diff --git a/os/include/util/volatile_object.h b/os/include/util/volatile_object.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f80ae84a5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/os/include/util/volatile_object.h
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+/*
+ * \brief  Utility for manual in-place construction of objects
+ * \author Norman Feske
+ * \date   2014-01-10
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 Genode Labs GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is part of the Genode OS framework, which is distributed
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2.
+ */
+
+#ifndef _INCLUDE__UTIL__VOLATILE_OBJECT_H_
+#define _INCLUDE__UTIL__VOLATILE_OBJECT_H_
+
+#include <base/printf.h>
+#include <base/stdint.h>
+
+namespace Genode {
+	template<typename> class Volatile_object;
+	template<typename> class Lazy_volatile_object;
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * Place holder for an object to be repeatedly constructed and destructed
+ *
+ * This class template acts as a smart pointer that refers to an object
+ * contained within the smart pointer itself. The contained object may be
+ * repeatedly constructed and destructed while staying in the same place. This
+ * is useful for replacing aggregated members during the lifetime of a compound
+ * object.
+ *
+ * \param  MT type
+ */
+template <typename MT>
+class Genode::Volatile_object
+{
+	private:
+
+		/**
+		 * Utility to equip an existing type 'T' with a placement new operator
+		 */
+		template <typename T>
+		struct Placeable : T
+		{
+			template <typename... ARGS>
+			Placeable(ARGS &&... args)
+			:
+				T(args...)
+			{ }
+
+			void *operator new (size_t, void *ptr) { return ptr; }
+		};
+
+		/**
+		 * Static reservation of memory for the embedded object
+		 */
+		char _space[sizeof(MT)];
+
+		/**
+		 * True if the volatile object contains a constructed object
+		 */
+		bool _constructed = false;
+
+		template <typename... ARGS> void _do_construct(ARGS &&... args)
+		{
+			new (_space) Placeable<MT>(args...);
+			_constructed = true;
+		}
+
+		MT       *_ptr()             { return reinterpret_cast<MT       *>(_space); }
+		MT const *_const_ptr() const { return reinterpret_cast<MT const *>(_space); }
+
+		void _check_constructed() const
+		{
+			if (!_constructed)
+				throw Deref_unconstructed_object();
+		}
+
+	protected:
+
+		/**
+		 * Dummy type used as a hook for 'Lazy_volatile_object' to bypass the
+		 * default constructor by invoking the 'Volatile_object(Lazy *)'
+		 * constructor.
+		 */
+		struct Lazy { };
+
+		/**
+		 * Constructor that omits the initial construction of the object
+		 */
+		Volatile_object(Lazy *) { }
+
+	public:
+
+		class Deref_unconstructed_object { };
+
+		/**
+		 * Constructor
+		 *
+		 * The arguments are forwarded to the constructor of the embedded
+		 * object.
+		 */
+		template <typename... ARGS>
+		Volatile_object(ARGS &&... args)
+		{
+			_do_construct(args...);
+		}
+
+		~Volatile_object() { destruct(); }
+
+		/**
+		 * Construct new object in place
+		 *
+		 * If the 'Volatile_object' already hosts a constructed object, the old
+		 * object will be destructed first.
+		 */
+		template <typename... ARGS>
+		void construct(ARGS &&... args)
+		{
+			destruct();
+			_do_construct(args...);
+		}
+
+		/**
+		 * Destruct object
+		 */
+		void destruct()
+		{
+			if (!_constructed)
+				return;
+
+			/* invoke destructor */
+			_ptr()->~MT();
+
+			_constructed = false;
+		}
+
+		/**
+		 * Return true of volatile object contains a constructed object
+		 */
+		bool is_constructed() const { return _constructed; }
+
+		/**
+		 * Access contained object
+		 */
+		MT       *operator -> ()       { _check_constructed(); return       _ptr(); }
+		MT const *operator -> () const { _check_constructed(); return _const_ptr(); }
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * Volatile object that holds no initially constructed object
+ */
+template <typename MT>
+struct Genode::Lazy_volatile_object : Volatile_object<MT>
+{
+	template <typename... ARGS>
+	Lazy_volatile_object(ARGS... args)
+	:
+		Volatile_object<MT>((typename Volatile_object<MT>::Lazy *)0)
+	{ }
+};
+
+#endif /* _INCLUDE__UTIL__VOLATILE_OBJECT_H_ */
diff --git a/os/run/volatile_object.run b/os/run/volatile_object.run
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8bec6c38c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/os/run/volatile_object.run
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+build "core init test/volatile_object"
+
+create_boot_directory
+
+install_config {
+	<config>
+		<parent-provides>
+			<service name="ROM"/>
+			<service name="RAM"/>
+			<service name="CPU"/>
+			<service name="RM"/>
+			<service name="CAP"/>
+			<service name="PD"/>
+			<service name="SIGNAL"/>
+			<service name="LOG"/>
+		</parent-provides>
+		<default-route>
+			<any-service> <parent/> <any-child/> </any-service>
+		</default-route>
+		<start name="test-volatile_object">
+			<resource name="RAM" quantum="1M"/>
+		</start>
+	</config>
+}
+
+build_boot_image "core init test-volatile_object"
+
+append qemu_args "-nographic -m 64"
+
+run_genode_until {child exited with exit value 0.*\n} 10
+
+grep_output {-> test-volatile_object}
+
+compare_output_to {
+[init -> test-volatile_object] --- test-volatile_object started ---
+[init -> test-volatile_object] construct Object 1
+[init -> test-volatile_object] construct Object 2
