VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Re-Imagine: architectures of transformation
Neu denken: Architekturen der Transformation
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:32:56
Abstract
The shift from ‘Ersatzneubau’ as the status quo to an intelligent approach to our existing building stock has just begun. This transition demands new roles, new knowledge, and new ways of action. The course examines, through lectures and discussions with guests,the fields of action that open up for architects to actively shape a changing building culture.
Objective
-Develop an awareness of the field of action of one's own profession to help shape a sustainable building culture -Understand and analyze complex and multifaceted mechanisms in the construction process, especially in the transformation processes of existing buildings -Investigate and discuss relevant case studies, practices, and processes -Question common practices and formulate alternative approaches
Content
There is a sense of new beginnings in architecture. Over the past two decades, efforts in sustainable construction have primarily focused on (replacement) new buildings that consume as little energy as possible in operation. Recently, the issue of embodied energy has gained more attention: in Switzerland, there is an increasing willingness to preserve not only monuments but also "everyday" buildings from demolition and to redesign them for continued use and a new life cycle. Although the practice of replacement construction still constitutes a large part of overall construction activity, a path is slowly opening towards a building culture that seeks the ongoing redesign of existing buildings instead of the tabula rasa and "clean solutions" of past decades. This shift from a demolition culture to a transformation culture requires a new set of skills from architects. The times of standard solutions and pre-drawn construction detail catalogs are over. Transformation projects require imagination, technical skill, and a profound understanding of our building stock. We will explore the changing role of architects in this new building culture through discussions with local experts and pioneers who have demonstrated exemplary approaches in their practice and made significant contributions to the transformation. Each week, we will examine a specific step in the transformation process of a building, from strategic planning to construction. This will provide a detailed understanding of the tools and competencies that practicing architects need to learn, the contributions we can make as individuals to the transformation, and the opportunities a changing building culture can offer us. Each session will include an introduction to the topic with practical examples, followed by guest presentations sharing their experiences, expertise, and case studies. The inputs will be discussed in plenary at the end of each lesson.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- BSC
- Frequency
- Semesterly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
Neu denken: Architekturen der Transformation
unregelmässige Lehrveranstaltung
Keine Lehrveranstaltung am 21.10.2024 (Seminarwoche) und in den letzten zwei Semesterwochen.
|
|
1 h weekly |