Archinect - News

IF_DO designed a modular office building that can be taken apart and reassembled elsewhere

2022-03-17T18:39:00-04:00

Humans have led nomadic lifestyles for thousands of years. We settle in one place, move to another–some of us never even settle at all. Our lives fluctuate, but save for the odd floating office or experimental walking house, our buildings remain anchored in place. Once they’re built, they only have two potential futures: demolish, or reuse. A new building in London, however, offers an interesting alternative: demount and move elsewhere.

The office building, designed by London-based architecture firm IF_DO, was made to be mobile, as it sits atop a “meanwhile space,” a location that hosts temporary buildings until the local council develops permanent plans for the space. This building will occupy the site in London's borough of Southwark for up to 11 years, after which it will be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere.

Photo: Mike Massaro, image courtesy IF_DO

The 3,000-square-foot structure consists of five timber and steel structural modules and contains 12 micro-units wrapped around a central shared space. The modules were prefabricated off-site and assembled on-site over five months. When the building is set to relocate, its steel connectors will be unbolted and the various timber elements will be unscrewed.

Image courtesy IF_DO

Learn more about the building here.

IF_DO's mirrored pavilion reflects on the Dulwich Picture Gallery

2017-05-31T14:10:00-04:00

IF_DO, a ‘young and restless’ practice based in Peckham, have completed their rectilinear, temporary pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery. For the practice, which was formed only a few years ago in 2014, this is a breakthrough project; exposing their work to a whole new audience.

Al Scott, Co-founding Director, IF_DO, said:

“The Dulwich Pavilion has provided a wonderful opportunity for us to create a unique public structure in an exceptional setting. We have benefitted hugely from the freedom given by our clients and support of the London Festival of Architecture. Working in close collaboration with creative engineers StructureMode and fabricators Weber Industries to realise the project has been a great experience, and vital to its success.”

This is the first pavilion to grace the gallery’s grounds and pays tribute the John Soane’s iconic building design on its 200th anniversary since doors were first opened. Not only does this structure compliment and literally mirror its context, it w...

IF_DO chosen to design Dulwich Picture Gallery's summer pavilion

2017-01-30T04:43:00-05:00

It will be a carefully proportioned rectilinear timber structure whose movable walls are translucent mirrored screens. The translucency allows for “Pepper’s ghost” illusions where ghostly objects appear, transform and fade away. A cantilevered mesh roof will hang down around the gallery creating dappled sunshine on good days or a gentle waterfall along the sides in summer showers. The mirrored movable screens are a reference to Soane’s own playful house: the Sir John Soane’s Museum in Holborn...

Architects react to shocking EU referendum result

2016-06-24T11:02:00-04:00

All the progress we have made will now be put on hold and the government’s attention will be diverted while we try and work out how to deal with Brexit. - Rob Naybour, Weston Williamson + Partners

Today marks a historic turning point for the UK and European Union - the UK has voted to quit the EU. What lays ahead no one is really sure; Cameron has already resigned this morning and discussions for a second Scottish referendum have begun.

The majority within the architecture industry have strongly and vocally supported the Remain campaign celebrating the integral role the EU has played in inspiring and funding creative projects, free movement and the benefits of an internal single market. Most importantly community; a community based on respect and support that derived from the desolate situation after World War Two that at its core believed in humanity.

The referendum has revealed some alarming results about the state of the UK, a very clearly divided country. However the decision has been made and we must now face up to these consequences, we must now address what kind of a nation we want to be.

We asked top architects for their reactions to the result and how they think it ...