to add a slanted roof so that rain droplets can easily slide off

1) First, grab two popsicle sticks and crate an obtuse triangle that has a maximum height of 1-inch in the middle

2) Glue the ends of the triangle onto the far right side as seen in picture 1

  • Repeat this process in the middle and the far left corner

3) Create another straight line by gluing the ends of two popsicle sticks together

4) GLue the straight line across the tops of the triangles (reference picture 1 for help)

5) Lastly, cut 3 1-inch pieces of popsicle sticks and glue them on the two straight lines in the middle (picture 2 provides a clear reference)

Extra protection:

1) First, grab a cardboard box and cut two piece to have the dimensions of 5x8.5

2) apply glue alongside the base's top

3) Place one cardboard box on each side before the glue dries

The fabric cover:

1) Using a gray piece of fabric, cut a piece with the dimensions of 17x19

2) Using a hot glue gun, place glue along the borders of the base's top and place the fabric on top

3) Once the glue dries, make a straight cut in the fabric from the ground up, stopping at the top of each corner

4) Now that all of the incisions are made, roll up each side and tie each side together with a thin strip of leather

NOTE: I added hot glue dots on each corner, but this is not necessary (reference picture 3)

Step 16: Appliances

The solar panels:

1) Cut two thin pieces of cardboard to have the dimensions of 2.5x2.5

2) Using colored pencils, color both pieces a light blue

3) Add darker shades of blue to the cardboard pieces randomly as seen in picture 1

4) Next, Grab a white colored pencil and draw multiple horizontal and vertical lines

5) Add glue along the borders and apply aluminum foil along them

6) On the far left side of the shipping container, glue both of the solar panels on the roof of the shipping container with a 0.5-inch gap in between them

The vent:

1) Using an Exacto knife, cut out a circular shape with a diameter of 0.5 inches on the bottom right corner as seen in picture 1

2) Use the top of a spray bottle that has a diameter of 0.5inches and a height of 0.5 inches

3) Apply glue along the edges of the bottle before setting it over the hole

The fan:

1) Cut four ends from popsicle sticks that are each 1-inch long

2) Grab some clay and create a semi-circle with a diameter of 0.75 inches

3) Once the clay dries, paint the whole semi-circle a white or beige color

4) Apply hot glue to the bottom of the semi-circle

5) Before the glue dries place the 4 popsicle stick pieces in the middle as seen in picture 2

6) Grab another piece of clay and create a thin cylinder with a length of 0.75 inches

7) Smooth out one of the cylinder ends onto the semi-circle to create a smooth transition

8) Allow the clay to dry before painting it a dark grey color

The power source:

1) First, grab a piece of clay and create a square with the dimensions of 0.5x0.5 (this will be the inverter)

2) Grab another piece of clay and create two cylinders

3) Mold both of the cylinders together on one side (this will be the battery)

4) Grab one last piece of clay and create a circle with a diameter of 0.5 inches (this will be the meter)

5) Paint the inverter white with a dark grey line running across the middle, and a light blue line just under the grey one

6) Then get the battery and paint it white and add two grey circles on either cylinder (one cylinder should have a grey cylinder near the bottom and the other one should have one near the top)

7) Then, grab the meter and paint it white with a light grey line near the top, a light blue line in the middle, and three light blue dots under the blue line

8) Lastly, on the far left side of the shipping container glue the inverter, battery, and meter a little above the middle (reference picture 3 for guidance)

The UV light filtration system:

1) Grab a piece of clay and create a cylinder with a length of 0.5 inches

2) Create another cylinder slightly thicker than the previous one with a height of 1-inch

3) Add two small clay bowls to the top and bottom of the clay and smooth it out (reference picture 3)

4) Create another cylinder with a height of 1.5 inches

5) Grab the top of the cylinder and press it out to create a funnel shape (reference picture 3)

6) Glue the cylinder made in step 5 on top of the cylinder made in step 3

7) Glue the cylinder made in step 1 onto the bottom of the cylinder made in step 5

8) Lastly, put glue along the backside of the clay piece and stick it onto the water container vertically

The portable heater:

1) Grab or create a square out of cardboard with a height of 1.5 inches, a width of 1 inch, and a length of 1.5 inches

2) Using a colored pencil, color the whole box a light grey color

3) On the front side of the heater, outline a square with the dimensions of 1x1 with a darker grey colored pencil

4) Using a sharpie, add multiple dots in the newly drawn square

5) On the top of the heater, put a drop of hot glue on the bottom right corner and let it dry

6) once the glue is dry, paint it black

Step 17: Adding Lights

The Lights:

1) Grab some lights that can bend and stay with a place (also ensure that there is a battery)

2) Place the battery box in the middle of the two popsicle lines in the middle of the outside structure

3) Wrap the lights around the same lines, ensuring that they're tight enough to stay in place

Side note: for the lights inside the shipping container I used two fake tealight candles

Step 18: More Time, New Details

With more time added to this contest, I knew that I wanted to make the piece look more realistic and clean. After looking back at the previous picture I'm so happy that I added more details to the piece!

