Department / Institute: Prof. Milica Topalovic
Master of Advanced Studies ETH EPF Urban and Territorial Design
ETH Zürich D-ARCH LUS and EPFL ENAC HRC joint master programme | Application until 31 May 2023. The Territorial Project for Social and Ecological Change Urban and territorial design has acquired a new meaning and urgency. From drivers of progress to the source of planetary hazards, the impacts of cities and Mehr
ARCH+ #250. THE GREAT REPAIR – Politiken der Reparaturgesellschaft
Sessions on Territory: Urbanism in a Broken World: REPAIR
Podcast: On Peripheralisation.
A discussion with Shubhra Gururani, Christian Schmid, Michael Lukas, Giulia Torino, Metaxia Markaki, and Faiq Mari How do «peripheries» form? And how does urbanization generate processes of peripheralization? Today, novel patterns of urbanization are crystallizing in agricultural areas and in remote landscapes, challenging inherited conceptions of the urban Mehr
Writing Urban Landscapes of the Anthropocene
Doctoral Crits of the Institute of Urban and Landscape Studies LUS
Sudamérica LUS Talks
20 October 2022, 18:30 (2 December: 17:30) | ETH Zürich, Neunbrunnenstrasse 50, ONA Fokushalle (E7), Zürich. This year, the LUS Talks will engage diverse perspectives from practitioners and theorists addressing South America’s complex social and ecological landscapes.
Film, Architecture, and Urban Studies
Architecture of Territory: MY ENERGY
Thursday 24.11./1.12., 10:00 – 12:00 | ETH Zürich, Oerlikon, Neunbrunnenstr. 50, ONA E 7 + online. This lecture series sets up an agenda for widening the disciplinary field of architecture and urbanism to territorial scales, corresponding to the increasing scales of contemporary urbanisation.
Writing Landscapes, Writing the Urban
MAS Urban and Territorial Design 2022/23
Sessions on Territory – Urbanism & the Countryside AGRICULTURE
Research Methods in Landscape and Urban Studies: Towards Sensory, Creative, and Imaginative Methodologies
More than Human. Cinema
Call for Papers: RC21 2022
Climate Care, not Green Development. Blurred Notions from Lands in Transition
Architecture of Territory: Territorial Design in Histories, Theories, and Projects
Worlds of Planetary Urbanization
New Agendas Under Planetary Urbanisation: Designing Sustainable Agri-Urbanisms
What is the future of the manifold agricultural territories across the world that support contemporary cities? While discussions on urban sustainability have focused on cities and urban regions, many agricultural territories are equally exposed to rapid and far-reaching urban transformation processes with massive social and environmental implications, opening Mehr
Sessions on Territory – Urbanism as Material Accumulation
ETH-EPFL Summer School: Transects Through Alpine Water Landscapes
Master of Advanced Studies ETH EPFL in Urban and Territorial Design
Call for applications PROLONGED until 30 June 2021. Urban and territorial design has acquired a new meaning and urgency. From drivers of progress to the source of planetary hazards, the impacts of cities and wider urbanisation processes are being recast in the public sphere. The critical examination of Mehr
Bringing the Land Back into the City – Possibilities for Ecological Transition in Geneva
With a fast population increase and a high housing demand projected to continue in the coming decades, Geneva encounters a profound challenge. Since decades, the city has been spilling over across the national border. Urban growth and land consumption in the Canton and in the French part of Mehr
Involuntary Benefits of Remote Teaching
How do you teach students during a lockdown, when they are supposed to map a city, meet Albanian students in Tirana, or even interview passersby in Zurich? Easy! They map their quarantines instead, meet online (which interestingly intensified the exchange even more), or simply create an ethnographic documentation Mehr
Architecture of Territory: Territorial Design in Histories, Theories and Projects
Lecture Series | 5 sessions on selected Thursdays, 10:00–12:00 | via Zoom. This lecture series sets up an agenda for widening the disciplinary field of architecture and urbanism from their focus on the city, or the urban in the narrow sense, to wider territorial scales, which correspond to Mehr
Landscape In-Between. A River and a Backyard
