The Lower Engadine is characterized, in addition to its favorable geographic location, by its particularly well preserved and quality building culture. We approach seven locations both analytically and in direct experience, with the aim of recognizing existing qualities, but also sustainable, future-oriented potentials in order to create urgently needed living space and lively village centers.

Housing is our studio's topic. We begin with a three-day excursion to Turin. Based on selected examples, we study Turin's urban architecture. Collectively we develop both a typology and an architectural vocabulary through inspired drawings. In the second half of the semester, we design a piece of furniture. This architectural object is the ideal house.

Lecture "Construction III":The overall topic of the lecture series is “Construction – Elements of Architecture”. The lecture series gives the students an insight into different construction and design methods. The lectures are held by four different professorships in a block of 5 lectures in a row and showcasing their individual approach on design and architecture in general.

Do we live a house?Or do we house a life?How. Do. We. Live.Do we know HOW we live? Do we know enough aboutHOW we live? HOW do things around us shape the way welive? HOW do we live the things around us? WHAT are theconditions around us? WHAT makes our habits? HOW dohabits change conditions?

Do we live a house?Or do we house a life?How. Do. We. Live.Do we know HOW we live? Do we know enough aboutHOW we live? HOW do things around us shape the way welive? HOW do we live the things around us? WHAT are theconditions around us? WHAT makes our habits? HOW dohabits change conditions?

The time spent in the home office has led, among other things, to the accumulation of trillions of bytes. The question of storage arises almost automatically. Starting from historical architectures of storage in Switzerland (HS), we discuss social, political and ecological questions of contemporary globalised flows of goods and data (FS) and try answer through an architectural design.

Based on selected buildings we study the basic principles of a timeless, urban architecture. Fieldwork is an essential part of the design. The selection of building includes various periods and purposes. Out of real houses we develop independent, ideal architectures.

The ever-growing built fabric exerts high pressure on land reserves. Reframing existing structures will therefore be one of the major tasks of the architect in the future. Especially as many surprising innovations are rooted on the foundations of other structures or have occurred through a change of use, we want to engage in the topics of extension, alteration and refurbishment.

In the autumn semester, we will approach the phenomenon of space through fundamental experiences with regenerative materials and «Nordic Light» to design a cultural centre on Louis Kahn's home island of Saaremaa in Estonia.In the spring semester, we work on the redensification of an industrial wasteland in Brunnen (CH) and focus on the themes of structure and place

Bahnhofstrasse is the site of the most dramatic changes in Zurich. 19th century urbanisation saw it turn Zurich from a town on the river to a city on the lake.The end of shopping has been approaching slowly but surely since we became digital, until Covid dealt it a final blow. Manor is gone. The others will follow. But what will happen to Bahnhofstrasse?

Focusing on the theme of Shelter, the semester begins with a field trip to Rome, where we will visit and study selected historical examples. Through this analysis we will develop a typological understanding of architecture, addressing questions of space, structure and tectonics. The second half of the semester will be dedicated to the design of an ideal shelter located in the Roman countryside.

We design residential buildings in the urban context of the city of Zurich. From a selection of construction sites, you determine the best suited for your project and develop a specific form of living right down to the materialization in detail. Inspirational buildings, whose architectural elements and spatial situations are the inspiration for your living ideas, serve as the starting point.

We shall design an arena, a public building for performing and watching sport. With origins as landscape structures in ancient times, arenas are typically defined by ground; dug in, cut and sculpted earth and stone. Then they rose out of the ground as pure-structure never fully enclosed.

We now want to use the experience gained in the autumn semester through the revitalisation of the village centres in dealing with the rich Engadine building culture to take on the fallows that has arisen as a result of the structural changes away from the historic centres.New forms of use and further building carry larger structures, such as formerly magnificent hotel buildings, into the future.

Do we live a house?Or do we house a life?How. Do. We. Live. TOGETHER

HOW DO WE LIVEDo we live a houseOr do we house a life?How. Do. We. Live.

Do we live a houseOr do we house a life?How. Do. We. Live.Do we know HOW we live TOGETHER? Do we know enough HOW we live TOGETHER? HOW do things around us shape the way we live TOGETHER? HOW do we live with the things around us? WHAT are the conditions around us? WHAT makes our habits? HOW do habits change conditions? How do we live TOGETHER? This studio will be organized in 3 MOVEMENTS.

In the middle of the "Neue Hard" area in Zurich sits the office complex built in 1972, which first served the travel group KUONI as its main location and today provides workspace for the ZKB. Often renovated and extended in recent years, the large structure now calls for climate-friendly visions so that the building stock can meet future demands and become part of a livable urban neighborhood.

We are focusing on the disused cement factory in Brunnen. The centrality of the area and the numerous unused existing buildings offer the opportunity to integrate public uses and contemporary forms of housing into a condensed overall urban vision. Circular materials and hybrid construction principles will be used to extend the lifespan of the robust existing buildings.

Through the method of public drawing, students learn to observe, analyze, and evaluate a public space. Further, students conceptualize, plan and construct a furniture scale intervention to improve the usability and potential for interaction within the given public space. Research-based design, in the framework of architectural behaviorology is a guiding design principle of the course.