DESIGNING FOR DISASSEMBLY: THE CHOICE OF TIMBER

The contemporary cultural and regulatory framework redefines the building as a temporary repository of materials rather than a static and permanent object. Within this perspective, architecture is conceived as a dynamic system of material and energy flows, in which components can be recovered, transformed, and reused over time. Design for Disassembly emerges as a key strategy to support such processes. Among construction materials, timber assumes a strategic role due to its renewable origin, its capacity for carbon storage, and its compatibility with prefabricated construction systems and dry assembly techniques. This paper defines a set of qualitative indicators for assessing disassembly potential, applied to the analysis of three recent Italian school buildings characterised by different approaches to the use of timber within their construction systems.