Who we are

ETH Wohnforum - ETH CASE at the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich has been researching and teaching at the interface between social practice and the built environment since 1990. Our work contributes to a resource-​saving and socially acceptable development, planning, design and securing of a livable living environment. The focus is on living as a central area of life and the diverse qualities of the built and lived-​in living space in urban and conurbational areas.

We work on basic principles, strategies and proposals for solutions to questions of housing and long-​term housing production. Our approach is interdisciplinary because we focus on the interplay of socio-​political and scientific-​analytical processes of problem solving.

We work transdisciplinarily by involving our broad network of stakeholders. We are convinced that together with the stakeholders involved we can better define fields of action, reflect on current trends and develop both permanent foundations and practice-​oriented solutions to the central issues of housing and settlement development.

Our approach takes into account the perspective of the users. We draw on our many years of experience in the field of housing research in Switzerland and abroad. 

Our core competencies are basic and application-​oriented research, the dissemination and discussion of current research findings in teaching at the Department of Architecture of the ETH Zurich, and the broad-​based exchange of knowledge and knowledge networks.