Philipp Urech

Topology HS 2025 – Habitat Infill

In this course, we will explore the conditions of a new climate scenario for Zurich, projecting a shift from a temperate to a subtropical climate zone, a transition likely to occur by 2070. Course participants will be asked to investigate this future scenario by juxtaposing existing environments, collecting urban landscape and vegetation samples south of the Alps (Ticino) and transposing them to Zurich.

Places in Transition

The exhibition Places in Transition explores transformations of the urban space of Zürich through a trans-temporal perspective. At the heart of the exhibition are student projects developed at the Large-scale Virtualization and Modeling Lab at ETH Zurich.

QUALISCAPES

QUALISCAPES, part of NRP81 Baukultur, investigates how globalization and standardized development erode the unique character of Swiss cultural landscapes and weaken people’s sense of place. Drawing on design, geography, land system science, social sciences, and cognitive psychology, the project develops participatory strategies to activate placemaking and foster attachment, identity, and stewardship.

Topology FS 2025 – Subtropical Blend

In this course, we will explore the conditions of a new climate scenario for Zurich, projecting a shift from a temperate to a subtropical climate zone, a transition likely to occur by 2070. Course participants will be asked to investigate this future scenario by juxtaposing existing environments, collecting urban landscape and vegetation samples south of the Alps (Ticino) and transposing them to Zurich.

Gertrudstrasse, Zürich

Topology course “Subtropical Blend” led by Matthias Vollmer and Philipp Urech. Authors: Cedric Rytz, Leo Aebli, Matteo Baggenstos, David Bergmann, Gaibul Bhullar, Yuzhe Che, Wen Tsung Chen, Zoe Gyr, Nils Hayoz, Ludwig Henke, Yida Hou, Adrian Kramser, Lara Krieger, Marin Nussbaumer, Timm Rogenmoser, Yuxuan Shi, Mert Ünal, Philippe Wegmann, Colin Wiebking, Hoi Yan Young, Shuyuan Zhang, Mariah Derkach.

Limmernsee, Glarus

Course “Historic Ground” in the lecture series Digital Design Methods III led by Philipp Urech | Authors: Helin Can, Aikaterini Katsarou, Nathan Loretan, Viral Mehta, Aamirah Nakhuda, Isabelle Nguyen, Antonina Nikolic, Yuxuan Shi, Ni-Chin Tsai, Uxía Varela Exposito, Shurui Wang.

Wienfluss, Wien

Design Studio TUW “Making Greenways” led by Philipp Urech and Susann Ahn. Authors: Alfons Mairhofer, Kathrin Maneval, Julian Sonnleitner, Thomas Buchsteiner, Michael Krammer, Greta Bastian, Alexander Hövel, Stella Morgenstern, Andreas Baumann, Niko Ugljanin, Katrina Herre, Luisa Moser, Isidora Stevanovic, Daniel Kith, Pia Larcher, Lena Peisser.

Wolfbach, Zürich

Topology course “Breaking Ground” led by Matthias Vollmer and Philipp Urech. Authors: Elias Böhnlein, Olivier Knecht, Fabio Tehlar, Idoya Ferro Carrión, Ilu Demont, Luana Bearth, Aikaterini Katsarou, Francisco Coch, Jann Märki, Nadia Schib, Rifa Chowdhury, Anna Kotasz, Severin Hitz, Raphael Baumann, Sofie Klaus, Ella Castellani.

DDM III FS 2023 – Remote Investigation Studio

To train workflows for large-scale landscape architectural design, students work on a Remote Investigation Study (RIS) on the topography and floods in the urbanized high plains of Antananarivo, Madagascar. This course covers the most important digital methods in landscape architecture, from data
collection to 2D and 3D modelling, analysis and simulation with various software solutions to visualizations and prototypes.

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Design Studio “Madagascar Hand Made” led by Christophe Girot, with Philipp Urech. Authors: Manon Amsler, Matteo Cadei, Catherine Goy, Pascal Hiestand, Laura Klinnert Vlachopoulou, Noemi Koch, Sofia Nava, Samuel Varrin, Alan von Arx Carrascal, Sarah von Steiger, Aline Vonderwahl, Josephine West, Audrey Würges, Qianer Zhu.