PhD Position : Spatialization Tools in Co-Design Processes

PhD Position:

Diagrams, Drawings, Models, et al.:
Spatialization Tools in Co-Design Processes

Laboratory: ALICE (Atelier de la Conception de l’Espace)
Location: EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
Project Framework: SNSF Project "Infrastructural Baukultur: Co-Design Methodologies for the Transformation of Swiss Cantonal Roads into Passage-Paysages"

The ALICE (Atelier de la Conception de l’Espace) laboratory led by Prof. Dieter Dietz at EPFL, Switzerland, is looking for a PhD candidate to study spatial analysis and design tools within co-design processes. Based in Lausanne, the ALICE laboratory is a network of international and diverse people, triggered by the common thirst to lead projects at the crossroad of design, philosophy and society. The candidate will work within the framework of the 4-year project "Infrastructural Baukultur: Co-Design Methodologies for the Transformation of Swiss Cantonal Roads into Passage-Paysages", part of the SNSF National Research Program on Baukultur (https://www.nfp81.ch/en).

About the Project. Infrastructure is an essential but still overlooked part of Baukultur, articulating in space the exchange of goods, people, or ideas, while informing the sociocultural environment of everyday life. Streets and roads are the main public space where society takes shape. However, in many Swiss cities, road space is still very much defined by car traffic. In Switzerland, cantonal roads have historically connected city centres to their peripheries, recently becoming the territorial backbones of urban densification projects. This makes them a key pressure point to address the links between mobility, urban infrastructure and cultural landscape. In this project, the laboratories ALICE (with a focus on space and design) and OUVEMA (with a focus on active mobility), will co-design with stakeholders a series of scenarios for the transformation of cantonal roads into Passage-Paysages, green infrastructures for active mobility.

We will do so using co-design methodologies, which can make complex transformations as those more socially and environmentally acceptable and thus sustainable in the long term. We will work with a consortium of official and civil partners in the cities of Fribourg, West Lausanne, and Geneva, as well as an interdisciplinary group of scholars ranging from social sciences, anthropology, environmental engineering, history or policy-making. Our contributive methodology actively engages citizens and stakeholders using probing, generative, and prototyping tools to foster dialogue, translate concerns, encourage inclusivity and build shared visions. These tools rely on spatialization tools like maps, diagrams, drawings, or models, wherein space operates as translator and common ground between different disciplines and stakeholders.

PhD Position Description. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with an architectural/urban/landscape background to contribute to this project by exploring and developing spatialization tools for urban co-design.

The candidate will:

• Conduct a genealogy of spatialization tools in architectural and urban co-design, tracing their evolution throughout history, with a special focus on the 20th and 21st centuries.
• Develop innovative tools and methodologies for contemporary urban co-design.
• Actively participate in testing environments to refine these tools in real-world scenarios.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and engage with citizens and stakeholders to integrate actionable knowledge into the project.

The candidates should have proven skills in drawing and design (as shown either in professional or undergrad/graduate work), as well as knowledge of QGIS and Autocad or VectorWorks. Knowledge and/or keen interest in other software and technologies is welcomed (e.g. 3D modeling, prototyping tools, etc.). Excellent communication skills and willingness to work with a diversity of actors and disciplines. Although the research will be led in English, the work with the partners will be done in French, so a basic knowledge of French (and/or a willingness to learn it) is needed.

What We Offer

• Access to EPFL’s dynamic research environment, one of Europe’s leading institutions in science and technology, and to its state-of-the-art facilities, including workshops, digital fabrication labs, and libraries, to support your research.
• Being part of the community of ALICE, collaborating with an international and diverse group of PhD candidates, researchers, and experts in a stimulating academic setting.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration with the broader project team, offering exposure to cutting-edge research in urban and environmental design and mobility.
• The opportunity to contribute to an innovative, high-impact project
• Professional development opportunities to develop an academic carreer in architectural and urban design.
• A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, aligned with Swiss academic standards, ensuring a supportive work-life balance.

Application Process

To apply, please submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter describing your motivation and fit for the position.
2. A detailed CV, including academic background, technical skills, and relevant experience.
3. A portfolio showcasing relevant work
4. Contact information for two references.

Applications can be entered online here:
https://careers.epfl.ch/job/Lausanne-PhD-Position-Diagrams%2C-Drawings%2C-Models%2C-et-al_-Spatialization-Tools-in-Co-Design-Processes/940383374/

Informal enquiries can be addressed to the attention of Lucía Jalón Oyarzun, ALICE’s Head of Research at lucia.jalonoyarzun@epfl.ch

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Starting Date

The position is expected to start in Spring 2025.