L’urbanisme comme pratique transculturelle. Le travail de Michel Ecochard

La biographie de Michel Ecochard (1905–1985) évoque une fascinante saga de migrations entre géographies, cultures et disciplines. Ecochard a suivi une formation en archéologie, architecture et urbanisme, mais également exercé dans toutes ces disciplines au cours de sa carrière. Il a notamment cartographié des monuments historiques en Syrie, Plus

Communautés de connaissance tacite: architecture et ses moyens de connaissance

Les «communautés de connaissance tacite» se concentrent sur la «connaissances tacite» en architecture et en urbanisme. La connaissance tacite est un type spécifique de connaissance utilisée par les architectes lors de la conception; elle est incarnée par les vecteurs matériels avec lesquels ils conçoivent – depuis les traités Plus

Sur la trace du virus: le balcon

Au cours des derniers mois, la liberté de mouvement de nombreuses personnes a été limitée de par le monde. Dans le but de diminuer les effets du virus Covid-19, les personnes ont été incitées à rester chez elle et à limiter strictement leur présence dans l’espace public. Heureusement, Plus

Agadir. Les règles communes et l’Afropolis moderne

Après sa destruction par un tremblement de terre dévastateur en 1960, la ville d’Agadir (Maroc) a conçu un plan moderne et innovant pour sa reconstruction à base de nouvelles typologies et morphologies urbaines. Cette recherche documente et analyse la reconstruction urbaine d’Agadir et estime que ce projet exemplaire Plus

Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete | Histoire et théorie de l’urbanisme

Tom Avermaete est professeur d’histoire et de théorie de l’urbanisme à l’ETH Zurich depuis 2018. Ses recherches se concentrent sur l’architecture de la ville et les rôles, approches et outils en évolution des architectes et urbanistes selon une perspective transculturelle.

Exploring Urban Scale Models

Urban scale models are crucial for communicating urban design ideas between various stakeholders, from those directly involved in a project – e.g. client, developer, contractor, municipality – to the broader public. However, our knowledge about this tool is limited. Understanding the shifting role of urban design from the Plus

Co-opolis: The Collective Production of the City

Video now online! As urbanization intensifies all over the world, so do contestations over how city space is produced. Citizens, politicians, urban designers and architects become increasingly aware of the fact that the city can no longer be solely developed as the playing field of private interests or Plus

Urban Design as Commoning: Remembering the History of Participation

Under the headers of ‘collaboration’, ‘participatory design’ and ‘co-production’ participation is nowadays at the centre of the debate on urban design. Architects and urban designers are developing new concepts, tools and roles to comply with these new participatory modi operandi. However, it seems that it is sometimes forgotten Plus

The City Represented: Visions of Urban Living

14 May | 15:00–17:00 | Final Presentations Seminar | ETH Zurich Hönggerberg, HPT C 103 Lecturer: Dr. Cathelijne Nuijsink. This seminar takes a long-running international housing ideas competition from Japan to identify key topics in architecture culture.

Bloomsbury Studies in Modern Architecture: Sibyl Moholy-Nagy

5 March, 18:00 | Launch Book Series | Rote Hölle, HIL, ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg With Prof. Hilde Heynen (KU Leuven). With this series, the commissioning editors, Tom Avermaete and Janina Gosseye, aim to develop a more comprehensive historiography of the modern movement by bringing to light the work Plus

Public Space: The Real and the Ideal

5th Biennial Conference of the International Society for the Philosophy of Architecture. 2 to 5 July 2021 | Monte Verità (near Locarno), Switzerland.

Call for Papers: Public Space – the Real and the Ideal

Call for papers by 6th January 2020. The aim of the conference is to stress ideas and ideals on public space, both in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, as well as in (political) philosophy, against the background of the continuous development of technology, from smart phone to smart Plus

Collective Actors and the Production of the City: Urban Commons in Research

In her book Governing the Commons (1990), political economist and Nobel prize winner Elinor Ostrom identified spaces and infrastructures as ‘common resources’ fostered by groups of citizens in order to resist top-down governance and commodification. Today, the notion of the ‘urban commons’ appears as an index for historians Plus

gta Invites

Four sessions on selected Wednesdays, 12:00–13:00 | ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg, HIL D 57.1 (gta Ausstellungen hall) | Lecture Series. The «gta Invites» lecture series brings guests from outside the gta institute in dialogue with members of its staff to discuss forms and methods of research, and other frameworks for the organization of Plus

