This paper describes how old shipping containers can be modified and adapted into a new function such as building modules. Literature studies, study case (Day & Nite Eatery and Grocery, Bandung), as well as tracing back the shipping container through modification, storage, and inland depot were conducted to describe the life cycle of the container. Modern cities nowadays can flourish with the constant flow of goods from neighboring cities or even cities from across the world. Meanwhile, in the shipping industry, the demand for new containers is always high due to the changing regulations, economic trends, and the needs of the delivered goods. This situation leads to the pile-up of old containers at the port and the surrounding depots. Having an international standard that regulates size, material, durability, and strength of a container become both an opportunity and a challenge in designing container-based buildings. Situated 760 m above sea level, Bandung has a short dry season with an average annual temperature of 26.8 °C. While other studies showed that a shipping container's effectiveness in providing a comfortable indoor environment in the hot-humid tropics is not very convincing, the study case in this paper indicates that having a right local climate and landscape could provide comfortable indoor temperature without any additional insulation. The application of adaptive reuse presents an opportunity to reduce carbon footprint as well as waste in the landfill. Many potentials can be achieved by having the right climate, landscape conditions, proper planning, and a good understanding of the shipping container.