Free Diploma at EPFL
The Free Diploma in our architecture school is conceived as a space of intellectual independence and creative emancipation. It represents the culmination of the student’s academic journey, where autonomy becomes both the framework and the objective of the work.
Unlike conventional diploma structures that define strict thematic boundaries or methodological guidelines, EPFL Free Diploma is built on trust in the student’s capacity to formulate their own architectural inquiry.
Students are entirely free to define their topic. Whether addressing urban transformation, territorial ecologies, material experimentation, social infrastructures, speculative futures, or theoretical research, the choice of subject emerges from their personal convictions, experiences, and critical positions.
This freedom encourages:
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The affirmation of individual sensibilities
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Engagement with urgent contemporary issues
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The development of singular architectural positions
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The exploration of unconventional or hybrid themes
The diploma thus becomes not merely a project, but a statement, an architectural manifesto shaped by the student.
Freedom in this context is inseparable from responsibility. The Free Diploma demands:
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A clear research question
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A structured intellectual position
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Methodological consistency
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Critical self-reflection
Students are expected to articulate why their subject matters, how their approach produces knowledge, and what architectural contribution their work makes.
Autumn semester – Theoretical statement with DC-lab
Within the framework of the Free Diploma, students are encouraged to pursue their project at DC-Lab when their research aligns with the thematic and methodological orientations of the laboratory.
DC-Lab provides a fertile intellectual environment for projects engaging with questions such as:
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Collective housing and shared living models
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Typology and morphology
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Commons and processes of mutualization
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Domesticity and intimacy
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Kitchens, cooking, and commensality
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Neighbourhood relations and cohabitation
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Destandardization of housing models
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Spatial protocols and patterns of use
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Seasonal and climatic adaptation
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Interpretation of the room
The laboratory approaches housing not as a fixed product, but as an evolving system of relationships — spatial, social, climatic, and cultural. Projects developed within DC-Lab are expected to contribute to ongoing reflections on:
#Housing #CollectiveHousing #Commons
#Typology #Morphology #Neighbours #Kitchens
#Commensality #Domesticity #Seasonality
#Climate #Protocols #Mutualization
#Interpretation #Room #Pattern #Intimacy #Uses
These keywords do not constitute restrictions, but rather a shared field of inquiry. They define a common ground for discussion, experimentation, and critical exchange.
The laboratory provides regular support for students: at least five meetings will be organized with Prof. Sophie Delhay. Additional appointments can be made with the EPFL mentor.
Spring Semester – Diploma project with DC-lab
The laboratory supports projects that:
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Question normative housing standards
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Explore alternative domestic configurations
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Revisit typological conventions
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Investigate spatial patterns of sharing and privacy
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Develop architectural responses to climate and seasonality
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Construct explicit spatial protocols
The laboratory provides regular support for students: seven meetings will be organized with Prof. Sophie Delhay, between march and june.
- 01 # site, program, references, work protocol
- 02 # mapping, context analysis
- 03 # Typology
- 04 # Typology
- 05 # Typology
- 06 # Graphic presentation, Layout
- 07 # Preparation for oral presentation
Team:
To ensure coherence between the student’s project and the laboratory’s research orientation, we recommend that students select their assistant (EPFL Master) from among the members of DC-Lab.
