Research Collection
Educational Material
New Ecologies
Soil, Water, Labour
Author(s):
Westerheide, Jan; Topalović, Milica; Hahn, Dorothee; Djurdjevic, Muriz; Stünzi, Michael Publication Date:
2020-09-16 Permanent Link:
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000455954
Rights / License:
In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use.
ETH Library
ARCHITECTURE OF TERRITORY
Designing Agriurbanisms for Metro Zurich (HS 2020)
ECOLOGIES NEW
Soil, Water, Labour
Studio Series
DESIGNING AGRIURBANISMS FOR METRO ZURICH
NEW ECOLOGIES Soil, Water, Labour HS 2020
This semester program reader is produced as the introduction to the research and design studio.
COLLABORATION
The studio series NEW ECOLOGIES
is affiliated with the Agriurbanisms research program at the Future Cities Laboratory in Zurich, due to commence in the fall of 2020.
Cantonal and academic partners, experts, citizens and fellow designers will work with us in the process.
ARCHITECTURE OF TERRITORY Professor Milica Topalović Teaching Team:
Muriz Djurdjevic, Dorothee Hahn, Michael Stünzi, Jan Westerheide Student Assistants:
Joshua Andres, Matilde Negri ETH Zurich D-ARCH
ONA G41 Neunbrunnenstrasse 50 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
P +41(0)44 633 86 88 www.topalovic.arch.ethz.ch Disclaimer:
This publication is meant solely for purposes of education. Its commercial distribution is, accordingly, strictly forbidden.
Colophon
NEW ECOLOGIES.
Soil, Water, Labour
Basemaps.
Semester Programme.
Timeline
Research Structure
Seminar Week. Agricultural Pioneers Metabolisms. Mapping Flows and Networks Reading Sessions. Discussing Key Concepts
Online Journal & Slide Presentation. Assembling the Argument Common Ground. Composing the Territorial Project
Research Topics.
Material.
Bibliography.
Geodata and Statistics.
Contacts. Team and Students
Server Structure.
Content.
P. 4
P. 8
P. 20
P. 34
P. 54
P. 72
P. 74
P. 76
P. 78
4 5
What is the future of the manifold landscapes and territories across the world which support contemporary cities, such as Zurich, with water, food, human labour and other resources?
How is human and non-human life in these environments affected by cities and by urbanisation? In our discipline, discussions on sustainability have remained focused on buildings and on cities, while these extended territories are equally exposed to rapid and far-reaching transformations with massive social and environmental implications. How can
architects respond to these urgent changes? Can architecture become ecological, to go beyond-the-human and beyond-the- built, in order to engage with the environment as a whole?
NEW ECOLOGIES is a new studio series at Architecture of Territory, dedicated to the practice of architecture for the post-anthropocentric era. Throughout the twentieth century, the anthropocentric and city-centric paradigms have locked architecture into binary thinking, which separated Man from Nature, Building from Landscape, and City from Countryside.
Through the perspective of ecology, such unproductive divisions can be rethought to allow architectural discipline to broaden its agenda and take on new themes and approaches.
A crucial theme that has remained in the “blind field” of architecture is agriculture. With nearly half of the total land area on the planet currently dedicated to some form of agricultural production, agricultural landscapes might be the most urgent field of action to address the problematic of
“sustainability.” Many types of agricultural practices have been linked to increasing risks for climate change, exhaustion of water and natural resources, depletion of soil fertility, as well as disadvantaging local population, and affecting quality of life. An awareness of the consequences of industrialisation of
agriculture, including its addiction to fertilisers, pesticides and fossil fuels, has been growing. These issues stand at the core of the climate and biodiversity crises, and they call for new approaches in architecture too.
NEW ECOLOGIES.
Soil, Water, Labour
6 7
In this semester, we will look at Zurich and its region beyond- the-built, concentrating on agriculture. The largest in
Switzerland, the metropolitan region of Zurich is composed of the relatively compact city of Zurich and the densely built-up valleys extending along the Glattal and the Limmattal. The urban fabric extends further into vulnerable agricultural areas or the “quiet zones” of the Swiss Plateau and the Prealps, and further into “alpine fallow lands.” Despite its high metropolitan density, agricultural land still dominates the region of Zurich: in the Canton of Zurich 41.9% of the total surface is dedicated to agriculture. Whereas in the vicinity of the City of Zurich the land is under extreme urban pressure and at risk of being built upon, other more peripheral landscapes, such as the Zürcher Oberland, are confronted with a decrease in population and the loss of social and economic resources.
