walkingboxes are sustainable food trucks made from shipping containers

berlin-based product designer, daniel lorch, is on a mission to make good food more accessible and more sustainable. inspired by an initial idea from his mother, lorch founded the ‘walkingboxes’ food truck company back in january 2020. making mobile kitchens out of shipping containers, the start-up is geared toward a new generation of gourmet chefs, and an industry that’s currently struggling in times of COVID-19.

images courtesy of daniel lorch

daniel lorch‘s mom was the driving force behind the concept; it was her idea to open a street food truck with friends in southern germany. while searching for a vehicle to use, lorch realized that the market for sales trailers and food trucks didn’t offer a suitable solution that met the demands of a new wave of gastronomes in terms of design, sustainability, and individuality. this is how walkingboxes was born. 

vehicle chassis with tandem axles, permitted total weight 2.6 t – for sizes M & L 3.0 t

shipping containers made of robust and durable steel provided the perfect basis for a food trailer design with an industrial look. since commercially available containers are very heavy, lorch implemented a lightweight construction method that saves up to 25% in weight by optimizing the use of materials. this means that smaller cars such as station wagons or minivans can also be used as towing vehicles for the food trailer and fuel consumption is significantly reduced.

individual design with different branding options

in contrast to the classic food truck made of composite materials that can’t be recycled, walkingboxes reflects the values of contemporary gastronomy that focuses on sustainability, creativity and quality. the walkingboxes food trailer is made using over 90% recyclable or biodegradable materials such as steel, wood and linoleum.

made to measure gastro kitchen 

with the help of the product configurator on the walkingboxes website, customers can choose from a variety of design options such as illuminated lettering, tarpaulin banners, metal signs, foil lettering and flags. with a self-developed modular fastening system, a wide variety of media can be easily attached and exchanged.

the kitchen units are made from 100% stainless steel

the stainless steel kitchen interior is designed in close cooperation with the product development team at walkingboxes. in addition to the high-quality equipment ‘made in italy’ and a functional arrangement of all kitchen modules, particular attention is paid to the fact that the interior fittings comply with the hygiene regulations of the health authorities in order to protect the wellbeing of chefs and street food fans. food-lovers can now check out the trailer prototype in berlin’s northern district of berlin-wedding, where a lively gastronomic scene has settled in recent years.

fryer

hydraulic gas struts allow the sales flap to be easily opened and closed

small table for customers

10-inch aluminum rims allow for a low loading height

foil lettering adds charm to the container

‘build your food business with a sustainable and affordable food trailer’

project info:

project name: walkingboxes
design: daniel lorch

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom