diff --git a/src/Orchard/Environment/DefaultOrchardHost.cs b/src/Orchard/Environment/DefaultOrchardHost.cs
index 2400fa3cc..7070a484e 100644
--- a/src/Orchard/Environment/DefaultOrchardHost.cs
+++ b/src/Orchard/Environment/DefaultOrchardHost.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Web.Mvc;
 using Autofac;
@@ -36,6 +37,14 @@ namespace Orchard.Environment {
         }
 
         void IOrchardHost.Initialize() {
+            ViewEngines.Engines.Insert(0, LayoutViewEngine.CreateShim());
+            _controllerBuilder.SetControllerFactory(new OrchardControllerFactory());
+            ServiceLocator.SetLocator(t => _containerProvider.RequestContainer.Resolve(t));
+
+            Initialize();
+        }
+
+        void IOrchardHost.Reinitialize() {
             Initialize();
         }
 
@@ -54,10 +63,6 @@ namespace Orchard.Environment {
             shell.Activate();
             _current = shell;
 
-            ViewEngines.Engines.Insert(0, LayoutViewEngine.CreateShim());
-            _controllerBuilder.SetControllerFactory(new OrchardControllerFactory());
-            ServiceLocator.SetLocator(t => _containerProvider.RequestContainer.Resolve(t));
-
             // Fire off one-time install events on an alternate container
             HackInstallSimulation();
 
@@ -123,7 +128,5 @@ namespace Orchard.Environment {
                 containerProvider.DisposeRequestContainer();
             }
         }
-
-
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Orchard/Environment/IOrchardHost.cs b/src/Orchard/Environment/IOrchardHost.cs
index ffb1706cf..0e0b62a3a 100644
--- a/src/Orchard/Environment/IOrchardHost.cs
+++ b/src/Orchard/Environment/IOrchardHost.cs
@@ -2,9 +2,25 @@ using Orchard.Environment.Configuration;
 
 namespace Orchard.Environment {
     public interface IOrchardHost {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Called once on startup to configure app domain, and load/apply existing shell configuration
+        /// </summary>
         void Initialize();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Called each time a request ends to deterministically commit and dispose outstanding activity
+        /// </summary>
         void EndRequest();
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Called when configuration changes requires the shell topology to be reloaded and applied
+        /// </summary>
+        void Reinitialize();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Can be used to build an temporary self-contained instance of a shell's configured code.
+        /// Services may be resolved from within this instance to configure and initialize it's storage.
+        /// </summary>
         IStandaloneEnvironment CreateStandaloneEnvironment(IShellSettings shellSettings);
     }
 }