All PLANH research projects are situated at the intersection of the disciplinary backgrounds and core research fields outlined above. Our project deliberately cross the divide between “urban” and “rural” in order to generate insights that are valid and relevant across different spatial contexts.
Our research is supported through a combination of internal funding from the Canton of Vaud and external funding schemes, most notably from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Regardless of their funding source, all projects are collaborative in nature. They are developed through continuous exchange, supervision, and peer-to-peer feedback within the PLANH group, as well as in close cooperation with research partners from other institutions in Switzerland and internationally.
Ongoing projects
(Canton de Vaud Funding)
Densification implementation in Swiss cities and beyond
Carla Jaboyedoff, February 2026
Housing and labour conditions of seasonal agricultural workers in Switzerland
What does “fair” food production entail? : Florence Testorelli, January 2026
Cities built on pensions
The role of pension funds in the development of Swiss cities : Dr. Jessica Verheij, September 2025
Self-organization of residents in contested urban spaces
What does “flexible planning” in contemporary urban development look like : Anne-Sophie Spinaci, August 2025
Routledge Handbook
Land Policies for Affordable Housing : Prof. Gabriela Debrunner, Dr. Jessica Verheij, March 2024
Urban Studies Special Issue
The Business of Densification – Institutions, Actors, and Outcomes of Urban Settlement Transformation : Prof. Gabriela Debrunner, June 2023
(SNSF and other funding)
Affordable and accessible housing provision in Alpine areas
submitted by Prof. Gabriela Debrunner on 1 April 2026