Informal discussions in the political process

Printemps 2021 EPFL

MxD lab

Virtual Parliament Studio

Vote in the city

Prof. Jeffrey Huang Assitant: Frederick Chando Kim

Collaboration: Alessandro Tiessi

The political system of Switzerland is a direct democracy. It’s a well-established and appreciated system where the citizen are asked to vote on popular initiative and referendum 4 times a year. 3 weeks before the count of the vote each citizen receive at home a ballot paper, and a booklet with official information. From this point, the citizen has 3 weeks to make is way through the different official and non-official source of information to make is mind.

While studying and analysing the behaviour of the citizen during this period we realize that an important part of the decision-making process is underrated: the informal discussion.

This project focuses on the activation of public spaces dedicated to political discussions through out the city. Spaces that would during those 3weeks periods allow people to meet, exchange and share their personal opinions.

To activate the entire city, we decided to work on 3 different scale. The first scale was the one spreading though the city. To make it easier to get around the city we implemented, as an extension of the already existing public-bike system, new bikes. We also spread urban furniture in the city’s streets. They function as module that you can assemble in different way to create various discussion layout. On each bike one module of chair is attached to create evolving places.

The second scale was the creation of bigger places allowing groups discussions, that would be directed by moderators.

And the last intervention is the creation of a pavilion, symbol of the direct democracy, a place of gathering, discussion, and archives. This pavilion also serves as a lighthouse that display the current evolution of the citizen votes.