diff --git a/libs/canvas/box.cc b/libs/canvas/box.cc
index eaf39f931e..50bac700a6 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/box.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/box.cc
@@ -19,54 +19,55 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 
+#include "pbd/unwind.h"
+
 #include "canvas/box.h"
 #include "canvas/rectangle.h"
 
 using namespace ArdourCanvas;
 
 Box::Box (Canvas* canvas, Orientation o)
-	: Item (canvas)
+	: Rectangle (canvas)
 	, orientation (o)
 	, spacing (0)
 	, top_padding (0), right_padding (0), bottom_padding (0), left_padding (0)
 	, top_margin (0), right_margin (0), bottom_margin (0), left_margin (0)
 	, homogenous (false)
+	, ignore_child_changes (false)
 {
-	self = new Rectangle (this);
-	self->set_outline (false);
-	self->set_fill (false);
 }
 
 Box::Box (Item* parent, Orientation o)
-	: Item (parent)
+	: Rectangle (parent)
 	, orientation (o)
 	, spacing (0)
 	, top_padding (0), right_padding (0), bottom_padding (0), left_padding (0)
 	, top_margin (0), right_margin (0), bottom_margin (0), left_margin (0)
 	, homogenous (false)
+	, ignore_child_changes (false)
 {
-	self = new Rectangle (this);
-	self->set_outline (false);
-	self->set_fill (false);
 }
 
 
 Box::Box (Item* parent, Duple const & p, Orientation o)
-	: Item (parent, p)
+	: Rectangle (parent)
 	, orientation (o)
 	, spacing (0)
 	, top_padding (0), right_padding (0), bottom_padding (0), left_padding (0)
 	, top_margin (0), right_margin (0), bottom_margin (0), left_margin (0)
 	, homogenous (false)
+	, ignore_child_changes (false)
 {
-	self = new Rectangle (this);
-	self->set_outline (false);
-	self->set_fill (false);
+	set_position (p);
 }
 
 void
 Box::render (Rect const & area, Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context> context) const
 {
+	if (_fill || _outline) {
+		Rectangle::render (area, context);
+	}
+
 	Item::render_children (area, context);
 }
 
@@ -85,10 +86,14 @@ Box::compute_bounding_box () const
 	if (_bounding_box) {
 		Rect r = _bounding_box;
 
-		_bounding_box = r.expand (top_padding + outline_width() + top_margin,
+		/* left and top margin and padding is already built into the
+		 * position of children
+		 */
+
+		_bounding_box = r.expand (0.0,
 		                          right_padding + outline_width() + right_margin,
 		                          bottom_padding + outline_width() + bottom_margin,
-		                          left_padding + outline_width() + left_margin);
+		                          0.0);
 	}
 
 	_bounding_box_dirty = false;
@@ -140,36 +145,17 @@ Box::set_margin (double t, double r, double b, double l)
 	left_margin = last;
 }
 
-void
-Box::reset_self ()
-{
-	if (_bounding_box_dirty) {
-		compute_bounding_box ();
-	}
-
-	if (!_bounding_box) {
-		self->hide ();
-		return;
-	}
-
-	Rect r (_bounding_box);
-
-	/* XXX need to shrink by margin */
-
-	self->set (r);
-}
-
 void
 Box::reposition_children ()
 {
-	Duple previous_edge (0, 0);
+	Duple previous_edge = Duple (left_margin+left_padding, top_margin+top_padding);
 	Distance largest_width = 0;
 	Distance largest_height = 0;
 	Rect uniform_size;
 
 	if (homogenous) {
 
-		for (std::list<Item*>::iterator i = _items.begin(); ++i != _items.end(); ++i) {
+		for (std::list<Item*>::iterator i = _items.begin(); i != _items.end(); ++i) {
 			Rect bb = (*i)->bounding_box();
 			if (bb) {
 				largest_height = std::max (largest_height, bb.height());
@@ -180,88 +166,99 @@ Box::reposition_children ()
 		uniform_size = Rect (0, 0, largest_width, largest_height);
 	}
 
-	for (std::list<Item*>::iterator i = _items.begin(); ++i != _items.end(); ++i) {
+	{
 
-		(*i)->set_position (previous_edge);
+		PBD::Unwinder<bool> uw (ignore_child_changes, true);
 
-		if (homogenous) {
-			(*i)->size_allocate (uniform_size);
-		}
+		for (std::list<Item*>::iterator i = _items.begin(); i != _items.end(); ++i) {
 
-		if (orientation == Vertical) {
+			(*i)->set_position (previous_edge);
 
-			Distance shift = 0;
-
-			Rect bb = (*i)->bounding_box();
-
-			if (!(*i)->visible()) {
-				/* invisible child */
-				if (!collapse_on_hide) {
-					/* still add in its size */
-					if (bb) {
-						shift += bb.height();
-						}
-				}
-			} else {
-				if (bb) {
-					shift += bb.height();
-				}
+			if (homogenous) {
+				(*i)->size_allocate (uniform_size);
 			}
 
