Under the theme “Valuable Living Spaces—Designing for Historic Buildings,” the focus of the design studio is on the architectural engagement with listed buildings.. After spending the last two semesters exploring the future and adaptive reuse of monastic complexes from different eras—the Baroque Einsiedeln Abbey and the Ilanz Monastery from the 1960s – we will focus on living in valuable spaces for the next two semesters.
In HS 26, we turn our attention to Venice. Today, only about 50,000 people live there, and the city loses about a thousand more residents each year. At the same time, daily life is increasingly being displaced by up to 30 million tourists a year: Rising rents are making housing unaffordable, and stores selling everyday necessities are giving way to tourist-oriented businesses.
The semester centers on the listed Casa Cardinal Piazza in Cannaregio. The historic complex comprises two 16th-century palazzi, annexes, a magnificent garden, and historic workshops and warehouses along the lagoon. Today, it houses a guesthouse, a retirement home, and the living quarters of the nuns who run it. The complex is considered an important testament to the historical residential and architectural culture of Venetian residences. As part of the semester, the complex will be opened up to the local population and expanded to include additional living space that integrates sensitively with the existing structure while preserving its character. To this end, we will examine various Venetian residential building typologies and develop them further, taking the existing structure carefully into account.
The overarching learning objectives are to recognise the importance of research and careful observation in assessing the built environment and to identify its hidden potential as the foundation of responsible action. We learn directly from the building by examining details, construction methods, building phases, and craft techniques, applying, questioning, and developing principles of preservation. From these insights, we develop architectural narratives that expand existing boundaries of what is possible while respecting the spatial, historical and societal qualities of the site. Our aim is to create precise architectural designs at various scales, down to constructive detail, that enter into a respectful dialogue with the valuable existing fabric while also expressing independent, contemporary qualities.
Bischof Föhn Architecture
Starting in the fall semester 2025, Stephan Bischof and Norbert Föhn, together with Silke Langenberg, will co-lead the design studio in the context of preservation of historical buildings at the Institute for Preservation and Construction History of ETH Zurich.
Since founding their office in 2012, Bischof Föhn have dedicated their work to public buildings and housing, with a particular focus on building within existing structures. Conversions, extensions, and refurbishment of listed buildings form the core of their practice, always with a clear emphasis on sustainability. Central themes in their work include balancing preservation, addition, and renewal, as well as strategies such as repair and re-use.
In recent years, they have won several competitions for existing buildings. Completed projects include the refurbishment of the Nordstrasse school building, the pioneering re-use project Kindergarten Mööslistrasse in Zurich, and the restoration of the Höngg Local History Museum. They are currently working on, among other things, the restoration and expansion of the Oberrieden Lake Police Station and the refurbishment and expansion of the Steinacker school complex in Winterthur and the Kappelerhof school complex in Baden.
Both studied architecture at ETH Zurich. Before founding their office, Stephan Bischof gained experience in renowned offices in Basel and Zurich. Norbert Föhn worked as a research assistant at ETH’s Institute for Preservation, where he studied building conservation, construction techniques, and sustainable renewal. He also served on the board of FEB, the SIA specialist group for building preservation. Alongside their projects, both are active in architectural juries and lectures—an expression of their commitment to advancing the practice of building within existing contexts.
Cooperation
The semester will be accompanied by the Chair of Landscape Architecture led by Martina Voser, adding a deeper landscape-oriented perspective to the investigations—with a particular focus on engaging with water, an omnipresent element in Venice, and on the complex transitions between interior and exterior spaces.
Team
Teaching Team: Prof. Dr. Silke Langenberg, Stephan Bischof, Norbert Föhn, Elischa Bischof, Matthias Brücke, Sarah Gemoll, Diego Zhangi
Prof. Martina Voser, Martin Zwahlen
Methodology
Analysis in groups of four and project work in pairs
Excursion to Venice: 27–30 September 2026
Integrated elective course worth 2 ECTS credits
Costs
Semester and excursion incl. accommodation: CHF 200
(plus train travel: approx. CHF 150, or individual travel arrangements)