The Institute of Architecture and Planning at University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz pursues highly innovative approaches in architectural education. Orientation on practice and bringing students together with craftsmen and their businesses are key part of this. Model Workshop documents one of the programs run at the institute. Students deal with diverse aspects of construction at a scale of 1:1, starting-out from experimental wood structures through assembly techniques to questions of manufacturing. Complementing theoretical work, the design ideas are produced by timber construction firms as prototypes, also at a scale of 1:1, tested for functionality, and further developed.

The book introduces this design work and direct transition in practice and analyzes the learning process of building at a scale of 1:1. It also offers through guidance text and images for an in-depth engagement with these didactic methods in close cooperation with local craft businesses.

With contributions by Christoph Frommelt, Urs Meister, Carmen Rist-Stadelmann, and Machiel Spaan. Photographs by Bruno Klomfar and Darko Todorovic.


Carmen Rist-Stadelmann is a lecturer and directs the master’s program at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Urs Meister is a professor of design and construction at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, and a founding partner of Zurich-based Käferstein & Meister Architects.

The Institute of Architecture and Planning at University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz pursues highly innovative approaches in architectural education. Orientation on practice and bringing students together with craftsmen and their businesses are key part of this. Model Workshop documents one of the programs run at the institute. Students deal with diverse aspects of construction at a scale of 1:1, starting-out from experimental wood structures through assembly techniques to questions of manufacturing. Complementing theoretical work, the design ideas are produced by timber construction firms as prototypes, also at a scale of 1:1, tested for functionality, and further developed.

The book introduces this design work and direct transition in practice and analyzes the learning process of building at a scale of 1:1. It also offers through guidance text and images for an in-depth engagement with these didactic methods in close cooperation with local craft businesses.

With contributions by Christoph Frommelt, Urs Meister, Carmen Rist-Stadelmann, and Machiel Spaan. Photographs by Bruno Klomfar and Darko Todorovic.


Carmen Rist-Stadelmann is a lecturer and directs the master’s program at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Urs Meister is a professor of design and construction at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, and a founding partner of Zurich-based Käferstein & Meister Architects.