As a ready-made self-supporting structure, transport container does not need any foundation and can be easily customized for personalized design. In a limited area, it can quickly deploy non permanent structures, highly adapt to specific purposes, and directly respond to customer requirements. For temporary or permanent structures, transport containers are still a popular choice of building materials.

Hughes hall at Cambridge University College owns a new reception building, a converted shipping container designed by the local studio neubau to serve as a gatekeeper in a student dormitory. Located between the pedestrian and vehicular access at the university entrance, next to a new landscaped garden, an area the size of three parking spaces is ideal for the standard width and length of containers.

Planning permission has been granted for the cottage to remain for five years. Neubauer designed the structure and used it as the gatehouse of Hughes hall, which can be used as a tourist reception area, a concierge office, a teacher-student mailbox room and a parcel storage area. There is a window on each side of the container to allow staff to control and guide the passing traffic. On one side is a pedestrian aisle and on the other side is a road for cars.

In addition to the design of transparent glass doors and windows on both sides of the box body, one end of the box room is also replaced by panoramic floor glass window, which brings sufficient natural light for the space, and it is very bright even if the light is not turned on during the day. The container structure is insulated and lined with birch plywood, while the floor is covered with Blue Vinyl in Hughes hall colors.

In the inner part of the mailbox, the container is divided into three areas: mailbox reception desk storage room to realize the transfer station function of the whole college. The reception area can be seen through the full height double glass window at the end of the container, just at the counter in the middle of the building. There is also a temporary rest area next to the mailbox with simple tables and chairs.

Among them, the teacher-student mailbox is the biggest highlight of the building. There are 476 white "dove eyes" for teachers and students to receive letters. This storage structure covers the entire wall of the container, each "dove eye" is long and narrow and open with a number, which is designed and manufactured by the architect.