Alexander Porter
Interim Assemblies
This thesis investigates the historical and contemporary landscape of demountable architectural structures. Demountable case studies as well as temporary built projects from the 19th century to the present (such as early works by Jean Prouve, Albert Frey’s Aluminaire, all the way to Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample’s School No. 3 in Versailles, and UCLA’s Powell Library by Hodgetts + Fung) are studied carefully in two ways: 1. The methods and materials of assembly; 2. as representations of the montage and assembly.
The thesis came about while investigating the idea of impermanence in the built-environment and the exploration of the demountable as an interim system solution designed to utilize and give purpose to vacant sites.
Coupled with the analysis of cross-laminated timber (CLT), dry joinery assemblies, and insights from planar mass production, customization, and construction, the prefabricated flat-packed material has the ability to be deployed, assembled and disassembled on-site in various scenario arrangements that respond to temporary needs while challenging panel-to-panel connections, and the corner, with a mitered tongue and groove technique. Extending beyond the tectonics and construction practices, the thesis contributes to the evolving discourse on design for disassembly, aiming to recalibrate our understanding of temporary structures and the reuse of its kit-of-parts. The project addresses the built-environment’s larger issues of material excess, rising carbon emissions, and an urban issue of voids in a city like Los Angeles. In response, the aim is to propose a circular approach to architecture and maximize the use of vacant sites, which involves designing a building's kit-of-parts, a plan of assembly, and disassembly in lieu of future demolition.
The proposed demountable is situated in Frogtown, a former industrial neighborhood that is today, predominantly a small residential community in Los Angeles. The neighborhood is currently undergoing gentrification, an influx of residential and creative office developments, and rising property values. On a particular site that is slated for a future multi-family development, an interim demountable is assembled while the site remains vacant. The proposal employs the narrative of the thesis further with a program that is focused on supporting the existing community on local infrastructure improvements and is a resource to increase property values independent of a real estate market boom. The demountable features a market library of overstock building components and materials for reuse, an assembly workshop space, a tool lending shop, and offices for visiting architects, construction, and interior designers. It is a place of production, skill sharing, and a visible plan of assembly and collaboration with residents to achieve long-term neighborhood goals of value, building, and maintaining.
Ground Plan
Site Scenario Diagram
Model Photo