-			previous_edge = previous_edge.translate (Duple (0, spacing + shift));
+			double width;
+			double height;
 
-		} else {
+			(*i)->size_request (width, height);
 
-			Distance shift = 0;
-			Rect bb = (*i)->bounding_box();
+			if (orientation == Vertical) {
 
-			if (!(*i)->visible()) {
-				if (!collapse_on_hide) {
-					if (bb) {
-						shift += bb.width();
+				Distance shift = 0;
+
+				if (!(*i)->visible()) {
+					/* invisible child */
+					if (!collapse_on_hide) {
+						/* still add in its size */
+						shift += height;
 					}
+				} else {
+					shift += height;
 				}
-			} else {
-				if (bb) {
-					shift += bb.width();
-				}
-			}
 
-			previous_edge = previous_edge.translate (Duple (spacing + shift, 0));
+				previous_edge = previous_edge.translate (Duple (0, spacing + shift));
+
+			} else {
+
+				Distance shift = 0;
+
+				if (!(*i)->visible()) {
+					if (!collapse_on_hide) {
+						shift += width;
+					}
+				} else {
+					shift += width;
+				}
+
+				previous_edge = previous_edge.translate (Duple (spacing + shift, 0));
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	_bounding_box_dirty = true;
-	reset_self ();
-}
-
-void
-Box::pack_end (Item* i, double extra_padding)
-{
-	if (!i) {
-		return;
-	}
-
-	/* prepend new child */
-	Item::add_front (i);
-	reposition_children ();
-}
-void
-Box::pack_start (Item* i, double extra_padding)
-{
-	if (!i) {
-		return;
-	}
-
-	/* append new child */
-	Item::add (i);
-	reposition_children ();
 }
 
 void
 Box::add (Item* i)
 {
-	pack_start (i);
+	if (!i) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	Item::add (i);
+	queue_resize ();
+}
+
+void
+Box::add_front (Item* i)
+{
+	if (!i) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	Item::add_front (i);
+	queue_resize ();
+}
+
+void
+Box::layout ()
+{
+	bool yes_do_it = _resize_queued;
+
+	Item::layout ();
+
+	if (yes_do_it) {
+		reposition_children ();
+		compute_bounding_box ();
+
+		const double w = std::max (requested_width, _bounding_box.width());
+		const double h = std::max (requested_height, _bounding_box.height());
+
+		set (Rect (get().x0, get().y0, get().x0 + w, get().y0 + h));
+
+		std::cerr << name << " box layed out, reset to " << get() << std::endl;
+	}
 }
 
 void
@@ -269,7 +266,12 @@ Box::child_changed (bool bbox_changed)
 {
 	/* catch visibility and size changes */
 
+	if (ignore_child_changes) {
+		return;
+	}
+
 	Item::child_changed (bbox_changed);
+
 	reposition_children ();
 }
 
diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas.cc b/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
index 60ed54809f..7a92260b31 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas.cc
@@ -454,6 +454,7 @@ GtkCanvas::GtkCanvas ()
 	, current_tooltip_item (0)
 	, tooltip_window (0)
 	, _in_dtor (false)
+	, resize_queued (false)
 	, _nsglview (0)
 {
 #ifdef USE_CAIRO_IMAGE_SURFACE /* usually Windows builds */
@@ -1457,6 +1458,23 @@ GtkCanvas::get_pango_context ()
 	return Glib::wrap (gdk_pango_context_get());
 }
 
+void
+GtkCanvas::queue_resize ()
+{
+	if (!resize_queued) {
+		Glib::signal_idle().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &GtkCanvas::resize_handler));
+		resize_queued = true;
+	}
+}
+
+bool
+GtkCanvas::resize_handler ()
+{
+	resize_queued = false;
+	_root.layout ();
+	return false;
+}
+
 /** Create a GtkCanvaSViewport.
  *  @param hadj Adjustment to use for horizontal scrolling.
  *  @param vadj Adjustment to use for vertica scrolling.
diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h
index fb2f01c3ec..2e1ca25002 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/box.h
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ public:
 	void set_border_color (Gtkmm2ext::Color c)  { set_outline_color (c); }
 
 	void add (Item*);
-	void pack_start (Item*, double extra_padding = 0);
-	void pack_end (Item*, double extra_padding = 0);
+	void add_front (Item*);
+	void layout ();
 
 	void set_collapse_on_hide (bool);
 	void set_homogenous (bool);
diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
index 90b6db4192..5a5cdddd85 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/canvas.h
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ public:
 	virtual void grab (Item *) = 0;
 	/** called to ask the canvas' host to `ungrab' any grabbed item */
 	virtual void ungrab () = 0;
+	/** called to ask for a resize/relayout of all or part of the canvas */
+	virtual void queue_resize () = 0;
 
