Methods of Urban Research

Abstract

The Chair of Sociology presents a review of two decades of social and urban research at the Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich. This lecture series will host researchers who will present the methods, experiences, and findings from some of the important urban research projects undertaken at the Department over the last two decades.

Objective

The lecture series, Methods of Urban Research presents the methodology of sociological analysis developed over the years by the Chair of Sociology, which can be used in architectural and urban design. It provides practical experience with the results of the SNSF study on the analysis of urban qualities and discusses the topicality of the ETH Studio Basel's urban portrait of Switzerland. Further, it provides an insight into international research on urbanization processes in large metropolises and in territories characterized by extensive urbanization. The synopsis provides a kaleidoscopic overview of the diverse methods used in urban research today. In order to receive a grade for the seminar, the participants are expected to work in groups of two and are required to submit a five-page (2000 words) report summarizing a method(s) they found relevant in the lecture series. Please make a description and a critical analysis of this method and make a proposal how to apply it to a topic and a site of your choice.

Content

22.09. Die Anfänge: Öffentliche Räume und Zürich West Christina Schumacher, Bernadette Fülscher, Verena Poloni und Cordula Püstow 29.09. 21 Years of Urban Sociology at the Department of Architecture Christian Schmid 06.10. The Young Housing Cooperatives in Zürich and the INURA Coop Initiative Ileana Apostol and Philipp Klaus 13.10. Soziologie im Entwurf: Methoden und Erkenntnisse Caroline Ting 20.10. Ethnography and Urban Research Alice Hertzog and Lindsay Howe 03.11. ETH Studio Basel und das städtebauliche Portrait der Schweiz Emanuel Christ, Mathias Gunz, Christian Müller Inderbitzin and Milica Topalović 10.11. Vergleichende Stadtforschung und experimentelle Methoden Monika Streule 17.11. Urbane Qualitäten: Ein Forschungsprojekt Lukas Küng, Simon Kretz und Thomas Kissling 24.11. Zürich erforschen Gabriela Muri Koller 01.12. Journeys through Extended Urbanisation Nitin Bathla 08.12 Final Discussion

Resources