Multi_array view has not default constructor, so I'm stuck with the same problem. I guess in the end this is a matter of taste. multi_array seems to be designed so that objects are always valid at all time. I'm sure it has lots of advantages, still, for lightweight object such as a view or multi_array_ref, that might not be necessary. Ok, I think the only solution left is to use pointers to multi_array_ref, that should work. I'd be able to do something along that line (not tested): std::vector<int> memoryChunk0; std::vector<int> memoryChunk1; { std::vector<multi_array_ref*> v; v.push_back(new multi_array_ref( <ctor from memoryChunk0 > )); v.push_back(new multi_array_ref( <ctor from memoryChunk1 >)); myFunction(v); BOOST_FOREACH( multi_array_ref* ma, v) { delete ma; } }