Design for disassembly – themes and principles

Environment
Published: 11 July 2024
Edited: 29 July 2024
by Philip Crowther and Mark Thomson

Issue 03 July 2024

Read time: 20 minutes

Abstract

The disassembly of buildings to recover materials and components for future reuse is not widely practiced in modern construction. This note covers a range of themes and offers a set of principles or guidelines on why, when, what and how to design for disassembly that can be applied to a project to facilitate and encourage greater rates of reuse, recycling and repurposing in the future.

Northshore Pavilion, Queensland
Cover image. Northshore Pavilion, Queensland, by Anna O'Gorman Architects (Image: Christopher Frederick Jones). The pavilion was designed as a temporary public structure that incorporates reclaimed wharf timber from a nearby site which has been reused and repurposed. The pavilion is designed for future relocation, facilitated by the structure's prefabricated components.

This note, originally published in August 2005, was reviewed in 2018 and updated by Mark Thomson and Philip Crowther in June 2024. Concepts of cradle to cradle, circular economy and technological advancements have been included since the original publication of the note.

Keywords: circular economy, cradle to cradle, design disassembly, life cycle assessment, recycle, reuse, waste management.

Page contents: