Beyond the Object

The space-creation experiment continued: volume 3 of the four-part series from ALICE at EPFL's School of Architecture

The Atelier de la Conception de l'Espace (ALICE), affiliated with the School of Architecture at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, is an educational facility focusing on preparing students for the practice of architecture. Its curriculum is guided by the belief that students must be confronted with an educational framework preparing them for architecture's many practical challenges, from cultural, social, environmental, and physical concerns to working with the wide range of collaborators who must bring their creativity and expertise together in the design process.

The third volume in a four-part series on ALICE's teachings, Beyond the Object follows up on The House 1 Catalogue and The Invention of Space, proposing an alternative cultural history of architecture derived from the notion of spatial design rather than technical engineering and construction. Among the topics discussed are the common and scientific understandings of space and how they can be applied to contemporary architectural practice. Using Zurich as an exemplar of urban planning and development, the new volume combines fact with fiction to broaden the view upon future scenarios.

ALICE plays a key role in the success of one of Europe's leading schools of architecture, and this book, together with the three other volumes in the series, provides an opportunity to explore the exceptional learning environment ALICE offers.

• New third volume of the four-part series on the creation of architectural space from EPLF's innovative Atelier de la conception de l'espace (ALICE)
• Explores questions of space creation, public and private space in urban design with a global scope

• Continues the series' original novel-like narrative combining text, graphics, and images

  Autorentext

Dieter Dietz is an architect and associate professor at the EPFL's School of Architecture, where he directs ALICE.

Matthias Michel is a writer, communication designer, and lecturer at Zurich University of
the Arts ZHdK.

Daniel Zamarbide is an architect and co-founder of Geneva-based architectural firm Bureau A.

Klappentext

ALICE - das Atelier de la conception de l'espace - ist ein Ausbildungslabor an der Fakultät für Umwelt und Architektur der École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Unter dem Reihentitel «All About Space» teilt ALICE seine anregenden Experimente in vier Büchern, die im Jahresturnus erscheinen, mit einer breiteren Öffentlichkeit. Der dritte Band «Beyond the Object: The Imagination of Space» schliesst an «The Invention of Space» und «The House 1 Catalogue» an und entwirft eine alternative Kulturgeschichte der Architektur auf Basis der räumlichen Konzeption. Thematisiert werden dabei die gebräuchlichsten und wissenschaftlich verbreitetsten Definitionen von Raum sowie ihre Anwendung in der zeitgenössischen Architekturproduktion. Zürich dient dabei als Fallbeispiel für Stadtplanung und Entwicklung. Auch der neue Band vereint wieder Fakten mit Fiktion, Spekulation und Wissenschaft, um uns eine erweiterte Perspektive auf mögliche zukünftige Szenarien zu bieten.