ETH

ETH Zürich

Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design
Prof. Dr. Alexander Lehnerer
Department of Architecture
HIL G 74
Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5
8093 Zurich, Switzerland

The City as the Critical Project of Architecture

Ever since architecture discovered the city as its domain, there has been a critical and fruitful debate regarding how these two relate to one another. One is clearly always part of the other, is comprised by the other, sometimes contained in the other. At least the city and architecture always condition one another. The city is the one big project of society and therefore naturally challenges architecture as a cultural project. The productive and intellectual impetus of the inconclusive negotiation between the two lies exactly in the confrontation of the individual with the collective, text with context, the political with the planned, and the autonomous with the cultural. These dialectical moments of inquiry outline what the discipline of architecture has described as a third typology, an architectural project that operates between two seemingly contradictory states creating friction that leads to alternative and subversive outcomes.

This search for a third typology has led us to investigate collective form and its physicality as a result of historical and contemporary processes, as well as projective/speculative conception—at a scale larger than a building and smaller than a city. The methodological analysis of collective form includes comparative observations, critical commentary, and the search for strategic tools that can be employed to simultaneously shape and understand our built environment in order to produce specific public qualities as cumulative effects. The results are thematic formats that can be read as critical discursive urban projects, both as research and pedagogy, but never obliged to only one single scale.

In this third typology, between the big and the small, theory and project, sign and object, the speculative reality of architecture develops its truly striking potential.

The individual research projects are conducted within three disciplinary modes of inquiry: the history of architecture, the mediums in which architecture communicates, and architecture’s disciplinary versus cultural concerns. Within this research framework, the chair searches for examples, narratives, rationales, and manifestos of how architecture is both a product of as well as an influential force behind the form and culture of the world’s infinite anthropogenic fabric.

Chair of Architecture and Urban Design
Asst. Prof. Dr. Alex Lehnerer

Selected student projects

Sophie Ballweg Nandor Zahnd

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Lilla Szabo Diego Bettinaglio

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Magdalena Szczesna Xenia Strohmeyer

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Lucie Alioth Charlotte Gueckel

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Nadja König Natalija Bajovic

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Leonie Müller Jan Helmchen

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Moana Arnosti Elisa Studer

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Lidia Bischoff Joschua Bücheler

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Manuel Lehmann Jonas Schüpbach

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Clara Peter Leslie Majer

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Robin Bollschweiler David Roth

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Francesca Leibowitz Samuel Fuchs

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Tom Mundy Justinas Zuklys

HS 2019 Am Bau zu prüfen

Viviane Zibung Markus Krieger

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Joel Brandner Maelle Odermatt

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Lilla Szabo Nick Böwing

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Dianer Ding Luca Riggio

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Dominik Keller Jenna Nutivaara

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Anaïse Vallée

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Demian Derron Timon Dönz

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Chiara De Libero Maria Margherita Innocenti

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Christian Weber Tim Kappeler

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Charline Blatter Marco Busarello

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Dario Weibel Khalil Mdimagh

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Sarah Wirth Senta Fahrländer

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Claudia Bitzer Lea Götschi

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Default Architecture

Stefan Liniger Jasmin Kunst

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Architekturkloster

Joël Schmid Tobias Häusermann

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Andreas Lanz Rico Furter

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Joel Mortier Samuel Fuchs

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Michiel Gieben Sven Fawer

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Wir sind die Schule

Sophia Begun Michèle Favre

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

The Clay Contraption

Samira Muster Zaccaria Exhenry

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Romain Dupertuis Lorea Schönenberger