Methodological Workshop: Writing Commons Histories

9 October, 14:00–16:00 | ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg, HIL D 75.1 | By registration only. This methodological workshop discusses how the historiography of the city could be articulated through the lens of citizen action and common resources. What sets of collective actors, both organized or informal, emerge as alternative topics of research? What methodological Plus

Architects Don’t Build the «Oikos»

In many countries around the globe, the political landscape has been shaken by the rise of nationalist politics. With a right-wing agenda and emphasise on identity, it opposes the alleged left-wing elite. Newcomer to the tribe in The Netherlands is Thierry Baudet, who holds a PhD in legal Plus

Architecture Monogram 2: Anouk Vogel, Soliloquy

Architecture Monogram is a book series on emerging architects, landscape designers, photographers, and writers from Belgium and the Netherlands in which the designers reveal the personal obsessions and motivations that stimulate their design process. In this second issue of the series Swiss-Dutch landscape architect Anouk Vogel reflects upon Plus

Summer School: Visualizing the Architecture Competition as «Contact Zone»

4-10 September | ETH Zürich, Hönggerberg campus, D-ARCH, gta Exhibitions This intensive international summer school investigates the «contact zone» as a new methodological tool to better understand the global-ness of architecture production. For one full week students work in a real exhibition venue (gta Exhibitions) to theorize and visualize Plus

Tom Avermaete, Against Architectural Amnesia

Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete from the chair for History and Theory of Urban Design is now part of the NSL. Learn in our interview how he investigates the basis of the discipline, brings non-Western experiences to the spotlight, and provides a basis for dealing with contemporary urban issues.

Acculturating the Shopping Centre

Acculturating the Shopping Centre examines whether the shopping centre should be qualified as a global architectural type that effortlessly moves across national and cultural borders in the slipstream of neo-liberal globalization, or should instead be understood as a geographically and temporally bound expression of negotiations between mall developers Plus

Colloquium: Writing Global Histories

17 May 2019, 09:00–12:00 | ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg, HIT E 51 (Siemens-Auditorium). Convened by Tom Avermaete and Cathelijne Nuijsink. Our histories of urban design and architecture remain sur­ prisingly eurocentric, while important developments occur in other geographies. This colloquium explores the possibili­ ties of a more global perspective Plus

Colloquium: Urban Commons: Exploring the Collective Architectural Resources of the City

3 April 2019, 09:30–15:30 | ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg, HIL E4. The architecture of the city has always been based on a set of common codes and conventions. Explicated in texts, drawings and models or tacitly defined as compositional principles, typological choices or construction modes, these codes and conventions Plus

The City as Commons: A History of Architectural Codes and Convention

2 April 2019, 17:00–18:00 | ETH Zurich, Zentrum, Auditorium Maximum (HG F 30). Inaugural Lecture of Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete. The architecture of the city has always been based on a set of common codes and conventions. Explicated in texts, drawings and models or tacitly defined as compositional Plus

Book launch: The Shopping Centre: A Malleable Type

13 March 2019, 17:00–19:00 | HIL H 40.4 (Plaza). To celebrate the publication of Acculturating the Shopping Centre and the soft­cover edition of Shopping Towns Europe, Prof. Margaret Crawford (UC Berkeley), Paul Robbrecht (Robbrecht en Daem architecten) and Thomas Volstorf (Riken Yamamoto; Field Shop) will give brief presentations Plus

Urban and Rural Transformations, Addis Ababa, 2016. © Sascha Delz, ETH Zürich.
Transformations urbaines et du paysage, Addis Abeba, 2016. © Sascha Delz, ETH Zürich.

Call for applications

The Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS) at the ETH Zurich Department of Architecture invites applications for one doctoral fellowship position. The fellowship will start on 1 October 2025, with a 100% workload, based in Zurich, and is fixed-term for three-and-a-half  years.

The LUS Doctoral Programme

The doctoral programme at the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS), ETH Zurich D-ARCH, tackles contemporary challenges in urban and environmental transformation within broader socio-cultural, political-economic, and theoretical contexts. In light of the planetary crises, the programme fosters critical discourse and supports independent, innovative, and proactive research aimed at addressing urgent socio-ecological issues.

