A Temporary Structure with Lasting Value

WoodStack, a project by the Office of Dillon Pranger (ODP), challenges the concept of permanence in architecture while questioning our perception of material value. This project blurs the boundaries between a stack of lumber, a material depot, and a structure, offering a new perspective. Ideally, once a building’s lifespan has ended, its materials would be sent back into proper recycling loops. However, in reality, many architectural materials are in complex forms, making them difficult to reuse due to significant transformations such as cuts, adhesives, and composite assemblies.

Photo credit: Office of Dillon Pranger (ODP)

WoodStack utilizes standard dimensional lumber, its exterior resembling massive stacks commonly seen in lumberyards. Just as lumberyards serve as temporary storage for materials, WoodStack is designed as a temporary architectural structure that can be easily disassembled and its materials reused in the future. This allows the project to serve as a model for sustainable material use in architecture.

The structure consists of two parallel stacks of lumber that create an internal space. Visitors are prompted to reflect on whether these stacks represent simple material storage or serve as part of the architectural assembly. The entire structure is lifted off the ground with concrete footings to protect the materials from moisture. Additionally, weather-resistant cladding is applied to protect both the occupants and the materials, ensuring durability for the structure's temporary existence.

At the top, WoodStack remains deliberately unfinished, symbolizing its constant state of flux, where materials can be added or removed as needed for other projects. This design emphasizes the project's temporary nature while promoting the idea of material circulation in future architectural applications.

About ODP

The Office of Dillon Pranger (ODP) is an architecture and design practice based in Chicago, Illinois. The firm focuses on client-based architectural commissions, primarily smaller-scale projects that respond to the local context and materials through a design-build approach. Founder Dillon Pranger is an architect, designer, and fabricator who specializes in sustainable building materials and techniques. He is also the co-editor of The Architecture Waste: Design for a Circular Economy, a publication that rethinks the traditional role of architects and encourages the discipline to address pressing material concerns within the design process.