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Nora Klinger Loyse Rebord

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Zwölf Professoren

Senia Mischler Lorenz Gujer

HS 2018 Hey, Teacher

Tiziana Fischer Nicolas Harter

FS 2018 Dämmung

Yvo Corpataux Anja Schelling

FS 2018 Dämmung

Emil Schaad Sarah Weber

FS 2018 Dämmung

Heizen, Rauchen und Brandschützen

Nina Feix Sarah Greuter

FS 2018 Dämmung

Max Güring Noelia Rüegger

FS 2018 Dämmung

Ziu Bruckmann Basile Diem

FS 2018 Dämmung

Niklaus Bieri Ed Bukota

FS 2018 Dämmung

Gipsen und Innenausbauen

Yufei He Franceline Saby

FS 2018 Dämmung

Elektrifizieren

Romina Janzi Johann Tran

FS 2018 Dämmung

Julian Holz Wieland Schwarz

HS 2017 Neighbors

Jonas Heller Crisot Koch

HS 2017 Neighbors

Lisa Maillard Sofia Manganas

HS 2017 Neighbors

Briefverteilzentrum Mülligen

Jeanne-Marie Léchot Luzia Vogt

HS 2017 Neighbors

Lian Stähelin Eva Oberndorfer

HS 2017 Neighbors

Mövenpick Shopping-Raststätte

Charlotte Rudolf Marcus Maier

Hammetschwandlift

Benjamin Sjöberg Djuna Stöckli

HS 2017 Neighbors

Schloss Chillon

Milena Isaak Alicia Hildbrand

HS 2017 Neighbors

The Chalet Bunker in Ennetberg

Anthony Haag Damian Ineichen

HS 2017 Neighbors

Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli

Athira Mlavil Stefanie Schäfer

HS 2017 Neighbors

Roman Dürst Bettina Huber

HS 2017 Neighbors

Jil Aus der Au Patrizia Räbsamen

HS 2017 Neighbors

Feldschlösschen Brauerei

Nicolas Rolle Brigitte Clements

HS 2017 Neighbors

Abtei Saint Maurice

Milena Kuster Fabiana Frisullo

HS 2017 Neighbors

Grand Hotel Carlton

Maurus Leuthold Fatma Garca

HS 2017 Neighbors

Viadukt Biaschina

Lorine Grossenbacher Simon Würgler

HS 2017 Neighbors

Leander Peper Michael Thoma

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Maria Theis Mahela Hack

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Coralie Berchtold Ursina Ziörjen

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Fanni Müller Philippe Niffeler

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Hofmann Célia Macpherson Imogen

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Rebekka Hofmann Tim Simonet

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Pierre Marmy Emanuel Falk

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Jonas Mosimann Nico Uebersax

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Bank of Switzerland

Carlo Magnaguagno Rafael Zulauf

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Structures and Sequences of Spaces

Tiziana Schirmer Nora Tahiraj

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Pascal Lang Julian Ringler

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Marcus Maier Joel Simon

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Emily Arthers Marine Cobo

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Alexandra Meuche Martin Wecke

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

David Zurfluh Damian Mermod

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Achilleas Lehmann Gionata Buzzi

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

The Tripartite Tower

Simon Specker Edgar Schenk

FS 2017 The Architecture of Bureaucracy

Mathilde Sudan Sophie Piticco

HS 2016 Haushalt

Ria Cavelti Tim-Roman Cerny

HS 2016 Haushalt

Marc Küttel Kushtrim Loki

HS 2016 Haushalt

Jasmin Miseri Michele Schweri

HS 2016 Haushalt

Larissa Müllner Amelie Nguyen

HS 2016 Haushalt

Claartje Vuurmans Charline Dayer

HS 2016 Haushalt

Azadeh Karimi Samuel Buntschu

HS 2016 Haushalt

Im Eisernen Zeit

Anina Huber Myriam Wawrla

HS 2016 Haushalt

Luka Travas Martin Zwahlen

HS 2016 Haushalt

Charlotte Schaeben Fabian Sauser

HS 2016 Haushalt

Achilleas Lehmann Gionata‎ Buzzi

HS 2016 Haushalt

Elena Lurati Romain Kündig

HS 2016 Haushalt

Eva Lanter Lukas Manz

HS 2016 Haushalt

Laura Sutter Jan Altermatt

HS 2016 Haushalt

Jeanne Casagrande Nikolaj Wolff

HS 2016 Haushalt

Luca‎ Capt Eva Müller

HS 2016 Haushalt

Stüssistrasse 70

Rueben Bernegger Tino Glimmann

HS 2016 Haushalt

Stüssistrasse 19-31

Flurina Leuchter Claudia Stebler

HS 2016 Haushalt

The Pilgrimage Church

Hanna Baumann Quirin Koch

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Engaged Church

Corinne Räz Benjamin Müller

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Uninhibited Church

Alex Christoph Fabian Tschök

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Neighborhood Church

Isabel Lehn-Blazejcak Moritz Schudel

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Medialized Church

Anna Nemeth Lilian Pala

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Intrusive Church

Anita Hügin Nadia Lechmann

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Standard Church

Michelle Nägeli Lucas Falbriard

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Power Plant Monastery

Caroline Schwarzenbach Mara Simone

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Squeezed Church

Jan Peters Daniel Stankowski

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Incorporated Church

Rene Frey Janina Flückiger

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Roadkill Church

Marisa Ueltschi Severin Hess

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Church for the Unemployed Clergy

