Switzerland
2020
Zürich, Switzerland
Markus Schaefer
Strelka Press
“Switzerland – Deep Urbanism for an Age of Disruption” has been published by Strelka Press, with a foreword by Anastassia Smirnova. The book builds on a course taught in the Advanced Urban Design program at the National Research University & Strelka Institute in Moscow. It describes the role of urbanism in Switzerland, following our National Exposition project. It uses this starting point to sketch a theory of “Deep Urbanism”, a complex systems approach to what cities are and how they interact with a territory, illustrated with the very specific case of Switzerland.
“We perceive urbanity as space, but we live it as interaction. Cities are catalysts for such interactions, stabilizing our relationships through infrastructures and institutions, spaces and stories. Technological progress increases the network depth and speed of interactions, which in turn fuels innovation and progress. The result is self-reinforcing growth and, globally, the ever more-rapid transformation of nature into culture with all the risks this entails. Cities are not static and autonomous. Cities have depth.
This essay, therefore, does not frame the discipline of urbanism as just a design profession that deals with urban spaces and building typologies, and sometimes with history, laws, regulations or land economy. Rather, it proposes a complex system science which I call “Deep Urbanism” and which I define as the discipline of the relationships – the connections and connectedness – that generate a complex system of people and their material, technological and symbolic culture acting on a territory with its specific emergent dynamics and externalities.”
Herrliberg-Feldmeilen station, 2020 –
Current state: framework plan
Haus Myrte, Wädenswil, 2022 –
Current phase: tender
House Renovation, Geneva, 2021 –
Current phase: ongoing
Airport Engadin, St. Moritz, 2020 –
Current phase: construction project
Cooperative Housing, Wetzikon, 2020 –
Current phase: tender
Fabrik.sg, 2020 –
Current phase: Project phases design to operation
ZHA, Boulevard, Hönggerberg Campus, 2020 –
Current state: ongoing (with Studio Vulkan)
Wilhelmsburg Rowing Club, 2020 –
Current phase: execution planning
Primary School Christoph Merian, Basel, 2019 –
Current phase: construction project
Station Square and Roof, Herisau 2015 –
Current phase: tender
MEWA-Areal, Wädenswil, 2018 –
Transformation Project from the former industrial estate to the mixed-use development with housing
Current phase: framework plan
Viererfeld, Bern, 2018 –
Housing
Current phase: on hold
Bahnhof Romanshorn, 2022 –
Current state: study (with Sudio Vulkan)
Kaserne Aarau, 2022 –
Current state: urban framework
Areale Wittenbach, 2022 –
Current state: urban design commission
Stiftungsareal Neumünster, 2022 –
Current state: study
Kieler Schloss, 2022 –
Current state: Public think tank on usage and architecture
Campus Heidelberg, 2021 –
Current state: Masterplan process, in-depth studies
Otterbach Süd, 2020 –
Current state: urban framework plan
Innovation Park Bergedorf, 2020 –
Current state: urban framework
Station Area Dietikon, 2019 –
Current state: urban framework plan
Campus Bochum, 2018 –
Current state: project support
Metalli, Zug, 2017 –
Current state: project support
Bahnstadt Nürtingen, 2017 –
Current state: project support
Areal Neugasse Zürich, 2016 –
Current state: completion of master plan, public consultation
Elbinselquartier Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, 2015 –
Current state: project support
Tech Cluster Zug, 2015 –
Current state: transformation plan
Station Herisau, 2013 –
Current state: areal development
KNZ Wil West, Thurgau / St. Gallen, 2011 –
Current state: project support
Metaverse, 2022 –
Current state: ongoing
Entwicklungskonzept Würzenbach, 2022 –
Current state: ongoing
ESP Hochdorf, 2021 –
Current state: spatial-urban as well as use- and circular-based development concept
Deep Urbanism, 2021 –
Current state: ongoing
cividi gmbh – civic data intelligence, 2019 –
Digital tools for the analogue city
Current state: ongoing