Spring Semester 2025
Studio EAST, EPFL
During the Spring 2025 semester, Studio EAST examined the typology of Greenhouse — structures often regarded as purely utilitarian — and explored their untapped potential for housing transformation incorporating the greenhouse as a space and an effect. The studio investigated the terms associated to the greenhouse – Conservatories, glasshouses, forcing houses, hothouses, invernaderos in Spanish, orangeries, jardins d' hiver or serres in French - many are the terms associated with the idea of housing plants. Originally designed to accommodate plant life, this climatic space quickly became an exhibition space, a social space, and even a space for celebrations before it fell into disuse.
Research Phase
The first part of the semester was dedicated to a comparative analysis of 34 Greenhouses from the beginning of the 20th century to its end. Each structure was examined for its spatial logic, construction system, climatic patterns, and organizational strategy. Through detailed documentation — including plans, sections, and models — students uncovered the underlying principles that shape these buildings.
As an experiment during the research phase, three prototypes were built by the students to quantify the passive energy gain created by the greenhouse effect. Each of these prototypes, of the same volume, was accompanied by a greenhouse of equal or greater volume, or by a glazed opening. A thermal sensor was installed in the volume of the prototype to measure the passive gain. Meteorological measurements were also taken at EPFL.
This analytical work not only mapped the architectural characteristics of the typology but also laid the groundwork for questioning its climatic potential. By quantifying and comparing these elements, the studio created a shared knowledge base to inform speculative transformations in the second phase.
Project Phase
Building on the insights gained during the research phase, the second part of the semester challenged students to reimagine four housing typologies built from 1947 to 1961, facing today energetical renovation and social evolution.
The aim was to incorporate the greenhouse into one of its four housing typologies for its climatic and spatial effect. These transformations focused on interventions and adaptations ranging from minimal and strategic to significant and structural. The students explored how 1960s housing could accommodate new living configurations – from community units and collective spaces to hybrid programmes combining housing and education.
Each intervention responded precisely to the specific context of the site. Through narrative frameworks, the students projected the life of these transformed buildings over time, imagining how they could gradually evolve from fossil fuel energy to passive energy – to the resilience of inhabiting a certain space periodically.
As part of the semester, Studio EAST hosted a Conference bringing together experts to dive deeper into the topic.
Christina Köchling (Bauhaus Universität Weimar) explored L'esthétique de la technologie
Marco Merz (Clauss Kahl Merz Architekten, Basel) shared insights on Lyse-Lotte, a house a city.
Florencia Collo (Atmos lab, London) presented on Il fait bon aujourd'hui. Sur le climat, le confort et le plaisir des jardins d'hiver
Penny Sparke (Kingston School of Art) presented Les jardins d'hiver remplis de plantes dans les espaces curatifs britanniques du XIXe siècle
Their talks provided valuable perspectives and helped frame the design challenge, offering important context for reimagining Greenhouse and similar structures in today’s urban environment.
Special guest:
Silvia Coccolo (EPFL, SCI-ENAC-AC)
Intermediate Critics guest:
Mathias Schmidt (Osterwold°Schmidt Architects)
Dries Rodet (Truwant+Rodet+ Architekten)
Final Critics guest:
Jose Toral (Peris+Toral Arquitectes)
Jan Theissen (Amunt Architekten)
Valerie Krauser (Swiss Prime Site Solution)
Students:
Niklas Amft, Julie Berger, Hafsa Boudhir, Julie Bron, Andrea Calabrese, Emil Cayouette, Tristan Combépine, Lise Courtin, Sacha Cudré-Mauroux, Maeva Eap, Emma Fong-Lesage, Emma Fournier, Selma Gaumet, Mara Giacomelli, Yasmine Helfand, Anis Kabeche, Irem Keskin, Rosemary Lefebvre, Neus Bosch Matheu, Joana Mendes, Germain Moskovitch, Wilson Moreno, Mélinda Pereira, Felix Pleines, Joshua Rigby, Léa Roberts, Lili Rouveure, Marion Schaub, Jérémy Steyaert, Valentina Takatch, Léo Taillefer, Nikita Turelli, Julia Weber and Arwen Wohlwend.
Teaching Team:
Martin Fröhlich, Tiago P. Borges, Luciano Antonietti