![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-01-876x626.jpg)
HOUSE 2 – COUNTER CITY is a 240 square metre public architectural installation situated next to the Toni-Areal in Zurich. The project is based on an experimental format for collaborative design and construction conceived by ALICE (Atelier de la Conception de l’Espace) — a laboratory of EPFL led by Dieter Dietz.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-02-876x584.jpg)
Erected in less than 10 days, the project involved 200 first-year students, who prefabricated all the built elements of the installation in Lausanne and transported them across Switzerland in six shipping containers to Zurich, where they unloaded and re-assembled them as a full-size ephemeral structure.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-03-876x584.jpg)
Devoted to social and cultural events, the public installation is not a homogenous architecture, but rather, the result of various different contributions. Each offers an approach to spatial appropriation by many voices, in a dialogical process that questions the quality of public life in view of growing cities around the globe.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-04-876x584.jpg)
In reference to Richard Sennett’s recent book “Together”, strong emphasis is given to the notion of collectivity and the negotiation of space of social difference. The project works as a pedagogical tool that materializes these topics in the designbuild process, and in its physical and spatial parameters.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-06-876x584.jpg)
The previous year’s experiment, HOUSE 1, was the configuration of an archetypal house collectively built as an in-vitro condition: an on-campus installation in Lausanne, by students for students.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-05-876x584.jpg)
The rooms of HOUSE 1 were engaged primarily in forming a series of interior relations: HOUSE 2 has evolved from this premise, turning outwards, setting itself in relation to the city, and becoming a common place of activity and urban participation.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-08-876x1311.jpg)
In order to foster civic engagement, ALICE, in close collaboration with the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), has jointly programmed a series of events for summer 2017 to take place in the context of the installation, between May 31st and June 15th. These include guided tours, theatre and music performances, a sound installation, symposia, student critiques and exhibitions, and an open-air cinema.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-07-876x577.jpg)
To quote Dieter Dietz, “through these activities, HOUSE 2 expands the practice of collaboration into the public sphere of the city. As a forum installation, it provides a space for active exchange, debate and discussion involving the entire community.”
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-09-876x584.jpg)
From Zurich West, HOUSE 2 will travel on to Lausanne, where it will take on a new form and new programme during the summer of 2017. In autumn, the structure will be disassembled and the wood preserved to be reconfigured into HOUSE 3 for 2018.
![House 2 - Counter](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/House-2-Counter-City-by-ALICE-10-876x567.jpg)
- Location: Toni-Areal, Pfingstweidstrasse 96, Zurich, Switzerland
- Architect: ALICE (Atelier de la Conception de l’Espace), EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
- Team ALICE: Dieter Dietz, Daniel Zamarbide, Raffael Baur, Laurent Chassot, Elena Chiavi, Jorge Christie, Margherita Del Grosso, Aurélie Dupuis, Thomas Favre-Bulle, Stéphane Grandgirard, Patricia Guaita, Emma Letizia Jones, Clarisse Labro, Agathe Mignon, François Nantermod, Dario Negueruela, Rudi Nieveen, Laura Perez Lupi, Myriam Perret, Jaime Ruiz, Thibault Smith, Ruben Valdez
- Partners:ZHdK
- Lead engineer timber construction: Rémy Meylan, Atelier Whood x Mug
- Media Partner: Archithese
- Sound work consultation: Sophie Mallett
- Sponsors: Gétaz-Miauton SA, Debrunner Acifer SA Romandie, Eternit (Suisse) AG, Makita SA, Jaquet SA, La Porch Sarl, Muller AMV, Edalith Schweiz AG, Lumens8 SA, Monacor Schweiz AG, Metzgerei Keller AG
- Date: May 31st to June 1st 2017 Final jury with ALICE students, June 2nd to June 15th 2017 Public events
- Construction: 2017
- Photographs: Anna Positano, Courtesy of ALICE
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