Could we imagine extending the concept of participation beyond the social and civic aspects of a community? Could we go far enough to include non-humans, landscapes, histories, ecologies and the environment in which a community is rooted? What kind of new constellations would this imply and what possibilities Mehr
Landscape In-Between: A River and a Backyard
Addressing the former industrial area of Acetati in Verbania (IT), on the northern Italian shore of Lago Maggiore, the project sets out to explore the ambiguous nature of contemporary residual landscapes. With an attitude of carefully collecting and radically exposing materials, flows, historical layers and traces of production, Mehr
ABGESAGT Belgrade Unbuilt / Negrađeni Beograd. Discovering Nature in the Era of the Anthropocene
Summer 2020, Belgrade, Serbia | 6 international design workshops on architecture and territory. Workshop 1: 21 April–25 April 2020 with Bas Princen. Workshop 2: 29 June–4 July 2020 with Momoyo Kaijima. Workshop 3–6: (tbc). A series of consecutive research and design workshops dedicated to the future of Belgrade’s Mehr
Sessions on Territory – Beyond Techno-fix
POSTPONED: Prospective Visions for Greater Geneva Region. Inhabiting the City-Landscape of the 21st Century
24 March | Inhabiting the City-Landscape of the 21st Century | Geneva. Initiated by the Braillard Architectural Foundation in October 2018, the Greater Geneva Consultation has charged seven interdisciplinary teams to rethink the cross-border metropolis to respond to the challenges of the ecological transition.
Walking in the Territory
Can we, as researchers of the territory, still investigate and learn about our built and the unbuilt environments through direct experience? Can we rely merely on digital cartographies, or should we still be explorers who embark on journeys of discovery? We have tried to answer these questions by Mehr
KELLER EASTERLING Medium Design
27.11.2019, 14.30–16.00 | ONA Focushalle E7, Neunbrunnenstr. 50, 8050 Zürich (Oerlikon). In conversation with Marc Angélil, Arno Brandlhuber, Charlotte Malterre Barthes, and Milica Topalović. KELLER EASTERLING is an architect, professor at Yale, and one of the most eloquent theorists of architecture and design. In ‘Medium Design’ (Strelka Press, 2018) Easterling argues that design tools are often inadequate to Mehr
Projects on Territory: Dichte Geschichte
Die Debatte um Dichte in der Schweiz ist nicht neu. Tatsächlich ist sie älter und stärker verwurzelt im Fachdiskurs als oft angenommen wird: sie entbrannte stets in Phasen starken Bevölkerungswachstums, das oft mit der unkontrollierten Zersiedelung des Kulturlandes und erhöhter Landspekulation einherging. Noch bevor das Wort «Dichte» im Mehr
Architecture of Territory: Territorial Design in Histories, Theories and Projects
On Thursdays, 10:00–12:00 | ETH Zurich, Oerlikon, ONA Fokushalle E7 | Lecture Series. This lecture series sets up the agenda for widening the disciplinary field of architecture and urbanism from their focus on the city, or the urban in the narrow sense, to wider territorial scales, which correspond to the increasing scales of Mehr
Launch Party LUS: Institute for Landscape and Urban Studies
The Grand Projet, Understanding the Making and Impact of Urban Megaprojects
25 September 2019, 18:00-19:00 | The Grand Projet Book Launch & Exhibition Opening | ETH Zürich, Hauptgebäude, im Lichthof, Erdgeschoss (HG E Nord), Rämistrasse 101, Zürich | exhibition open 25.9. to 4.10.2019. At this book launch and exhibition opening, The Grand Projet team at the ETH-Future Cities Laboratory presents the Mehr
Future Cities: Actions
24-25 September 2019 | Zurich. The FCL conference ‘Future Cities: Actions’ will feature outcomes of research conducted at the Future Cities Laboratory since 2015, when the second phase of the programme began. In particular, the conference will focus on actions and FCL’s contribution to sustainable future cities.
One new institute replaces three others: the Institute for Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS)
The Institute for Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS) has been founded as part of the Department of Architecture, with the Professors Christophe Girot, Hubert Klumpner, Freek Persyn, Christian Schmid, Milica Topalovic, and Günther Vogt. It replaces the three previous Institutes for Urban Design (ISB), Landscape Architecture (ILA) and the Contemporary City Institute (CCI).
