In their teaching activities, Astrid Staufer and Thomas Hasler adopt an approach that considers a profound knowledge of architectural history and construction as the primary prerequisite for the design process. Accordingly, students focus on critically engaging with reference buildings—icons of architecture—during their lectures and exercises at the beginning of their studies. The didactic strategy involves an approach to constructive design through the steps of perceiving, understanding, interpreting, and formulating, with hand drawings and model building as central tools. "Icons" showcases student works that have emerged from this foundation, reflecting on buildings by Andrea Palladio and Auguste Perret, as well as Luis Barragán and Álvaro Siza, extending to vernacular types of architecture. The texts illustrate the met.