Laura Elsener & Anja Saravanja

“Ghost”, that’s how ETH calls its own building. The ETF has long been overlooked despite its not entirely inconspicuous façade. Its inward-facing orientation and use as an office building have rendered it almost invisible to passersby and isolating it within the university's ensemble between Sternwartstrasse and Gloriastrasse. However, beneath its sleepy exterior lies an architectural beauty waiting to be awakened.

With our project we breathe new life into the ETF. We aim to give the building a chance to withstand the constant pressure of space shortage in the center. We see great potential in the horizontal circulation space that surrounds the courtyard. By activating corridors and transforming them into a place for interaction and learning but also rest, we create an area with quality places to stay. Additionally, we restore the original connection between the current ETZ and the ETF, integrating the ETF more seamlessly into the overall ensemble. This reconnection will not only enhance the building's functionality but also its aesthetic harmony with its surroundings.

After the “kiss”, our spatial interventions aim to revitalize the building both functionally and socially. The ETF building, once sleepy and overlooked, will awaken as a place of beauty, activity and connection. Our project not only improves the building's efficiency but also restores its soul, ensuring that the ETF is no longer a ghost but a cherished part of ETH's architectural landscape.