Anne-Sophie Loretan & Sarah Vogel

This is a project about not having an answer - sort of.

When being faced with the question of what is an ETH building we immediately associate the institution with innovation and excellence. A force to reckon with, that is globally recognized and respected for trailblazing contributions to science.

Navigating the campus in our daily life we soon stand witness to the buildings that enable such a pioneering spirits. Facades that tower above the city center, state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture halls filled with the voices of some of the most accomplished individuals.

Walking through our plot we can identify typologies standing as testimonies of their time from the late 19th century to the present day. Each allowing us a glimpse into a past pinnacle of creating space that enabled an environment for productivity.

For us productivity always comes hand-in-hand with the time spent in- between.

This leads us to the question: what about all the hours we spent daydreaming, the conversations during the extra long lunch breaks, the accidental friends we make whenever we find ourselves waiting for our prints and the random barbecues held in front of our studios.

The hours that are seemingly unproductive. Nonetheless these are not the hours that are less worthwhile, educational or inspiring but rather very valuable.

By creating new connections, extending and dismantling, we want to create new spaces that are inhabited by the unproductive hours.

Carving out room to sit with our thoughts, to share them with the people daydreaming alongside us, to allow our brains to go on a journey and develop new fascinations.