trans is an open-submission journal published by the Department of Architecture at ETH Zürich and has been managed by an independent student editorial team since 1997. The magazine addresses current issues in the realm of architecture from a variety of perspectives, such as the humanities, politics, philosophy and the arts. trans thus sees itself as a platform for interdisciplinary discourse and non-hierarchical exchange.
This issue of trans magazine examines how dirt and disgust shape architectural practice and identity formation. Moving beyond well-worn theoretical ground, it explores our visceral reactions to uncleanliness and how these instincts serve as both compass and barrier. The contributors investigate how architectural students, becoming hyper-aware of their profession's 'dirtiness', often create sanitised barriers and distance themselves from practice. Through diverse perspectives, the issue reveals nuanced understandings of dirt's role in architecture, suggesting that our disgust compass might sometimes need recalibration.
