This is a pop-up restaurant which is live in the Old Port of Montreal as we speak! Pretty dope concept + Its green with solar panels.

Reusing shipping containers: Ecologically Sound Meets Funky Town in the MuvBox

If you are strolling down around the Old Port this spring and summer, be sure to make a detour toward the Quai des éclusiers near McGill and de la Commune St. to check out the first prototype of a new restaurant concept called the MuvBox.

The idea of reusing shipping containers — those long, narrow boxes used to ship bulky items by sea — is not new. Shipping container homes have been pet projects for creative architects around the globe for about a decade, and reusing these big, sturdy, airtight containers instead of landfilling them is obviously a great boon for the environment.

But Montrealer Daniel Noiseux (owner of the Pizzaiolle chain of restaurants) has come up with an ingenious design for a ready-made diner that can be transformed from what looks like a shipping container into a fully functional bistro with counters and tables, within minutes. See the video above. Pretty slick.

Noiseux and his team of engineers and designers hope to market the concept to entrepreneurs looking for a low cost way to start a business, with the option of changing locations whenever the mood strikes.

“More and more entrepreneurs are seeking affordable, turnkey concepts that reflect their lifestyle while minimizing the financial risk that can often be associated with new ventures, ” explained Mr. Noiseux in his press release. “The MuvBox meets their criteria: minimum staff, minimum cost, and the advantage of not being attached to a fixed location.”

Noiseux has used eco-friendly materials for his prototype MuvBox, including two solar panels so that almost half of the energy required to run the bistro comes from the sun. The floor is made from recycled tires. He plans on adding more environmental features in the future.

The MuvBox menu this summer will feature specialties from various regions of Quebec, including Iles de la Madeleine lobster and Brome Lake duck.

For more on the MuvBox, click here.