In today’s London, permanence has become less of a material reality and more often than not a legal fiction. Contemporary architectural practice is increasingly influenced by short-term land leases, resulting in the advent of transient civic infrastructure. Working with Feilden Fowles architects, this project follows the story of Waterloo City Farm, which has been dismantled, transported, and will soon be reassembled at a new site in Tulse Hill, to critically interrogate the sanitised and idealised narratives around circular economy and disassembly. The research argues that, although design for disassembly is frequently depicted as a flawless, technologically advanced cycle of material flows, the actual process in practice includes considerable friction, mud, warped timber, complex joints, and a substantial amount of coordination. But perhaps most importantly, the success of the project is entirely dependent on the relationships which have been built through its occupation, maintenance, and ultimately, displacement.

Host Practice | Fielden Fowles