Cartographies of Planetary Urbanisation
July 2019 | Fondazione Innovazione Urbana, Bologna. Cartographies of Planetary Urbanisation is a joint exhibit by Milica Topalovic, Prof. of Architecture and Territorial Planning, ETH Zürich; Christian Schmid, Chair of Urban Sociology, ETH Zürich and Neil Brenner, Urban Theory Lab, Harvard GSD.
Sessions on Territory – Urbanism and the Anthropocene: Ecology
5 Sessions on selected Mondays, 16:00–18:00. ETH Zurich, Oerlikon, ONA Focushalle E7, Neunbrunnenstr. 50. Sessions on Territory is a series of public debates on the political economy of architecture and territory. Focusing on how the epoch of the Anthropocene reframes our conceptions of the urban and shapes new Mehr
DICHTELUST
24 November 2018 – 5 May 2019 | SAM Basel. Ausstellung | Exhibition. Formen des urbanen Zusammenlebens in der Schweiz. Der Begriff der Dichte ist in der Schweiz auffällig negativ besetzt. In der politischen Diskussion um die städtebauliche und raumplanerische Entwicklung der Schweiz wird Dichte oft als Kampfbegriff Mehr
UNBUILT Belgrade: A Project for «Public Landscape»
The project on the unbuilt focuses on the urban body composed from many open landscapes found within the city of Belgrade. These diverse sites of vital ecological resources, productive lands and recreational spaces, have evolved throughout history as urban «voids» within the city fabric. As an antidote to Mehr
Architecture of Territory. Territorial Design in Histories, Theories and Projects
Core Course on Thursdays, starting 20 September, 10:00–12:00 | ETH Zurich, Oerlikon, ONA E7, Neunbrunnenstr. 50. This lecture series sets up the agenda for widening the disciplinary field of architecture and urbanism from their focus on the city, or the urban in the narrow sense, to wider territorial scales, which correspond to Mehr
Sessions on Territory – Urbanism and the Anthropocene: Ecology
Lecture Series: 6 Sessions on selected Mondays, 16:00–18:00 | ETH Zurich Oerlikon, ONA Focushalle E7, Neunbrunnenstr. 50. Sessions on Territory is a series of public debates on the political economy of architecture and territory. Focusing on how the epoch of the Anthropocene reframes our conceptions of the urban and shapes new ecologies, the Mehr
DICHTELUST
Exhibition, 23 November 2018, 19:00 Vernissage. 24 November 2018 – 5 May 2019 | SAM Basel. In Switzerland, the concept of density has noticeably negative connotations. In Swiss political debates on urban development and land-use planning, density is often used as a discursive weapon, conjuring up terrible visions of «built up» cities and horrific Mehr
Milica Topalović zur Professorin für Architektur und Territorialplanung ernannt
Prof. Milica Topalović (*1971), zurzeit Assistenzprofessorin an der ETH Zürich, wurde zur ausserordentlichen Professorin für Architektur und Territorialplanung ernannt. Milica Topalović ist eine der wichtigsten Exponentinnen im neuen und innovativen Forschungsfeld der Architektur des Territoriums.
Territories of Extended Urbanisation
A workshop with leading scholars and researchers on territories of extended urbanisation and a research trip to the three adjoining cities Johor Bahru, Singapore and Batam: two undertakings to develop a thorough understanding of extended urbanization and rethink inherited cartographies of the urban.
Sessions on Territory – Urbanism Beyond Neoliberalism: Project
Urbane und landschaftliche Transformationen, Addis Abeba, 2016. © Sascha Delz, ETH Zürich.
The Doctoral Programme at the ETH Zurich Department of Architecture’s Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS) offers two fellowship positions starting on 1 October 2023. 100%, Zurich-based, fixed-term. Job description
The LUS Doctoral Programme
The Doctoral Programme at the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS), ETH Zurich D-ARCH, focuses on contemporary issues of urban and environmental transformation within their broader socio-cultural, political-economic, and theoretical contexts. The programme seeks to promote critical discourse and to cultivate independent, inventive, and proactive research addressing urgent social and environmental challenges.
