Freek Persyn, Lukas Fink, Charlotte Schaeben, Rory McGrath (editors)
2025
The publication Working on Transformation documents and systematises the teaching experiments, undertaken by NEWROPE over the past six years.
It grew out of lived experiences, such as student projects, research initiatives, travels, and encounters, that took place at the Chair of Architecture and Urban Transformation at ETH Zürich. The book is organised around four verbs — ‘to project’, ‘to experience’, ‘to sequence’, and ‘to activate’ — each representing both a learning strategy and an approach to expand the boundaries of architecture and urban transformation. It offers approaches, attitudes, and possible actions, inviting readers to imagine and implement alternative scripts, and to connect with people and environments in ways that open up space for change. The book is designed to be held close, carried around, and frequently referenced as a habitual working companion to address complex contemporary challenges.
Published by InOtherWords
ISBN 978-1-9192118-0-0
Booklaunch
The editors, Freek Persyn, Lukas Fink, and Charlotte Schaeben, will present the book, followed by a conversation on our pedagogical approach and its relationship with practice. Joining us for the discussion will be Marc Angélil, Adrien Comte, Maria Conen, the students Leon Weissheimer and Tabea Meienhofer, the NEWROPE teaching team Juan Barcia Mas, Ellena Ehrl, Sophia Garner, Michiel van Iersel, as well as members of the audience.
Date: 12 November 2025, 18:30
Place: Design in Dialogue Lab (ONA), ETH Zürich, Neunbrunnenstrasse 50, 8050 Zürich Oerlikon
Followed by an apéro by former student, gardener, and cook Nicolas Rolle




