052-0729-18L  Prefab Society: Swiss Modular Building Systems between Social Utopia and Pressure of Use

SemesterAutumn Semester 2018
LecturersM. A. Glaser, E. Hinz, T. Schlinzig
Periodicitynon-recurring course
Language of instructionGerman


AbstractThe research seminar aims to analyze examples of Swiss modular buildings dating from the 1940s to -70s using diverse empirical material. The main focus is on the interaction between built and social/ cultural structures: how do social relations and living conditions during post-war modernism impact on the building process and how does the built environment retroact on society?
Objective- basic understanding of selected approaches in the field of sociology of architecture
- introduction to empirical methods of semantic text and image analysis
- understanding of complex interactions of built and social environment in a subject related context
- first experiences with an interdisciplinary research context
- awareness for sociological, cultural and political dynamics linked to architectural planning and design
- overview of Swiss modular building systems of the 1940s to -70s
ContentModular building systems* have been extremely popular in the 20th century and continue to impact on architects‘ work today due to their proven innovation in rationalization and design principals.
With a high number and spread of serially produced buildings on one hand, and their importance for architectural and social history on the other hand, their current relevance is clear.

During the research seminar, we will be focussing on the critical/ popular reception of modular building systems at the time of their construction. Research will be organised in workgroups analyzing design, drawing, visualization, text and documentation. Based on a broad selection of empirical material we aim to shed light on the interaction between built and social/ cultural structures – the following questions will serve as our trajectories:
- how do social relations and living conditions impact on the building process and how does architecture impact on social interactions?
- which offers of interpretation can be found in text and visual materials of modular (technically normed) building systems?
- which understanding of society and which conception of man is being documented in modular building systems, which visions of society are being encouraged?
- how does the broad-based impetus towards individualization of post-war times relate to the introduction of technically normed modular building systems?

Independent research and analysis of source material conducted by the students is an essential part of the seminar.


Block I
Introduction to approaches and research in sociology on architecture as well as historical classification of modular building systems

Block II
Basics of empirical methods: analysis of texts and images

Block III + IV
Analysis of source material about selected Swiss modular building systems of the 1940s to -70s

Final presentation



* Examples for Swiss modular buildings are the Betriebsanlagen of USM in Münsingen / System USM-MAXI by Fritz Haller or the settlement Sunnebüel in Volketswil / System by Göhner AG
Prerequisites / NoticeThe seminar will be held in four blocks of 8h each (instead of a weekly class). In between of the individual sessions, the students will have to do research and analysis independantly/ in self-organized workgroups. Particular sociological expertise is not a requirement.

In the course catalogue, the seminar will be listed for the D-ARCH as well as for the D-GESS.

The seminar is part of the research work within the framework of the working group "System & Series" of ICOMOS Suisse (Link).