Rethinking temporary architecture pavilions through the lens of circularity and embodied greenhouse gas emissions: an as-built demonstrator

The built environment is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, with temporary architectural structures often embodying unsustainable material and construction practices.This paper presents a case study of Negative / Positive, a temporary pavilion project designed and constructed by Monash University's Design Make program in collaboration with the creative practice These Are The Projects We Do Together.The project explores circular design principles through the extensive use of salvaged materials from previous Melbourne temporary pavilion installations.Adopting an action research methodology combined with quantitative embodied greenhouse gas emissions assessment, the study documents the design, construction, and environmental evaluation of the pavilion.Inverting traditional workflows, the project started from available reclaimed materials-informing the form, size and expression of the design and the eventual method of construction that prioritises ease of disassembly and future reuse.The results demonstrate that the project achieved a significant reduction in virgin material mass (-96.5%) and embodied greenhouse gas emissions (-76.5%)compared to a business-as-usual scenario using entirely new materials.This paper contributes to emerging discourse on circular construction by offering evidence-based insights into the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of reusing materials in temporary structures.It advocates for procurement policies that mandate reuse and design-for-disassembly, and positions temporary pavilions as opportunities to embed circular design principles in architectural practice.