Architecture and agriculture in the region of Zurich will be thought together through three highly interconnected ecologies: soil, water and labour. A close look at these
ecologies in the territory will take us from agriculture research facilities and experimental permaculture farms, to food
distribution networks and spaces, sites of industrial animal farming, constructed water landscapes and facilities, all the way to the seasonal migrant workers that work in agricultural production in Zurich. Above these issues hovers the urgent need for a radical overhaul of agricultural practices. Recently, across the public landscape of Zurich, environmental
movements—Fridays for Future, Climate Strike CH, Extinction Rebellion, and other solidary pioneering groups and
cooperatives—have gained momentum. These movements have helped to raise awareness and promote pioneering practices and projects such as mixed farming, agroforestry, or
“bee highways” that will change the landscape of Zurich in the future. During the semester we will engage with Zurich’s land pioneer culture. Through intensive field explorations we will get to know the protagonists and learn from them. The result will be an online collection of investigative reportages, meant to inform design practices in architecture, and the public of Zurich.
Irrigation of fields by the fire department near Regensdorf, Comet Photo AG, 1976 ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv
Satellite Image
2.5
0 10 km N
Cantonal Borders
2.5
0 10 km N
Lakes
Cantonal Borders
Zürich Schaffhausen
Thurgau
St. Gallen Aargau
Luzern Zug
Schwyz
8 9
Basemaps
Agriculture
2.5
0 10 km N
Lakes
Cantonal Borders Agriculture Surface Agriculture Surface Agriculture Surface
Forests
2.5
0 10 km N
Lakes
National Borders Forest
Natural Protection Areas Agricultural Surfaces
10 11
Basemaps
12 13
WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6 WEEK 7 WEEK 8 WEEK 9 WEEK 10 WEEK 11 WEEK 12 WEEK 13 WEEK 14
TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED SAT – SAT TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED
15.9 16.9 22.9 23.9 29.9 30.9 6.10 7.10 13.10 14.10 17. – 25.10 27.10 28.10 3.11 4.11 10.11 11.11 17.11 18.11 24.11 25.11 1.12 2.12 8.12 9.12 15.12 16.12
INTRO DAY I Backyard ONA
Tour Input Introduction Studio
Workshop Drawing Software
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW I Meta- bolisms
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
SEMINAR WEEK Agricultural Pioneers
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Reading Session
REVIEW II Field Research
Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW III Research Project
FINAL REVIEW Workshop
Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
INTRO DAYS
METABOLISM TASK
FIELD RESEARCH & FIRST HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH PROJECT
READING SESSIONS
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
WORKSHOPS
Workshop Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Drawing Software
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
AOT GUEST LECTURES
1.10 Alexandra Arènes
15.10 Antoine Vialle
29.10 Johan Six
12.11 Charlotte Malterre- Barthes
26.11 Héléne Frichot
IN THE FIELD ONA Backyard
Tour
SEMINAR WEEK
REVIEWS REVIEW I REVIEW II REVIEW III FINAL
REVIEW
1
WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6 WEEK 7 WEEK 8 WEEK 9 WEEK 10 WEEK 11 WEEK 12 WEEK 13 WEEK 14
TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED SAT – SAT TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED
15.9 16.9 22.9 23.9 29.9 30.9 6.10 7.10 13.10 14.10 17. – 25.10 27.10 28.10 3.11 4.11 10.11 11.11 17.11 18.11 24.11 25.11 1.12 2.12 8.12 9.12 15.12 16.12
INTRO DAY I Backyard ONA
Tour Input Introduction Studio
Workshop Drawing Software
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW I Meta- bolisms
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
SEMINAR WEEK Agricultural Pioneers
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Reading Session
REVIEW II Field Research
Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW III Research Project
FINAL REVIEW Workshop
Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
INTRO DAYS
METABOLISM TASK
FIELD RESEARCH & FIRST HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH PROJECT
READING SESSIONS
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
WORKSHOPS
Workshop Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Drawing Software
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
AOT GUEST LECTURES
1.10 Alexandra Arènes
15.10 Antoine Vialle
29.10 Johan Six
12.11 Charlotte Malterre- Barthes
26.11 Héléne Frichot
IN THE FIELD ONA Backyard
Tour
SEMINAR WEEK
REVIEWS REVIEW I REVIEW II REVIEW III FINAL
REVIEW
1
WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6 WEEK 7 WEEK 8 WEEK 9 WEEK 10 WEEK 11 WEEK 12 WEEK 13 WEEK 14
TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED SAT – SAT TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED
15.9 16.9 22.9 23.9 29.9 30.9 6.10 7.10 13.10 14.10 17. – 25.10 27.10 28.10 3.11 4.11 10.11 11.11 17.11 18.11 24.11 25.11 1.12 2.12 8.12 9.12 15.12 16.12
INTRO DAY I Backyard ONA
Tour Input Introduction Studio
Workshop Drawing Software
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW I Meta- bolisms
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
SEMINAR WEEK Agricultural Pioneers
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Reading Session
REVIEW II Field Research
Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW III Research Project
FINAL REVIEW Workshop
Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
INTRO DAYS
METABOLISM TASK
FIELD RESEARCH & FIRST HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH PROJECT
READING SESSIONS
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
WORKSHOPS
Workshop Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Drawing Software
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
AOT GUEST LECTURES
1.10 Alexandra Arènes
15.10 Antoine Vialle
29.10 Johan Six
12.11 Charlotte Malterre- Barthes
26.11 Héléne Frichot
IN THE FIELD ONA Backyard
Tour
SEMINAR WEEK
REVIEWS REVIEW I REVIEW II REVIEW III FINAL
REVIEW
1
WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6 WEEK 7 WEEK 8 WEEK 9 WEEK 10 WEEK 11 WEEK 12 WEEK 13 WEEK 14
TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED SAT – SAT TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED TUE WED
15.9 16.9 22.9 23.9 29.9 30.9 6.10 7.10 13.10 14.10 17. – 25.10 27.10 28.10 3.11 4.11 10.11 11.11 17.11 18.11 24.11 25.11 1.12 2.12 8.12 9.12 15.12 16.12
INTRO DAY I Backyard ONA
Tour Input Introduction Studio
Workshop Drawing Software
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW I Meta- bolisms
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
SEMINAR WEEK Agricultural Pioneers
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Reading Session
REVIEW II Field Research
Reading
Session Reading
Session
REVIEW III Research Project
FINAL REVIEW Workshop
Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
INTRO DAYS
METABOLISM TASK
FIELD RESEARCH & FIRST HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH PROJECT
READING SESSIONS
Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session Reading
Session
WORKSHOPS
Workshop Concepts
& Readings
Workshop Drawing Software
Workshop Fieldwork Plan
Workshop Fieldwork Debrief
Workshop Online CMS
Workshop Territorial Project
AOT GUEST LECTURES
1.10 Alexandra Arènes
15.10 Antoine Vialle
29.10 Johan Six
12.11 Charlotte Malterre- Barthes
26.11 Héléne Frichot
IN THE FIELD ONA Backyard
Tour
SEMINAR WEEK
REVIEWS REVIEW I REVIEW II REVIEW III FINAL
REVIEW
1
Semester Programme.
Timeline
Semester Programme
COMMON SESSIONS TIMELINE
è 4
14 15
Research Structure.
METABOLISMS
ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH TOPICS
Land Consumption
Crop Cultivation
Animal Farming
Food Markets
Nature Protection
Water in Agriculture
Construction of Land
The Farm and the Farmer
Agricultural Labour Potatoe
Avocado
Bees
Wheat
Milk
Beef
Trout
Chlorothalonil
Seasonal Worker
1 Engrosmarkt
2 Gemüsehalle Flughafen
3 Lehrbienenstand
4 Swissmill
5 Toni Molkerei
6 Schlachthof
7 Flusskraftwerk Letten
8 Grundwasserwerk Hardhof
9 Carparkplatz Sihlquai
Semester Programme
3
