UE S : Foundations, basements, and the underground

Both in terms of embodied energy and of use, the underground has been bracketed out of sustainability concerns even as more and more pressure to densify cities causes us to dig deeper and deeper. This course will address this gap, looking interdisciplinarily at what is beneath structures and buildings. Foundations and basements will be analyzed as structures and material expenditure while the spaces they create will be documented as essential but overlooked parts of the city. To do so, the course will deploy both qualitative and quantitative methods, giving students an understanding of the relative strengths of each type of approach and how to combine them.

The course will be designed around a semester project to be completed primarily during class time. Working in one of three teams, students will explore the underground in one of three ways: as structure, space, or city. The deliverables of each project will be tailored to the research topic and the students' interest and could include structural analysis modeling, LCA analysis, critical mapping, or reportage from field work.

The course will include visits to underground spaces in Lausanne and, where relevant, an introduction to archival research at the Acm (archive de la construction moderne at EPFL).

This course is being offered in light of an upcoming exhibition on foundations and the underground at Archizoom in Fall 2027 to which students may have the opportunity to contribute.