Averting Harm

Fixing the architecture office, towards a less extractive practice.

"Fix the Office" examines the way architects produce economic value and how to change the exploitative business model of "the office" toward addressing the social and climate emergency. It explores how architects can design emancipated forms of practice for themselves that then translate into spatial solutions for the ongoing social, ecological, and political crises.

Our response,

“Association contre la spéculation immobilière Lausanne” (CSIL) was established in April 2024 as a proactive response to Lausanne’s pressing housing crisis requiring the densification.

We are a multidisciplinary collective of architects, engineers, and legal professionals.

Our core belief is that enhancing housing capacity within existing council estates presents a more sustainable and socially responsible approach than redeveloping these areas for capital investment. This strategy not only addresses the urgent need for affordable housing but also preserves the integrity of community bonds.

CSIL envision a future where communities thrive in sustainably renovated spaces that respect both the environment and the rights of those who call these places home. Our initiative aims to transform the traditional real estate paradigm by emphasizing renovation over reconstruction, thereby preserving cultural heritage, minimizing environmental impact, and enhancing the quality of life for tenants.

The case of Bonne Esperance,

Built in 1959, the residential building at Chemin de Bonne Espérance 18-20 in Lausanne has 40 apartments and 76 tenants. Featuring off-white stucco, long balconies, and a red tile roof, it was last renovated in 2007. Located near public transport and parks, the building is accessible and well-equipped.

In 2014, Bakker & Blanc won a design contest to replace the building with a new structure adding 10 apartments. However, the project was not executed until IMMOFONDS Immobilien AG acquired the building in 2020. IMMOFONDS then sought demolition, claiming poor condition, leading to the eviction of long-term tenants. Despite legal protections in Vaud, the commune approved the demolition.

An architect living in the building discovered the demolition plans only after procedures had started. This lack of communication led to the architect and our association intervening to challenge the demolition and advocate for preservation.

Our strategy involves three levels of action,

1. Micro Scale: Use existing laws to challenge the demolition. We are examining technical and procedural mistakes, such as failure to notify tenants as required by law, to halt or delay the project.

2. Macro Scale: Propose changes to local laws (LPPPL) to improve housing preservation. We advocate for stricter conditions and professional reports for demolition permits.

3. Mega Scale: At the federal level, propose 17 new laws across three areas—spatial regulations, energy consumption, and social equity—to promote less extractive practices and improve housing policies.

This project represents a new approach for architects to engage in activism and address issues of housing justice. While perfect solutions may be unattainable, our goal is to mitigate harm and advocate for better practices.

For the full project, Download the case study booklet.

The team: Albert Assy, Ecenaz Ozkorkut & Debora Pereira

Supervised by Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (Prof., PhD) and assisted by Kathlyn Kao (Assist., PhD), Studio RIOT believes that design disciplines must pivot and wholeheartedly address the current social and climatic urgencies by rewiring themselves towards mitigating and repairing the harm. The research and design laboratory RIOT (Research and Innovation On architecture, urban design, and Territory) within the Institute of Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-EPFL employs tactics and strategies to radicalize the field—by design.

In the first phase of the semester, students conducted research into architectural practices at large, including interviews and in-depth studies of various organizational systems, aiming to understand global needs and identify ways to transform and improve the field. The second phase focused on addressing an ongoing architectural crisis at one of four different sites in Lausanne, founding a full architecture office, and reforming architectural practices towards less extractive methods.