Design for Reassembly: Facing the Demands of Housing by Imagining a Flexible Future

Abstract

The construction of new housing is expected to double over the next decade and the methods by which we currently design and build new homes continues to contribute to a culture of waste. The pressures that our economies face as more and more people move to cities will continue to be a problem and our built environment should be better equipped to handle growth in a sustainable way. Currently, 90% of waste from the construction industry comes from the demolition and renovation of buildings whereas the other 10% comes from new construction. Imagine if there was zero waste. Could we build the buildings of tomorrow out of the buildings we have today? We can increase the useful life of the buildings we design and ensure that the materials we use can be reused or ‘up-cycled’ in the future. With 'design for disassembly' as an integral part of how we think about and develop new housing, we can build homes that are more readily adaptable and use materials more effectively and purposefully, ultimately reducing waste, labor, and cost over the lifespan of the building. This thesis will focus on housing needs and growth in Seattle and looks to 'design for disassembly' as a guiding tool for developing housing that can adapt to meet changing demands of lifestyles, incomes and family sizes without the need for demolition or destructive renovation.