TRANSFORM - Institute of Architecture

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TRANSFORM is the only research institute in Switzerland to adopt transformation as its innovation theme, even though half of all professional building contracts entail a transformation of some kind. TRANSFORM therefore plays a critical role in bridging the gap between academic research and professional practice.

Transformation can be understood as change, adaptation, optimization, variation, evolution and transition. Transformation projects come in a variety of forms, including renovations, restorations, extensions, conversions and redevelopments. What all of these forms have in common is the emphasis on giving value to what already exists.

The TRANSFORM institute is a member of the Smart Living Lab, a research and development center dedicated to developing the habitats of tomorrow.

Transformation of the built environment

The TRANSFORM institute’s architectural and urban planning projects bring together fundamental research, professional practices and the construction sector to help envision and create the sustainable built environments of tomorrow.

A low-tech approach to innovation

TRANSFORM adopts a critical approach to technologies and their sustainability. Innovation is seen less as the invention of novel technologies, and more as the reappropriation and combination of traditional techniques with a sensible admixture of new technology.

A diverse set of competencies

Thanks to a multidisciplinary team of architects, urban planners, engineers, historians, geographers and physicists, TRANSFORM can expertly analyze projects at various scales, from single buildings to entire neighborhoods, villages, and cities.

« The city of the future is already here. The challenge is to transform it and to adapt the existing building stock so we can maintain a quality of life while protecting natural resources. »

Research Areas

TRANSFORM has the goal of establishing a dynamic equilibrium between the competing demands of habitable space, technical progress, and the human factor, while integrating an optimal use of available means and resources.

Structural and territorial heritage

Adaptations that preserve heritage
Designing transformations of urban or rural areas that are respectful of their identity

Architecture and energy

Integration of innovative technologies in building construction
Promoting the use of simple construction processes
Design methods that minimize damage from construction

Place-user interactions

Defining the right architectural typology for every user profile
Designing spaces to accommodate new or special needs as well as health conditions
Active monitoring of new construction materials

Services

Case studies
Process analysis
Project evaluation (both technical and social)
A wide range of other services for projects ranging from single buildings to urban planning

Facilities

The PopUP Workshop is a space for construction and architectural experimentation in the context of research and teaching. Located next to the Smart Living Lab, the PopUP Workshop’s uniquely spacious facilities and state-of-the-art equipment enable the creation of prototypes, building elements (façades, roofing, structures), and even entire buildings at large scale (1:1).

Equipment