Modulverantwortung: Peter Althaus
Lehrteam: Felix Wettstein, Stefan Wülser, Céline Bessire, Matthias Winter
Assistant: Qendrim Gashi

The thesis project marks the conclusion of the Master’s degree program and challenges students to develop an independent architectural position. At its core is a shared assignment that engages with a specific site and an overarching theme.

The starting point is the Reussinsel – a site in transition: from a former industrial area to a public open space along the riverbank. It is located in the so-called Babel district, a densely populated and culturally diverse urban area surrounding Baselstrasse and Bernstrasse in Lucerne. The neighbourhood is characterized by high social diversity, intense spatial pressure, and a shortage of high-quality public outdoor spaces. At the same time, there is a growing demand for affordable living and working spaces that meet contemporary standards of sustainability, quality of life, and community.

Against this backdrop, students are asked to develop spatial strategies that provide both accessible open spaces and high-quality, affordable residential and work environments. The task calls for a sensitive balance between recreation, use, and social responsibility.

The theme “Permanent Vacation” serves as a critical exploration of leisure, retreat, and continuity – not as a utopian ideal, but as a design approach grounded in the realities of the urban context. Recreation is understood as an integral part of everyday life and is to be spatially negotiated – particularly in a neighbourhood shaped by diverse and overlapping demands.

The assignment is the same for all students, while the choice of supervising professor is open. Each professor contributes distinct perspectives and methodological approaches to the development of the project.