In partnership with UN-Habitat, the ETH-CASE organizes yearly Housing Studios to support the implementation of recently issued National Housing Plans (NHP). For three years, respective national experts along with UN-Habitat staff will participate in the week-long Housing Studios in Zürich to work with ETH students on developing contextually relevant housing and urban projects in line with the NHP.
Abstract
The Innovedum project aims at offering an innovative form of educational events in order to train a new generation of built environment professionals which is, according to UN-Habitat officials, needed to successfully implement the New Urban Agenda. Between 2018 and 2020, three housing studios are proposed at the ETH-CASE that bring together 50/100/150 students (1st/2nd/3rd year) from various ETH departments with UN-Habitat staff and a housing expert delegation of the respective partner country. During these one-week events, a recently elaborated national housing plan, which lays out the broad system of housing delivery and government interventions in a country is translated into more concrete strategies and design proposals. Students not only receive the unique opportunity to work on a real case application and see their ideas eventually manifest, but also get valuable insights into transnational policy making, current urban development challenges in the Global South, and transdisciplinary working environments. Results will be displayed in Zürich, the UN-Habitat headquarter in Nairobi, and the partner countries and additionally published through online and print documentations. The long-term aim is to fully integrate the ETH-UN-Habitat collaboration into curriculum at ETH-CASE as well as other collaborating departments to offer a free-choice course and jointly develop CAS specialization.
Success factors
• The project helped develop a transcultural understanding of knowledge among the students.
• It helped them in updating existing tools in planning and design through a grounded understanding of the links between architecture and society.
• The project exposed to new methodologies for research and design, especially creative methodologies that combine classical ethnographic research methods with drawing and narrative storytelling.
Innovative elements
The project helped to apply knowledge in a projective, creative manner, which was not limited to policy but transcended the advocacy boundaries in partnership with our local partners.
Room for improvement
The question of time and the need for a longer engagement between the students and the communities they are researching with.
Opinion of students
The response of the students was overwhelmingly positive. They really enjoyed the use of creative research methodologies and the opportunity of transcultural learning. However, at the same time they were expecting a longer engagement and were longing for the possibility of a deeper engagement with the topics and methodologies.
Tips for lecturers
• It is important to find novel teaching methods that cross between creative and classical social science research methods.
• The close and continued involvement of local partners is important.
• Lateral teaching methods through enabling exchanges and didactics between students both within the university and transregional contexts is an important learning experience for the students.
Links and downloads
Authors
Applicant
Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein
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Manager
Dr. Anthony Boanada-Fuchs
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Contact person
Dr. Jennifer Duyne Barenstein
duyne@arch.ethz.ch
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Department
D-ARCH
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Institute
MAS in Housing, Wohnforum ETH-CASE
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Filing date
01.10.2017
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Period
01.11.2017 to 31.08.2020