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- create Compound object --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] construct Member_with_reference
+[init -> test-volatile_object] construct Compound
+[init -> test-volatile_object] compound.member.is_constructed returns 1
+[init -> test-volatile_object] compound.lazy_member.is_constructed returns 0
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- construct lazy member --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] construct Member_with_reference
+[init -> test-volatile_object] compound.lazy_member.is_constructed returns 1
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- call method on member (with reference to Object 1) --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] const method called on Object 1
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- reconstruct member with Object 2 as reference --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] destruct Member_with_reference
+[init -> test-volatile_object] construct Member_with_reference
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- call method on member --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] const method called on Object 2
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- destruct member --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] destruct Member_with_reference
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- try to call method on member, catch exception --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] got exception, as expected
+[init -> test-volatile_object] -- destruct Compound and Objects 1 and 2 --
+[init -> test-volatile_object] destruct Compound
+[init -> test-volatile_object] destruct Member_with_reference
+[init -> test-volatile_object] destruct Object 2
+[init -> test-volatile_object] destruct Object 1
+[init -> test-volatile_object] --- test-volatile_object finished ---
+}
+
diff --git a/os/src/test/volatile_object/main.cc b/os/src/test/volatile_object/main.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..72a7119398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/os/src/test/volatile_object/main.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+/*
+ * \brief  Test for 'Volatile_object'
+ * \author Norman Feske
+ * \date   2013-01-10
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 Genode Labs GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is part of the Genode OS framework, which is distributed
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2.
+ */
+
+/* Genode includes */
+#include <util/volatile_object.h>
+#include <base/printf.h>
+
+using Genode::Volatile_object;
+using Genode::Lazy_volatile_object;
+
+
+struct Object
+{
+	unsigned const id;
+
+	Object(unsigned id) : id(id)
+	{
+		PLOG("construct Object %d", id);
+	}
+
+	~Object()
+	{
+		PLOG("destruct Object %d", id);
+	}
+
+	void method()             { PLOG("method called on Object %d", id); }
+	void const_method() const { PLOG("const method called on Object %d", id); }
+};
+
+
+struct Member_with_reference
+{
+	Object &reference;
+
+	const int c = 13;
+
+	Member_with_reference(Object &reference) : reference(reference)
+	{
+		PLOG("construct Member_with_reference");
+	}
+
+	~Member_with_reference()
+	{
+		PLOG("destruct Member_with_reference");
+	}
+};
+
+
+struct Compound
+{
+	Volatile_object<Member_with_reference>      member;
+	Lazy_volatile_object<Member_with_reference> lazy_member;
+
+	Compound(Object &object)
+	:
+		member(object)
+	{
+		PLOG("construct Compound");
+	}
+
+	~Compound()
+	{
+		PLOG("destruct Compound");
+	}
+};
+
+
+static void call_const_method(Compound const &compound)
+{
+	compound.member->reference.const_method();
+}
+
+
+int main(int, char **)
+{
+	using namespace Genode;
+
+	printf("--- test-volatile_object started ---\n");
+
+	{
+		Object object_1(1);
+		Object object_2(2);
+
+		printf("-- create Compound object --\n");
+		Compound compound(object_1);
+
+		PLOG("compound.member.is_constructed returns %d",
+		     compound.member.is_constructed());
+		PLOG("compound.lazy_member.is_constructed returns %d",
+		     compound.lazy_member.is_constructed());
+
+		printf("-- construct lazy member --\n");
+		compound.lazy_member.construct(object_2);
+		PLOG("compound.lazy_member.is_constructed returns %d",
+		     compound.lazy_member.is_constructed());
+
+		printf("-- call method on member (with reference to Object 1) --\n");
+		call_const_method(compound);
+
+		printf("-- reconstruct member with Object 2 as reference --\n");
+		compound.member.construct(object_2);
+
+		printf("-- call method on member --\n");
+		call_const_method(compound);
+
+		printf("-- destruct member --\n");
+		compound.member.destruct();
+
+		printf("-- try to call method on member, catch exception --\n");
+		try {
+			call_const_method(compound); }
+		catch (typename Volatile_object<Member_with_reference>::Deref_unconstructed_object) {
+			PLOG("got exception, as expected"); }
+
+		printf("-- destruct Compound and Objects 1 and 2 --\n");
+	}
+
+	printf("--- test-volatile_object finished ---\n");
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/os/src/test/volatile_object/target.mk b/os/src/test/volatile_object/target.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..18d4861ef9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/os/src/test/volatile_object/target.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+TARGET = test-volatile_object
+SRC_CC = main.cc
+LIBS   = base