 	/** called to ask the canvas' host to keyboard focus on an item */
 	virtual void focus (Item *) = 0;
@@ -187,6 +189,7 @@ protected:
 	static uint32_t tooltip_timeout_msecs;
 
 	void queue_draw_item_area (Item *, Rect);
+
 	virtual void pick_current_item (int state) = 0;
 	virtual void pick_current_item (Duple const &, int state) = 0;
 
@@ -227,6 +230,7 @@ public:
 
 	void queue_draw ();
 	void queue_draw_area (int x, int y, int width, int height);
+	void queue_resize ();
 
 	Glib::RefPtr<Pango::Context> get_pango_context();
 
@@ -288,8 +292,10 @@ private:
 	bool show_tooltip ();
 	void hide_tooltip ();
 	bool really_start_tooltip_timeout ();
+	bool resize_handler ();
 
 	bool _in_dtor;
+	bool resize_queued;
 
 	void* _nsglview;
 	Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Surface> _canvas_image;
diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
index b32f052204..7d3f957350 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
@@ -272,7 +272,20 @@ public:
 	virtual void dump (std::ostream&) const;
 	std::string whatami() const;
 
-protected:
+        bool resize_queued() const { return _resize_queued; }
+        void queue_resize();
+
+        /* only derived containers need to implement this, but this
+           is where they compute the sizes and position and their
+           children. A fixed-layout container (i.e. one where every child
+           has just had its position fixed via ::set_position()) does not
+           need to do anything here. Only box/table/grid style containers,
+           where the position of one child depends on the position and size of
+           other children, need to provide an implementation.
+        */
+        virtual void layout();
+
+  protected:
 	friend class Fill;
 	friend class Outline;
 
@@ -335,6 +348,10 @@ protected:
   public:
 	Duple position_offset() const;
 
+	bool _resize_queued;
+	double requested_width;
+	double requested_height;
+
 private:
 	void init ();
 
diff --git a/libs/canvas/item.cc b/libs/canvas/item.cc
index e72b38d0bd..c444953960 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/item.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/item.cc
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ Item::Item (Canvas* canvas)
 	, _intrinsic_width (-1.)
 	, _intrinsic_height(-1.)
 	, _lut (0)
+	, _resize_queued (false)
+	, requested_width (-1)
+	, requested_height (-1)
 	, _ignore_events (false)
 {
 	DEBUG_TRACE (DEBUG::CanvasItems, string_compose ("new canvas item %1\n", this));
@@ -63,6 +66,9 @@ Item::Item (Item* parent)
 	, _intrinsic_width (-1.)
 	, _intrinsic_height(-1.)
 	, _lut (0)
+	, _resize_queued (false)
+	, requested_width (-1)
+	, requested_height (-1)
 	, _ignore_events (false)
 {
 	DEBUG_TRACE (DEBUG::CanvasItems, string_compose ("new canvas item %1\n", this));
@@ -86,6 +92,7 @@ Item::Item (Item* parent, Duple const& p)
 	, _intrinsic_width (-1.)
 	, _intrinsic_height(-1.)
 	, _lut (0)
+	, _resize_queued (false)
 	, _ignore_events (false)
 {
 	DEBUG_TRACE (DEBUG::CanvasItems, string_compose ("new canvas item %1\n", this));
@@ -292,6 +299,18 @@ Item::set_position (Duple p)
 	}
 }
 
+void
+Item::layout()
+{
+	for (list<Item*>::iterator i = _items.begin(); i != _items.end(); ++i) {
+		if ((*i)->resize_queued()) {
+			(*i)->layout ();
+		}
+	}
+
+	_resize_queued = false;
+}
+
 void
 Item::set_x_position (Coord x)
 {
@@ -590,6 +609,28 @@ Item::size_allocate (Rect const & r)
 	}
 }
 
+void
+Item::size_request (double& w, double& h) const
+{
+	Rect r (bounding_box());
+
+	w = std::max (requested_width, r.width());
+	h = std::max (requested_height, r.height());
+}
+
+void
+Item::set_size_request (double w, double h)
+{
+	/* allow reset to zero or require that both are positive */
+
+	begin_change ();
+	requested_width = w;
+	requested_height = h;
+	_bounding_box_dirty = true;
+	end_change ();
+}
+
+
 /** @return Bounding box in this item's coordinates */
 ArdourCanvas::Rect
 Item::bounding_box () const
@@ -916,6 +957,20 @@ Rect self;
 	}
 }
 
+void
+Item::queue_resize()
+{
+	_resize_queued = true;
+
+	if (_parent) {
+		_parent->queue_resize ();
+	}
+
+	if (this == _canvas->root()) {
+		_canvas->queue_resize ();
+	}
+}
+
 void
 Item::add (Item* i)
 {