Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2017

GESS Science in Perspective Information
Only the topics listed in this paragraph can be chosen as GESS Science in Perspective.
Further below you will find the "type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses.

6 ECTS need to be acquired during the BA and 2 ECTS during the MA

Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.
Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents
Subject-specific courses: Recommended for doctoral, master and bachelor students (after first-year examination only).

Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.

These course units are also listed under "Type A", which basically means all students can enroll
D-ARCH
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
851-0703-00LIntroduction to Law
Students who have attended or will attend the lecture "Introduction to Law for Civil Engineering and Architecture " (851-0703-03L) or " Introduction to Law" (851-0708-00L), cannot register for this course unit.

Particularly suitable for students of D-MAVT, D-MATL
W2 credits2VO.  Streiff Gnöpff
AbstractThis class introduces students into basic features of the legal system. Fundamental issues of constitutional law, administrative law, private law and the law of the EU are covered.
ObjectiveStudents are able to identify basic structures of the legal system. They unterstand selected topics of public and private law and are able to apply the fundamentals in more advanced law classes.
ContentBasic concepts of law, sources of law.
Private law: Contract law (particularly contract for work and services), tort law, property law.
Public law: Human rights, administrative law, procurement law, procedural law.
Insights into the law of the EU and into criminal law.
Lecture notesJaap Hage, Bram Akkermans (Eds.), Introduction to Law, Cham 2014 (Online Resource ETH Library)
LiteratureFurther documents will be available online (see Link).
851-0703-04LLegal Rules in Urban Space Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 60

Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH
W2 credits2VO.  Streiff Gnöpff
AbstractLegal rules are tied to urban space. Illustrative is the relation between land ownership and urban morphology or between zoning and the functional dimension of urban space. Legal concepts (from property law, fundamental rights and administrative law) with spatial impacts are introduced and related to the theory of urban design. Moreover, it is discussed how these concepts shape specific places.
ObjectiveStudents recognize the interplay between legal structures and urban space. They can describe legal concepts with spatial impact. Moreover, they are able to compare legally binding targets with theoretical approaches in urban design. By analysing specific places, students learn to find relevant norms, to analyse and to judge them with regard to urban design theories. Thereby, they are able to distinguish design and policy questions.
ContentUsing the the term «lawscape» (Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos), we initially discuss general aspects of the interplay between legal rules and urban space.

The first part of the course is about the morphological dimension of urban space. We compare positions of urban planners like Trancik (Finding Lost Space) or Rowe/Koetter (Collage City) with property law. Freedom of property in turn contrasts to the theoretical approaches of Bernoulli (Die Stadt und ihr Boden) or Rossi (L'architettura della città). Using court decisions concerning nail houses, we study the tensions between urban development and the system of property ownership.

The second part of the course is about the functional dimension of urban space. Key concept is the zone (cf. CIAM 4). This concept is criticized (Wolfrum, Zoning Bien Défini). We compare the concept as well as the critique with the main concerns in spatial planning law. Environmental law and neighbouring rights are also relevant.

In the third part of the course, we work on the social, visual and temporal dimensions of urban space. The positions of Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities), Cullen (Townscape) or Lynch (The Presence of the Past) are compared with the dichotomy public space/private space, safety regulations, regulations on design reviews or heritage protection laws.

Working tools are theoretical texts, legal rules, court decisions as well as site analyses. Students undertake a case study in small groups. Selected case studies are presented and discussed in a final meeting.
Lecture notesSee Literature.
LiteratureDocuments will be available online (see Link).
Prerequisites / NoticeNumber of participants limited to: 60
851-0724-00LProperty Law for Geometers: Land Registry and Geoinformation Law
Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH, D-BAUG, D-USYS
W2 credits2VM. Huser
AbstractFundamental concepts of Land Register Law and Land Surveying Law (substantive and procedural rules of Land Register Law, the parts and the relevance of the Land Register, process of registration with the Land Register, legal problems of land surveying, reform of the official land surveying).
ObjectiveOverview of the legal norms of land registry and surveying law.
ContentBasic principles of material and formal land registry law, components of the land register, consequences of the land register, the registration process, legal problems of surveying, the reform of official surveying, liability of the geom-eter. The lecture unit is carried out within a frame of 8 sessions (2 hours): the first hour of each is given in the form of a lecture, the second in the form of a case-study.
Lecture notesAbgegebene Unterlagen: Skript in digitaler Form

