The way we tell our stories can make all the difference.

USRG is responsible for several different forms of teaching for students across all levels.

We teach the introductory lecture series in sociology, and offer one related elective course every semester.

We run two studio courses. One engages with urban anaysls and architectonic design on multiple scales, often focusing on the integration of the building material earth. The second is connects qualitative methods with a specific urban research project at USRG, with a focus on writing and science communication.

We also run the Pro Bono module, and related to this, an innovative elective "Werkstatt" component to reflect on the transdisciplinary work completed in this module.

Finally, we provide the opportunity to complete written elective theses, or  "Vertiefungsarbeiten," on a wide range of topics related to the work at USRG. We also advise students and conduct thesis supervision across all levels (BSc, MSc, PhD).

Please get in touch with Lindsay if you want more details about coursework, and if you’re interested in conducting thesis or postdoc work with us!

Studio Teaching // Lindsay Blair Howe and Martin Mackowitz

Die MITWELT gestalten.

Können die Rankweiler Rössle Bünt ein Beispiel für zukunftsfähigen Wohnbau und nachhaltiges Zusammenleben sein?

Die Rössle Bünt sind ein zusammenhängender unbebauter Grundstücksstreifen in bester Lage zentral in Rankweil (Vorarlberg). Hochstamm Obstbäume stehen in voller Pracht stolz auf den naturbelassenen Wiesen. Wir suchen in unserem Studio Entwürfe für einen Umgang mit diesen wertvollen Wiesen. Wie kann eine Bebauung aussehen, die innovative Wohnformen und funktionierende Aussenräume entstehen lässt? Wie können wir Biodiversität, Klimawandelanpassung, und verschiedene Nutzergruppen in Entwurf, Bauweise und Architektur integrieren? Mit welchen Konzepten, Ansätzen und Materialien können wir als Architekt:innen im weitesten Sinne einen gesellschaftlichen Beitrag leisten? Was für eine Rolle spielen Mobilität, Gemüseanbau und die Finanzierung in dem Konzept? 

Gemeinsam:
- suchen wir in den Rössle Bünt nach den städtebaulichen Potentialen.
- sind wir vor Ort und versuchen die Vielfalt zu erfahren. 
- diskutieren, skizieren, zeichnen, essen, trinken, halten auf, entwerfen, probieren, bauen wir.

Studio Teaching // Anna Heringer and Lindsay Howe

Building Bangladesh. From Farmhouse to Refugee Island?

How many houses can we build for 4,000 CHF in Rudrapur, Bangladesh? In a standard international development project, utilizing conventional building materials, maybe one. But if we were to break with industrialized materials, building processes, and financial systems? Could we create ten houses with that same money, instead of just one? In this studio, we are fundamentally (re)considering how to build, from architecture to the urban scale, from theory to practice. Four thematic areas that will structure the studio over the course of the semester: Material, Circular Economy, Urbanization, and Development Cooperation. Our approach is multi-scalar, ranging from the basic farmhouse unit in Rudrapur to the world's largest refugee camp: the Rohingya and newly planned Bhasan Char settlements.

There are three design tasks throughout the semester. One of the central questions is who can be involved in the design process, and what resources can be shared.