Practical information

Applicants

The following are invited to apply:
(Non-exhaustive list – the Transition Workshop aims at transdisciplinarity)

  • Project professionals: Architects, urban planners, landscape architects, environmental engineers, civil engineers and city and territory planning professionals, looking for tools and methods for requalification in the context of the ecological transition.
  • Researchers: in architecture, urban planning, landscape design; building, city and territory science and technology; humanities and social sciences.
  • Public sector agents: Public, city and territory administrators, politicians, associations and private companies wishing to prepare for the decision-making processes and executive environment of the 21st century.
  • Citizens: Individuals and civil society organisations.
  • PhD and master’s students: in architecture, urban planning, heritage preservation, urban studies, political studies and environmental studies wishing to qualify their degrees with a view to entering the professional sphere of the ecological transition.

Fees

Full training (120h)

  • Type 1 – CHF 3’750
    (people registered as unemployed in Switzerland)
  • Type 2 – CHF 5’350
    (Professionals, Administrators, Academics)


Theory Masterclass (80h)

  • Type 1 – CHF 1’875
    (people registered as unemployed in Switzerland)
  • Type 2 – CHF 2’900
    (Professionals, Administrators, Academics)


Design Studio (80h)

  • Type 1 – CHF 1’875
    (people registered as unemployed in Switzerland)
  • Type 2 – CHF 2’900
    (Professionals, Administrators, Academics)


À la carte

Procedure
You can register for the Theory Masterclass courses and sessions individually. Follow us on social media to stay informed about the publication of the programme.

FAQ

Registration

The following are invited to apply (non-exhaustive list, as the Transition Workshop aims at transdisciplinarity):

  • Professionals
    • Project professionals: Architects, urban planners, landscape architects, environmental engineers, civil engineers and city and territory planning professionals, looking for tools and methods for requalification in the context of the ecological transition.
    • Researchers: in architecture, urban planning, landscape design; building, city and territory science and technology; humanities and social sciences.
    • Public sector: Public administrators, politicians, city and territory officials wishing to prepare for the decision-making processes and executive environment of the 21st century.
    • Private sector: Architecture and engineering firms, construction companies, property managers, etc.
    • Civil society: Associations, foundations and non-profit institutions.
    • Citizens: Individuals interested in the ecological transition.
  • Students
    • PhD candidates: in architecture, urban planning, heritage, urban studies, political studies and environmental studies wishing to qualify their degrees with a view to entering the professional sectors of the ecological transition.
    • Master’s students: in architecture, urban planning, landscape design and environmental sciences.

We recommend registering for the full training (Theory Masterclass and Design Studio) for a better understanding of the challenges and solutions. Registration for the full training corresponds to a workload of 160 hours, i.e. equivalent to 8 ECTS.

However, the full training is not compulsory. You can choose:

  • The Theory Masterclass (equivalent to 4 ECTS)
  • The Design Studio with at least one Theory Masterclass module (equivalent to 1 ECTS per module + 4 ECTS for the Design Studio)
  • To register for one or more individual courses of your choice (no ECTS equivalent)

To put together your application, send us a file containing the following documents:

  • Scan of an identity document
  • Scan of your academic and professional accreditations/qualifications
  • Updated CV
  • A cover letter of no more than 500 words setting out your understanding of the urgency of the ecological transition, your professional involvement and your personal perspectives


Fees for the full training

  • Type 1 – CHF 3’750
    (PhD candidates, Master’s students, retirees, unemployed, associations)
  • Type 2 – CHF 5’350
    (Professionals, Administrators, Academics)


Certification

  • Any participant who has successfully completed the full training and had their dissertation validated is awarded the certificate of studies of the Fondation Braillard Architectes.
  • The Fondation Braillard Architectes has designed the workshop in line with Swiss academic requirements. The certificate of studies can be accompanied by university ECTS credits. To this end, please contact your university and the Foundation.
  • The complete Theory Masterclass, based on the individual written dissertation following the theoretical part, is equivalent to 4 ECTS.
  • The Design Studio, based on the team work during the practical part, is equivalent to 4 ECTS.

To put together your application, send us a file containing the following documents:

  • Scan of an identity document
  • Scan of your academic and professional accreditations/qualifications
  • Updated CV
  • A cover letter of no more than 500 words setting out your understanding of the urgency of the ecological transition, your professional involvement and your personal perspectives


Fees for the Theory Masterclass

  • Type 1 – CHF 1’875
    (PhD candidates, Master’s students, retirees, unemployed, associations)
  • Type 2 – CHF 2’900
    (Professionals, Administrators, Academics)


Certification

  • Any participant who has successfully completed the Theory Masterclass receives a certificate of attendance from the Fondation Braillard Architectes.
  • The Fondation Braillard Architectes has designed the workshop in line with Swiss academic requirements. The certificate of studies can be accompanied by university ECTS credits. 20 hours correspond to a workload of 1 ECTS. To this end, please get in touch with your university and the Foundation.
  • The complete Theory Masterclass, based on the individual written dissertation, is equivalent to 4 ECTS.