The LUS Institute tackles the production of landscape, territory, and human settlements across a range of scales and diverse geographies. Research areas currently in the foreground include studies around landscape and designed ecologies, energy transition, agroecology, hydrology, and regenerative agriculture, adaptive infrastructures, housing, and socio-economic development addressing urban inequality. The geographical focus of the LUS Institute lies mostly within Switzerland, Europe, and across the wider global South.
The doctoral programme at the LUS Institute therefore attempts to bring together the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, urban and territorial design and planning, and the social sciences. Inter- and transdisciplinary research thus lies at the core of the LUS Institute. It is practiced through a diverse set of methodological approaches, both qualitative and quantitative, ranging from ethnographic research and critical cartography to design-based action research, systems research, and urban theory.
Your Profile
We are seeking individuals with a background in architecture, landscape architecture, urban and territorial design and planning, and social sciences, with strong research or design experience that can benefit from the inter- and transdisciplinary engagements offered by the institute.
You must hold a university diploma or master’s degree obtained at university level (equivalent to the FHEQ-Level 7) in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, and social science, or related fields.
You must additionally demonstrate excellent research and writing skills.
Application
Applications must be addressed to the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies rather than to individual professors. Applicants must note that the application will be solely evaluated for their content and the applicants are thus requested to not contact individual professors before applying.
We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents by 15 March 2023, 23:59 CET:
- Letter of motivation (1 page).
- Outline of the proposed research project (max. 4 pages + max. 3 illustrations + bibliography and project timeline).
- Curriculum vitae (including publications, portfolio, and work samples, max. 10 pages).
- Published piece of writing if available (1 text, max. 15 pages)
- Name, affiliation, and email addresses of 2 referees.
Please note that applications missing any of the documents listed above and/or exceeding specified page limits will not be considered for evaluation.
The programme exclusively accepts application documents submitted through the ETH online application portal. Applications submitted via email or postal services will not be considered.
Further information about the programme, the participating faculty and the application process
Application Timeline
- 15 March 2023: Submission deadline (23:59 CET).
- Middle of April 2023: Notification to shortlisted candidates.
- End of April 2023: Interviews with shortlisted candidates.
- Beginning of May 2023: Notification to successful applicants.
- 1 October 2023: Start of programme.
About the Programme
The language of instruction of the doctoral programme is English. With over 25 participants currently enrolled, the LUS Doctoral Programme cultivates both individual research and collective exchange within the doctoral community. These modes of exchange include the LUS methods seminar, institute-wide colloquia, workshops, and doctoral reviews. The LUS Doctoral Programme is part of a larger, highly stimulating environment of doctoral education offered within the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich. A close collaboration with the Doctoral Programme in History and Theory of Architecture offered by the gta Institute has been established.
Participating Chairs at the LUS
While an overall alignment between the research proposed by the candidates and the individual and collective research agendas of the participating chairs at the LUS Institute is desirable, candidates are free to apply with an independent research topic. The following seven chairs currently form part of the LUS Institute:
- Chair of History and Theory of Urban Design, Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete
- Chair of Architecture and Housing, Prof. Maria Conen
- Chair of Landscape Architecture, Prof. Dr. Teresa Galí-Izard
- Chair of Architecture and Urban Design, Prof. Hubert Klumpner
- Chair of Architecture and Urban Transformation, Prof. Freek Persyn
- Chair of Sociology, Prof. Dr. Christian Schmid
- Chair of Architecture and Territorial Planning, Prof. Milica Topalovic
Employment, Residence & Funding
The programme offers to fund for only up to three years. You will receive full employment (100% Pensum), based on the ETH Zurich doctoral student contract, with monthly salaries according to the ‘standard rate’. For a detailed calculation of salaries please refer here.
You are required to take up residency in Zurich during the period of the scholarship.
Further Information
Applicants are requested to refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before approaching the programme coordinator. Only for questions that cannot be addressed through the FAQs contact the doctoral programme coordinator Nitin Bathla at bathla@arch.ethz.ch. Requests sent to any other email will not be considered.