Edvardas Bukota Victoria Desponds

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Käferberg Church

Elizaveta Radi Bertran Suris Miret

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Optimized Gothic Church

Lou Dumont d'Ayot Selina Sigg

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Clandestine Church

Sonja Flury Yves Rechsteiner

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Altar Church

Jan Golob Dario Bundi

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

The Vertical Cemetery

FS 2016 Oh' Lord

Beim Goldgräber

Valentin Buchwalder Sebastian Oswald

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Bergwerkarbeiter

Silvio Koch Yannic Metzler

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Lisa Maillard Salome Rohner

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Tankstellenwärter

Patricia Bachmann Witold Kabirov

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Orchesterdiener

Oliver Hänni Oliver Walter

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Nicolàs Luna Christoph Geisch

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Museumswärter

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Bademeister

Yannic Renner Melanie Underhill

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Schornsteinfeger

Laura Favre-Bully Jannik Richter

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Julia Fehr Valentine Pillet

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Bei der Feuerwehr

Laura Bruder Graldine Recker

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Präsidialamt

Jan Engelke Philipp Frisch

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Nils Franzini Dominique Killer

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Anastasia König Dino Pedrazzini

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Mikael Blomfelt Sandro Straube

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Beim Fleischermeister

Cécile Baumann Anne-Sophie Hagander

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Lea Gfeller Andreas Monn

HS 2015 Bei der Arbeit

Die Rückseite: Stadtrand

Meret Wildbolz Laia Bonet

Die Rückseite: Üetliberg

Ottavia Sigrist

Die Rückseite: Sihl-City

Runa Barbagelata Lukas Herzog

Die Rückseite: Schanzengraben

Pierre Métrailler Tobias Gagliardi

Die Rückseite: Universitätsspital

Tobias Cebulla Alban Külling

Die Rückseite: Limmat

Estelle Ballet Tim Simonet

Die Rückseite: Hardau

Hans Flühmann Sebastian Heusser

Die Rückseite: Langstrasse

Jan Westerheide Maurus Leuthold

Die Rückseite: Seefeld Inverted

Vanessa Danuser András Faludi

Die Rückseite: Hottingen

Lea Grunder Michael Frefel

Die Rückseite: Haus zum Loch

Amber de Vrede Christoph Erni

Die Rückseite: Grünau

Alexander Müller

Die Rückseite: Grosse und kleine Menschen

Die Rückseite: Friedhof Sihlfeld

Achille Patà Caroline Tanner

Die Rückseite: ETH Underground

Die Rückseite: Werd

Laura Hunziker David Zurfluh

Die Rückseite: Hardturm

Jonas Hasler Fabian Heinzer

Die Rückseite: Binz Life

Marcel Hodel Philippe Blarer

Die Rückseite: Binz

Josephine Eigner Michelle Geilinger

Die Rückseite: Zürichhorn

Valentina Sieber Sonja Widmer

Benjamin Artero Anas Honeiny Mihai Radulescu Julian Ringler

Jakarta—Big Village

Singapore Tropicana, Queensway Cinema and Bowling

Singapore Tropicana: The Endless Umbrella

Singapore Tropicana, Unbuilding Pearl Center

Student Project

FS 2019 Frequent Flyers

Project by: Chiara De Libero Maria Margherita Innocenti

Flugobjekt Modell

Flugobjekt Plan

Flugobjekt Komposition

Situation

Situationsmodell

Grundriss

Ansicht

Modell

Komposition 1

Komposition 2

Komposition 3

Komposition 4

Komposition 5

Komposition 6

Komposition 7

Detail: 3 Träger

Detail: Backstein-Stahl

Komposition 8

Detail: Beton-Stütze

Detail: Stahl-Backstein-Stütze

Komposition 9

Detail: Stahl in Beton

Detail: Stahl-Beton

Komposition 10

Komposition 1

Komposition 11

Komposition 2

Komposition 12

Komposition 3

Komposition 4

Komposition 5

Komposition 6

Komposition 7

Komposition 8

Komposition 9

Komposition 10

Komposition 11

Komposition 12