The LUS Institute examines the production of landscapes, territories, and human settlements across various scales and diverse global geographies, including Switzerland, Europe, and other territories in the so-called Global North and Global South. Key research areas encompass designed ecologies, energy landscapes, agroecology, hydrology, regenerative agriculture, adaptive infrastructures, more-than-human landscapes, indigenous territories, housing, and socio-economic development.

The doctoral programme at the Institute adopts an inter- and transdisciplinary approach, integrating architecture, landscape architecture, urban and territorial design, planning, urban theory and history, as well as the social sciences. It embraces a diverse range of methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, ranging from multispecies ethnography to critical cartography and participatory action research to non-representational methodologies.

The doctoral programme is conducted in English and currently has an enrolment of 25 participants. The LUS doctoral programme encourages both individual research and collaborative engagement within the doctoral community, fostering a vibrant academic environment. The programme offers a variety of platforms for interaction and exchange, including the LUS methods seminar, institute-wide colloquia, workshops, and doctoral reviews. Embedded in the dynamic doctoral education environment of the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich, the LUS doctoral programme maintains an active collaboration with the doctoral programme at the Institute of History and Theory of Architecture (gta), ETH Zurich. This collaboration enhances interdisciplinary perspectives and expands research opportunities for participants.

Participating Chairs at the LUS

While it is advantageous for the proposed research to align with the individual and/or collective research agendas of the participating chairs at the LUS Institute, candidates are also encouraged to apply with independent research topics that resonate with the Institute’s broader areas of expertise and competencies.

The LUS Institute currently consists of seven chairs, each contributing uniquely to its diverse research landscape:

Job description

Employment, Residence & Funding

The programme provides funding for up to three-and-a-half years. Successful candidates will be employed at 100% Pensum under the ETH Zurich doctoral student contract, with monthly salaries based on the standard ETH Zurich rates. For a detailed calculation of salaries, please refer to this link.

Residency in Zurich is required for the duration of the scholarship.

Applicant Profile

We are seeking individuals with a background in architecture, landscape architecture, urban and territorial design and planning, and the social sciences, who have strong research or design experience and can benefit from the inter- and transdisciplinary engagements offered by the Institute.

Applicants must hold a university diploma or master’s degree obtained at university level (equivalent to FHEQ Level 7) in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, social sciences, or related fields.

Additionally, applicants should demonstrate excellent research and writing skills.

We offer

The programme provides funding for up to three-and-a-half years. You will be employed at 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 to this link.

You are required to take up residency in Zurich during the period of the scholarship. Working, teaching and research at ETH Zurich

We value diversity

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

Curious? So are we.

Applications should be addressed directly to the Institute of Landscape and Urban Studies (LUS), rather than to individual professors. Please note that applications will be evaluated solely based on their content; applicants are therefore requested not to contact individual professors prior to applying.We look forward to receiving your online application, including the following documents by 15 March 2025, 23:59 CET:

1.     Letter of Motivation (1 page).

2.     Outline for the Proposed Research Project (4 pages + addendums). The document should include the research title, a review of the current state-of-the-art related to the proposed topic, clearly defined research questions, articulated aims and objectives, anticipated formats for publication, and the rationale for why the LUS Institute is an ideal host for the proposed research. The main content must adhere to the 4-page limit, using 11 pt font and single-spacing. Supplementary pages may include up to three illustrations (maps, drawings, images), a bibliography, and a project timeline.

3.     Curriculum Vitae (including publications, portfolio, and work samples, maximum 10 pages).

4.     Published Piece of Writing (if available, 1 text, maximum 15 pages).

5.     Names, Affiliations, and Email Addresses of 2 Referees

Please note that applications missing any of the required documents listed above and/or exceeding the 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 mail will not be considered.

For further information about the programme, the participating faculty, and the application process, please visit this page.

Application Timeline

Further Information

Applicants are asked to consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before reaching out. If your question is not covered there, you may contact the doctoral programme coordinator, Nazlı Tümerdem, at tuemerdem@arch.ethz.ch. Requests sent to any other email addresses will not be considered.

You may apply via this link.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)



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Application period: 1 February 2024 – 30 April 2024. Master of Advanced Studies in Urban and Territorial Design ETH Zürich D-ARCH LUS and EPFL ENAC HRC joint master programme.

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