Yves Pedrazzini

Yves Pedrazzini is a Researcher and Senior Scientist at the Urban Sociology Laboratory (LASUR) within the École d'Architecture, Civil et Environnement (ENAC) at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He holds a Doctorate in Science (Architecture) from EPFL (1994) and a Sociology license from the University of Lausanne (1982). His work focuses on urban dynamics in the Global South, including urban violence, self-construction, and resistance in marginalized communities.

• Academic Director of the interdisciplinary program 'Projecting Together' (PENS) at ENAC (2019–2024)
• Founder of the 'Architecture & Résistance' collective (2015) and Buro Arquitectura y Ambiente Urbanos y Sociedad (2021)

Research Interests: Urban sociology, anthropology, informal settlements, violence and insecurity in cities, DIY/slum studies, and the 'PunkSpace' concept analyzing urban spatial dialectics. His fieldwork spans Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Key Projects: - Long-term studies on Caracas' barrios and urban resistance - Analysis of urban fragmentation and fear-based urbanism - Global South urban development challenges

Recent Works: 2024 co-authored book 'Die Schweiz von A(rbon) bis Z(ug)', 2016 book 'Learning from the Slums', and ongoing projects on refugee housing and hybrid urbanization.

Teaching & Guidance: Courses in urban sociology at EPFL's architecture department, supervision of doctoral theses (e.g., on spatial politics in Hong Kong/Caracas, memory in Mexico City).

Labs/Teams: LASUR lab, collaborations with international researchers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.