The color:

1) Repaint the whole shipping container the same blue color (the inside and the outside)

  • This will ensure that no brown from the cardboard is peeking out

2) Using a light blue colored pencil, draw lines along the outside of the shipping container

3) Color every other rectangle a bright blue

4) Over the bright blue add some darker hues with different blues

5) Now, grab a pencil and lightly shade the outside of the shipping container

6) Lastly, blend out all the colors to make the colors less harsh

  • this can be achieved either with your fingers or an eraser (I used both)

The power source:

1) Repaint the front of the inverter a dark grey color

2) on the bottom left side of the inverter paint a small white circle

3) In the middle of the white circle add a little blue squiggly line

4) On the top right corner of the inverter, paint a small blue line

5) Repaint the battery with a white paint

6) Repaint the circles in the same places but use a dark grey color instead of the previous light one

7) On the bottom circle draw a blue lightning bolt

8) On the top circle draw a blue line in the middle

9) Next, Repaint the meter white

10) Redo the same lines and circles that were previously there but make the colors more dominant instead of a lighter color

The UV light filtration system:

1) Repaint the whole piece a dark grey color

2) In the middle of the funnel, draw a white net to act as netting for catching items such as leaves, etc.

3) Add paper glue to the middle piece and place aluminum foil around it

  • Smooth out the edges and cut off excess pieces of aluminum for a clean finish

The portable heater:

1) Paint everything but the square in the front and the button on the top a light grey color

2) In the front square, use a gray colored pencil and shade over all the circles (make sure that the circles are still slightly visible)

3) Lastly, grab a sharpie and re-outline the square before making lines on the square that run diagonally both ways (reference picture 3)

The sink:

1) Repaint all of the cardboard parts of the sink a dark grey (making sure that no brown is peeking through)

2) Add some white to the grey paint just used and then paint all of the clay pieces with the lighter grey

The pot:

1) Grab a toothpick and warm up a hot glue gun

2) Once the hot glue gun is hot, press the trigger and quickly catch the glue with the toothpick

3) as the glue is pouring out of the nozzle, start to turn the toothpick to create very thin glue strings

4) when the glue dries grab a pile of the newly created string and place it in the middle of the pot on the stove (this will act as the noodles for the pho)

Step 19: Daytime

Wanting to symbolize a real-life environment, I decided to take pictures during the daytime and the night to show all the aspects of my physical model. Where I live, we experience a lot of exposure to the sun, and due to how harmful UV rays can be to the skin I was determined to design something that would provide a safe escape from the sun's rays while still being able to enjoy the fresh breeze outside. The canopy is able to roll down and up relatively easily and can be accomplished with either a ladder or a hook in real life. The sun also provides the shipping container with a lovely glow when paired with the light blue color. I wanted the shipping container's color to attract people which I why I used a light blue paint, I believe that the light blue meshes well with the sun and provides a cheerful/calming atmosphere. The wooden sliding door and a large window allow the sun to travel into the shipping container as well. So, the sun not only provides a beautiful look to the pop-up restaurant but also provides lighting and nutrients to the indoor garden. This shipping container was designed to rely on the natural environment and all that it has to offer. The sun provides lighting and happy moods, the rain provides water for the whole business and the plants, and the sunlight provides lighting for when the canopy is covered or when it's dark. All of these daytime elements help create a more sustainable environment through nature, while also reminding others of the benefits that come with using sustainable resources and power sources.





Step 20: Nighttime

Another important component of this design is whether the lights are efficient enough to light up the area. To prove that the pop-up could still function and continue business as the sun lowered I wanted to include pictures at night where no extra light besides the light from the structure would be present. While the sun's light will never be matched, the lights proved to have enough strength to power the whole eating area in a comfortable enough light to continue eating, and the lights inside the shipping container were also bright enough to allow a chef to work properly and safely.

Step 21: Final Thoughts and Repurposing

-This was an incredibly fun and informative project to take part in. I was able to learn more about CAD and the endless possibilities to make your visions a reality through TinkerCAD. My favorite part of this whole project was the physical model, being able to make a physical model of what you imagined and designed allows a new sense of accomplishment to form. And, the lengthening of the deadline gave me extra time to truly bring my model to what I wanted it to be. I was able to create a more realistic and detailed piece due to the extra time and I also did more research on the best fabrics to use that work towards a better environment. The actual building process for the outside cover also challenged me to build a structure out of popsicle sticks that were sturdy and supportive, especially when I added lights with a big battery pack.

-Now, while reusing a shipping container to create a pop-up pho restaurant is a fantastic way to repurpose it, there are still many possibilities. I wanted to create a structure that could be completely transformed with more additions. One less drastic change would be creating any kind of restaurant since all the basic amenities are there, or turning the area into a soup kitchen to help the people who truly need a boost. Another repurpose could be taking out the plant holders in the building and replacing the inside with a bed (the plants can be replanted outside or hung up on an empty side). Once the bed is added the ordering window can be closed off with an actual window and you have a minimal yet effective living space. While the new house would not have a bathroom, it would have working water that is cheap and attainable through natural forces. The house also has a working stove and kitchen which will allow the owner to cook instead of wasting money and eating out constantly. The great thing about shipping containers is that they are relatively cheap compared to modern houses, so another shipping container can be added to this structure which can have a bathroom and dining room, or an even cheaper option would be to just add an outhouse close to the home. Another way to repurpose this structure could be to turn it into a storm safety area. When there's basic rain and lightning/wind people can take shelter under the canopy with the fabric down and attached to the base. When a more severe storm people can put up hurricane shutters around the door and window to create a safe area with working water and power.


Thank you for considering my project for the "Make It Modular: Student Design Challenge"!