Modularity in Design for Disassembly (DfD): Exploring the Strategy for a Better Sustainable Architecture

Abstract

This paper explores the idea of modularity as one of the important design strategies that potentially creates a circular and more sustainable architecture. Modularity is a common design strategy used to generate form, create spatial efficiency, support mass production and prefabricated design, particularly in modern architecture. However, its contribution to sustainability is rarely discussed. This paper utilises Design for Disassembly (DfD) as a framework to investigate the potential of modularity in design, speculating that such design aspects can potentially minimize waste and improve efficiency in the systematic assembly and disassembly of building components. This paper employs two architectural projects designed with DfD approach as study cases, the Loblolly House and Cellophane House in the USA. The data are taken from works of literature and online secondary sources. The particular building components are mapped based on categories, such as building layers or joints and analysed based on its modular characteristics. The study reveals that the application of modules in particular building layers and separable joints with further use of the division-subdivision operation are significant design strategies found in each case. Such strategies provide better flexibility and interchangeability of building components during the assembly-disassembly process, proven by the calculation of construction waste. These findings arguably expand the discussion of modularity and encourage further study of modular design for a better sustainable architecture.