Pflichtlektüre: Meinrad Huser, Schweizerisches Vermessungsrecht, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Geoinformationsrechts und des Grundbuchrechts, Beiträge aus dem Institut für schweizerisches und internationales Baurecht der Universität Freiburg/Schweiz, Zürich 2014
Literature- Meinrad Huser, Schweizerisches Vermessungsrecht, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Geoinformationsrecht und des Grundbuchrechts, Zürich 2014
- Meinrad Huser, Geo-Informationsrecht, Rechtlicher Rahmen für Geographische Informationssyteme, Zürich 2005
- Meinrad Huser, Darstellung von Grenzen zur Sicherung dinglicher Rechte, in ZBGR 2013, 238 ff.
- Meinrad Huser, Baubeschränkungen und Grundbuch, in BR/DC 4/2016, 197 ff.
- Meinrad Huser, Publikation von Eigentumsbeschränkungen - neue Regeln, in Baurecht 4/2010, S. 169
- Meinrad Huser, Datenschutz bei Geodaten
Prerequisites / NoticeRequirements: Property Law (12-722)
851-0707-00LSpace Planning Law and Environment
Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH, D-BAUG, D-USYS
W2 credits2GO. Bucher
AbstractSystem of swiss planning law,
Constitutional and statutory provisions,
Space planning and fundamental rights,
Instruments,
Application, legal protection, enforcement,
Practical training.
ObjectiveBasic unterstanding of nature and function of space planning from a legal point of view. Basic knowledge of space planning instruments, relationship between space planning and constitutional law (especially property rights), solving of practical cases.
ContentDie Vorlesung basiert wesentlich auf der Mitwirkung der Studenten. Es finden 3 Sitzungen im Hörsaal statt, in welchen sich in der Praxis stellende Probleme erörtert werden. Die Vorbereitung auf die jeweiligen Sitzungen erfolgt an Hand von Fallbearbeitungen und einem Selbststudium an Hand des Lehrbuchs zum Raumplanungs- und Baurecht. Lösen von drei Aufgaben (praktischen Fällen) mit je genügender Leistung für die Erlangung der KP. Als Lernhilfe werden Anleitungen und insbesondere ein Musterfall mit Musterlösung zur Verfügung gestellt.
Lecture notesHaller, Walter/Karlen, Peter, Raumplanung-, Bau- und Umweltrecht, 3.A., Zürich 1999

Hänni, Peter, Planungs-, Bau- und besonderes Umweltschutzrecht, 6.A., Bern 2016
851-0252-01LHuman-Computer Interaction: Cognition and Usability Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 30.

Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH, D-INFK, D-ITET
W3 credits2SI. Barisic, C. Hölscher, S. Ognjanovic
AbstractThis seminar introduces theory and methods in human-computer interaction and usability. Cognitive Science provides a theoretical framework for designing user interfaces as well as a range of methods for assessing usability (user testing, cognitive walkthrough, GOMS). The seminar will provide an opportunity to experience some of the methods in applied group projects.
ObjectiveThis seminar will introduce key topics, theories and methodology in human-computer interaction (HCI) and usability. Presentations will cover basics of human-computer interaction and selected topics like mobile interaction, adaptive systems, human error and attention. A focus of the seminar will be on getting to know evaluation techniques in HCI. Students form work groups that first familiarize themselves with a select usability evaluation method (e.g. user testing, GOMS, task analysis, heuristic evaluation, questionnaires or Cognitive Walkthrough). They will then apply the methods to a human-computer interaction setting (e.g. an existing software or hardware interface) and present the method as well as their procedure and results to the plenary. Active participation is vital for the success of the seminar, and students are expected to contribute to presentations of foundational themes, methods and results of their chosen group project. In order to obtain course credit a written essay / report will be required (details to be specified in the introductory session of the course).
851-0252-03LCognition in Architecture - Designing Orientation and Navigation for Building Users Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 40.

Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH
W3 credits2SV. Schinazi, B. Emo Nax, C. Hölscher
AbstractHow can behavioral and cognitive science inform architecture? This project-oriented seminar investigates contributions of cognitive science to architectural design with an emphasis on orientation and navigation in complex buildings and urban settings. It includes theories on spatial memory and decision-making as well as hands-on observations of behavior in real and virtual reality.
ObjectiveTaking the perspectives of building users (occupants and visitors) is vital for a human-centered design approach. Students will learn about relevant theory and methods in cognitive science and environmental psychology that can be used to understand human behavior in built environments. The foundations of environmental psychology and human spatial cognition will be introduced. A focus of the seminar will be on how people perceive their surroundings, how they orient in a building, how they memorize the environment and how they find their way from A to B. Students will also learn about a range of methods including real-world observation, virtual reality experiments, eye-tracking and behavior simulation for design. Students will reflect on the roles of designers and other stakeholders with respect to human-centered design and an evidence-based design perspective. The seminar is geared towards a mix of students from architecture / planning, engineering, computer science and behavioral science as well as anybody interested in the relation between design and cognition. Architecture students can obtain course credit in "Vertiefungsfach" or "Wahlfach"
851-0144-23LPhilosophical Reflections on Digital Methods in Architecture
Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH
W3 credits2GN. Sieroka, H. Mayer
AbstractThis course provides an introduction to philosophical issues surrounding digital methods and processes in architecture. In particular, key concepts such as process, continuity versus discreteness, and simulation will be discussed from both a philosophical and an architectural perspective in order to establish an awareness of changing world views and of architecture as its expression.
ObjectiveBy the end of the course students are able to precisely describe and compare different interpretations of the given key concepts. They are able to link architectural concepts to philosophical interpretations and show an understanding also of their historical development and mutual influence. In many cases, the origin of these concepts can be traced back to Ancient Greece and shows both important continuities and important discontinuities with contemporary thinking. Students are in a position to critically discuss and evaluate the repercussions of these issues in broader scientific and cultural contexts.
The course is part of ETH's "Critical Thinking"-Initiative and facilitates students' abilities to express their thoughts clearly and effectively (both verbally and in writing).
This course is particularly suitable for students from D-ARCH.
851-0125-71LWhose Responsibility for What? Aspects of Individual and Collective Responsibility
Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH, D-BAUG, D-HEST, D-MTEC, D-USYS
W3 credits2GL. Wingert
AbstractResponsibility is a key concept in ethics: The individual's responsibility is emphasized. Contrary to that, one often points to the limits of a person's responsibility, e.g. for a stock market crash, for greenhouse gas emissions, for injust social conditions. What belongs to to our responsibility as individuals and what to our collective responsibility? And do robots have responsibilities?
Objective1. Certain concepts should be clarified: e.g., the very meaning of "being responsible for one's actions and its consequences". To what extent are we responsible for the social conditions we find ourselves in?

2. One theoretical position in the philosophy of sociality holds that only individual persons (and not firms, institutions, or states) can be responsible for action and social conditions. Students should be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this thesis (methodological individualism).

3. What does responsibility mean in special social spheres like the economy and the sciences? What does a citizen's collective and personal responsibility consist in?
851-0252-08LEvidence-Based Design: Methods and Tools For Evaluating Architectural Design Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 40
Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH
W3 credits2SB. Emo Nax, M. Brösamle, C. Hölscher
AbstractStudents are taught a variety of analytic techniques that can be used to evaluate architectural design. The concept of evidence-based design is introduced, and complemented with theoretical background on space syntax and spatial cognition. This is a project-oriented course, students implement a range of methods on a sample project. The course is tailored for architecture design students.
ObjectiveThe course aims to teach students how to evaluate a design project from the perspective of the end user. The concept of evidence-based design is introduced through a series of case studies. Students are given a theoretical background in space syntax and spatial cognition, with a view to applying this knowledge during the design process. The course covers a range of methods including visibility analysis, network analysis, conducting real-world observations, and virtual reality for architectural design. Students apply these methods to a case study of their choice, which can be at building or urban scale. For students taking a B-ARCH or M-ARCH degree, this can be a completed or ongoing design studio project. The course gives students the chance to implement the methods iteratively and explore how best to address the needs of the eventual end-user during the design process.

The course is tailored for students studying for B-ARCH and M-ARCH degrees. As an alternative to obtaining D-GESS credit, architecture students can obtain course credit in "Vertiefungsfach" or "Wahlfach".
052-0723-17LSociology: Planetary Urbanization - a Theory Seminar Information W2 credits2SC. Schmid
AbstractIn the last decades, urbanization has become a planetary phenomenon, leading to an intense debate about a new conceptionalization of urbanization. This theory seminar aims at giving an introduction into the actual debate on planetary urbanization, into urban theory, theoretical thinking and the work with scientific texts.
ObjectiveThis elective course highlights the sociological perspective on architectural practice and provides an introduction to sociological research.
It focuses on two main procedures: on the one hand, a systematic reading and discussion of theoretical texts, and on the other, empirical case studies of social aspects of the production of the built environment. In this course, a wide set of qualitative research methods is used (including various forms of interview, participant observation, image and text analyses). This approach enables students to gain their own experience by dealing with the various participants and constellations in the social field of architecture and building construction, and to familiarize themselves with the approaches and perceptions of various different participants.
ContentIn the last decades, urbanization has become a planetary phenomenon. Urban areas are extending their reach, and a whole range of urban phenomena are emerging, such as:
The implosion and explosion of urban regions.
The disintegration of contiguous "hinterlands".
Corridor urbanization.
The industrialization of agricultural areas.
The production of extended urban fabrics of logistics.
The creation and extension of operational landscapes.
The end of the "wilderness".
The urbanization of ocean space.

In this theory seminar we read and discuss a series of recent papers and book chapters which analyze these new phenomena of planetary urbanization.
LiteratureThe relevant texts will be distributed in the seminar. A very good overview is provided in the following edited volume: Brenner, Neil (ed.): Implosions / Explosions: Towards a Study of Planetary Urbanization. Jovis, Berlin, 2014.
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