Jacques Herzog speaks at the HSG

19 March 2014. The desire for more living space is growing. Thus in 1980, one person occupied an average of 34m² of living space; by 2000, this had increased to 4 m²; and by now, the value may well have risen to 50m². In addition, the Swiss population is also growing. The increasing demand for space has substantially changed Switzerland's settlement pattern and will continue to do so in the future. How can the hunger for living space be assuaged in an ecologically and economically sustainable way? In the past few years, the following consensus has become prevalent: not by urban sprawl, but by densification. But how is this possible? And what should our metropolitan regions specifically look like?

Jacques Herzog's guest lecture

The lecture series will be launched by Basel’s architect and densification pioneer Jacques Herzog (Herzog & de Meuron). On 26 March, at 6.15 p.m, he will speak about "The development of new urban quarters as a densification of the old ones" in the Audimax (room 09-010). Switzerland's largest metropolitan region, Zurich, will be the topic on 9 April. The Director of Urban Development, Dr. Anna Schindler, will speak about "Higher, wider, denser: how Zurich deals with growth and population pressure".

Culture, art and history

On 16 April, culture and art scientist Dr. Peter Röllin will analyse the topic of "Densification: the prose. Cultural and artistic aspects from metropolitan spaces". The two last evenings will belong to historians. On 23 April, PD Dr. Dieter Schnell will give a lecture on "How much densification can a monument tolerate?" Schnell is Lecturer in the History of Architecture and Monument Conservation at the University of Berne. On 30 April, the freelance art historian Dr. Andreas Hauser will conclude the series with a lecture on "Densification: patient instruction leaflet for a panacea".

The lectures will take place at the University of St.Gallen in Room HSG 23-003 and will start on Wednesdays at 6.15 p.m. Dates: 26 March (Audimax, room 09-010), 9, 16, 23 and 30 April 2014.

Picture: kin kohana / Photocase