To put together your application, send us a file containing the following documents:

  • Scan of an identity document
  • Scan of your academic and professional accreditations/qualifications
  • Updated CV
  • A cover letter of no more than 500 words setting out your understanding of the urgency of the ecological transition, your professional involvement and your personal perspectives


Fees for the Design Studio

  • Type 1 – CHF 1’875
    (PhD candidates, Master’s students, retirees, unemployed, associations)
  • Type 2 – CHF 2’900
    (Professionals, Administrators, Academics)


Certification

  • Any participant who has successfully completed the Design Studio receives a certificate of attendance from the Fondation Braillard Architectes.
  • The Fondation Braillard Architectes has designed the workshop in line with Swiss academic requirements. The certificate of studies can be accompanied by university ECTS credits. 20 hours correspond to a workload of 1 ECTS. To this end, please contact your university and the Foundation.
  • The complete Design Studio, based on the team design work during the practical part, is equivalent to 4 ECTS.

You can register for one or more of the four sessions and/or one or more of the 40 courses of the Theory Masterclass.

Registration is done on the programme page and payment is made online.

Payable in 2 instalments if you take the full training

  • 1/2 on 1 February 2025
  • 2/2 on 27 June 2025

Payable in 1 instalment if you take only the Theory Masterclass or only the Design Studio:

  • Theory Masterclass on 1 February 2025
  • Design Studio on 27 June 2025

An applicant may cancel their registration free of charge, 2 months before the start of the training, in writing to transitionworkshop@braillard.ch. After this deadline, the cancellation conditions apply. In the event of absence, courses will neither be replaced nor refunded.

The Foundation reserves the right to end a participant’s training in the following cases:

  • In the event of failure to meet financial commitments.
  • If the student does not appear able to complete the training satisfactorily.
  • In the event of inappropriate behaviour, disrespect for others or breaches of ethics.

The student will be refunded only in proportion to the courses already attended.
On presentation of a medical certificate attesting to the inability to follow all or part of the training, the registration fees will be cancelled and/or refunded in proportion to the hours attended.

Logistics

Accommodation costs during your stays in Geneva for the Theory Masterclass and/or the Design Studio are your responsibility. For those who wish, the Fondation Braillard Architectes can provide a list of options. Please contact the Foundation for further details.

The Theory Masterclass will take place on site in Geneva, at the Fondation Braillard Architectes. Participants’ attendance is strongly recommended, in order to build a network of transition professionals, meet specialists in the field of transition and take part, depending on the year, in educational outings.

The Design Studio will take place on site in Geneva, at the SIG premises, rue des Jardins 5, 1205.

For the theme and content of TW25, please refer to the Transition Workshop website.

For educational trips: transport is covered by the Transition Workshop.

All other transport is your responsibility.

The Foundation will provide: books, models, drawing supports (tracing paper).
You need to bring: your own measuring and drawing tools as well as a computer and software, pencils, compasses, set squares, markers, chargers, etc.

A first-aid kit is available on site if needed.

AXA insurance: information to come

The Foundation is not responsible for the loss or theft of your belongings. It is your responsibility to keep them safe both outside and inside the premises.

The sky is the limit!

Meals are your responsibility.

Coffee, tea and water, as well as snacks, are however available throughout the workshop.
Occasionally, meals will be organised during outings and covered by the Transition Workshop.

By registering for the workshop, you authorise the Fondation Braillard Architectes to share your image respectfully on our social media or in our publications for communication purposes.

At SIG
The TW is kindly hosted on the SIG premises and the spaces are shared with employees. We therefore ask you to respect the rules of communal life.

At the Fondation Braillard Architectes
You are required to respect the property and equipment of the Foundation.

Transition Workshop validation

THEORY MASTERCLASS

  • 2025: A written theoretical submission due before (date to come)


DESIGN STUDIO

2025

  • Written: A PowerPoint presentation or equivalent on 7 July 2025
  • Oral: A team presentation of the work on 18 July 2025
  • Written or oral submissions can only be postponed with a medical certificate sent before the deadline, by email to the Fondation Braillard Architectes. If a medical certificate is not possible, a solution will be negotiated.
  • Geneva Seminar Day | Public presentation of the works: date to come

A certificate of completion is issued to any participant who has successfully completed the entire programme (including written submission and oral presentation).

A training attendance certificate is issued to participants who have not obtained their certificate (see conditions for obtaining it).

Note: training interrupted by the participant will not lead to the certificate of completion. The participant may resume or complete their training the following year.

Absences from class: 2 days over the entire training are allowed (or a maximum of 16 hours). Beyond these 2 days of absence, missed courses must be made up in the following session in order to receive the certificate of completion.

The certificate is issued after receipt of all training fees and the requested documents. A temporary certificate is issued by the Fondation Braillard Architectes at the end of the Design Studio.

Is it a recognised certificate? Will I get credits from a university? How long do I have to wait before receiving my certificate?

  • The Fondation Braillard Architectes, as part of its public role, awards this certified training in accordance with federal and cantonal laws and regulations in Switzerland. In this sense, the training certificate is fully recognised as such.
  • The validation of the Transition Workshop’s ECTS credits is the responsibility of the participant’s home university. For any credit recognition, please put the university administration in contact with the Fondation Braillard Architectes. transitionworkshop@braillard.ch
  • Certificates are awarded in December of the current Transition Workshop year. If needed, the Foundation can provide provisional certificates.