Recurring
RIOT READY
Master's Thesis Semester

EPFL Master Thesis Project

“Somebody roll the windows down”

Motion Sickness, Phoebe Bridgers (2017)

“The Master's Project (30 ECTS) is an architecture project carried out by the student or pair independently after validation of the theoretical statement. They choose the members of their supervisory group, the theme, and the site of their study. The supervisory group includes an academic supervisor (SAR-IA professor) and an ENAC professor, at least one of whom is an architect. An EPFL mentor (teacher, assistant, or scientific collaborator under contract) supports the student. The evaluation is carried out by a committee composed of the academic director, another professor, two candidates, and an external expert appointed by the SAR. The mentor may attend the oral examination and, with agreement, the deliberations.” Master, ENAC, Architecture Section. So, if we admit the identity-shattering pos

The thesis/Projet de Master (PDM) is the opportunity for students to articulate a project based on the topic they have researched and developed independently during the theory semester/énoncé théorique.  construction can never be sustainable, how to respond to housing needs? This studio intends to face the music.So, if we  While the thesis is presented as the culmination of architecture studies, at RIOT, we are as interested as much in the process as in the final result. As we maneuver rigid institutions and expectations of what qualifies as ‘architecture,’ we seek to accompany those interested in topics close to the lab’s interests and emancipated formats to express and move discourse further. We welcome brave students and those willing to test and push boundaries, as much as we welcome those who have had enough of architecture and wish to move on. We do not believe in suffering as a pedagogy and accompany our thesis students toward completion of their studies in the best conditions possible. 

The spring semester sees students articulate, complete, submit, and defend their thesis. This is a critical period and one where a strong student-advisor relationship is essential. During the semester, students work closely with their pedagogical team— advisors and mentors— to develop a final thesis. Students present their thesis-in-progress in mid-term reviews and defend the final project in a final review in front of peers, external, and faculty. As with the énoncé/theory semester, a good advisor team-advisee relationship is central to successfully completing, defending, and submitting the thesis. Students should meet regularly with their advisor and mentor over the semester. Discussion and receiving feedback are critical to developing a robust thesis. A shared set of expectations with the team about the scope and nature of the thesis will be expected and discussed. Students should stay in contact with other students to share their emerging work and to learn from each other’s successes and struggles. The peer network of fellow thesis students should help to keep students motivated and on track.
So, if we admit the identity-shattering posit that construction can never be sustainable, how to respond to housing needs? This studio intends to face the music.

During the spring semester, mid-term and final reviews will be held, during which students will present their in-progress and final theses for critical feedback. The mid-term is internal and informal, while the final thesis review is a public moment to which a panel of outside critics and EPFL faculty are invited. 

At RIOT, we pay attention to how the work is presented and displayed; we seek to equip students well for the final review—on towards the post-graduation life. We encourage a well-curated presentation of material gathered and created during the semester, assembled in a booklet or a binder, showing the process. We also highly recommend working models, mock-ups, one-to-one tests, material palettes—arranged and included in the presentation. 

 The format of PDM theses varies considerably from student to student. Students are encouraged to consult with their team on an agreed-upon format early in the thesis process. While EPFL has rigid expectations (4 a0s, plans, sections, models), we encourage exploration and are open to various representation formats. Regardless of the ultimate format of the thesis, as a contribution to public knowledge, it must be a rigorous product that can withstand the academic scrutiny of one’s advising team and outside reviewers. o, if we admit the identity-shattering posit that construction can never be sustainable, how to respond t

Anticipating Master Students 2026
Lou Aznavourian
Master's Project: Expected 2026, Advisor: Pier Vittorio Aureli (TPOD)
Secondary Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Mentor EPFL:  Theodora Giovanazzi

Romain Dubettier-Grenier
Master's Project: Expected 2026, Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Secondary Advisor: Dieter Dietz (ALICE)
Mentor EPFL: Kathlyn Kao (RIOT)

Emma Fong-Lesage
Master's Project:  Expected 2026, Advisor: Jo Taillieu (LIF)
Secondary Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Mentor EPFL: Simon Wüst (LIF)

Eddy Friedli & Esteban Lorenzo
Master's Project: Expected 2026, Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Secondary Advisor:Paola Viganò (Lab-U)
Mentor EPFL: Elif Erez-Henderson (RIOT)

Nadege Mouine
Master's Project:  Expected 2026, Advisor: Eric Lapierre (TEXAS)
Secondary Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Mentor EPFL: Kathlyn Kao (RIOT)

Eva Oustric
Master's Project: Expected 2026, Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Secondary Advisor: Sarah Nichols (THEMA)
Mentor EPFL: Antoine Iweins (RIOT)

Mohammed Olia
Master's Project: Expected 2026, Advisor: Corentin Fivet (SX-Lab)
Secondary Advisor: Paolo Tombesi (FAR)
Mentor EPFL: Elif Erez-Henderson (RIOT)

Dylan Schwaiger
Master's Project:  Expected 2026, Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Secondary Advisor: Florence Bideau 
Mentor EPFL: Kathlyn Kao (RIOT)

Louis Queloz 
Master's Project: Expected 2026, Advisor: Luca Pattaroni
Secondary Advisor: Paola Vigano
Mentor EPFL: Antoine Iweins (RIOT)

Benedict Wasserfallen
Master's Project: Expected 2026, Advisor: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes (RIOT)
Secondary Advisor: Sophie Delhay (DC-Lab)
Mentor EPFL: Summer Islam (RIOT)

[1] Image Source: Warren, Joe. RIOT. Photograph. 5 April 2010. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/warrencat/4620583794/.
[2] Image Source: Phillips, Skin. Don Brown shuts down 405 Freeway, the busiest freeway in the US. Photograph. 21 June 2004. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfzjbs9BuLU&ab_channel=esskateboarding.