immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Standorte

  • Expansion of Basel SBB West station

    Expansion of Basel SBB West station

    Basel SBB station has long since reached its limits. Over 140,900 people use it every day, and the trend is rising. With the Basel SBB West project, the partners are preparing the station for this development. A comprehensive extension is planned in the west of the site, where the train stop will be moved further west in future and additional access to urban traffic will be created. Two closely linked sub-projects form the core, the Margarethen platform access and the new construction of the Margarethen Bridge.

    The new passenger bridge for the Margarethen platform access is to run parallel to the existing Margarethen Bridge. It will be around 16.5 meters wide, have stairs, escalators and lifts and provide access to all platforms. To make this possible, SBB is extending several platforms to the west and adapting the track layout. The project thus responds to the expected growth in rail traffic and at the same time relieves the existing passerelle at the main station.

    Linking rail and city
    In addition to rail planning, urban integration plays a central role. The canton of Basel-Stadt is planning a new multimodal transportation hub to the west of the station, at the Markthalle site. Here, the transfer between train, streetcar, bus and bicycle is to become even more efficient in future. This reorganization will relieve the overcrowded Centralbahnplatz and enable a more balanced traffic regime in the city center.

    The Margarethen platform access is more than just a bridge. It will become a link between the new urban traffic axes and the rail network. It offers space, light and orientation. Features that are particularly important in highly frequented traffic zones.

    A new Margarethen Bridge with a signal effect
    The second sub-project is dedicated to the renewal of the Margarethen Bridge. The existing bridge is owned by SBB and only meets current safety requirements for heavy goods traffic with restrictions. In addition, it does not meet the future requirements of SBB and the canton on both the rail and road sides. The new bridge will therefore not only be structurally more efficient, but also significantly wider – 27 meters compared to 16.3 meters today. This will create space for a barrier-free streetcar stop in the middle of the bridge as well as wider footpaths and cycle paths.

    A temporary auxiliary bridge is planned during the construction period. The possibility of integrating this temporary structure into the new building at a later date is being examined. This solution should minimize construction interruptions and ensure urban mobility during the entire implementation phase.

    The winning project by Penzel Valier
    In the spring of 2025, an assessment panel of independent experts and representatives from SBB and the canton evaluated the proposals of six interdisciplinary planning teams as part of a study commission. The contract was awarded to Penzel Valier. Their design impresses with a generous, flexibly expandable roof that spans both the new streetcar stop on Margarethenbrücke and the platforms. This creates a hall-like space that characterizes the western part of the station.

    The roof fulfills several functions at the same time. It brings daylight onto the platforms, protects against the weather and allows the installation of photovoltaic systems and greenery. In terms of urban planning, this creates a harmonious link between the SBB station, the listed SNCF hall and the adjacent Gundeldingen and St. Johann districts.

    The SNCF hall itself will be retained in the context of the French part of the station and in its function as a platform canopy. This was a key concern of the conservation authorities. The hall will be moved to the west to create space for the new track layout.

    Planning, financing and time horizon
    The Margarethen platform access is part of the 2035 national rail expansion phase. The federal government has already approved the planning and preliminary project planning. While the Margarethen platform access is financially secured, the funds for the implementation of the new Margarethen Bridge are still being decided. Both projects can be built technically independently of each other, but should be realized at the same time if possible.

    The planning requirements are high. They take into account ongoing rail operations, the protection of historic buildings and integration into the dense city traffic. Construction is currently scheduled to start in 2034 at the earliest. The project volume for both project elements (platform access and bridge) is estimated to be in the low to mid three-digit million range.

    More than infrastructure – a new entrance for Basel
    Basel SBB West will not only provide the city with a strategically important transportation hub, but also a new entrance to the city. The relocation of train traffic to the west will create space for clearer traffic routing, a better quality of stay and greater safety for cyclists and pedestrians. In future, travelers will experience shorter routes, generous spaces and intuitive orientation.

    The interaction between trains, streetcars, buses and bicycles will become more efficient, more sustainable and more pleasant. At the same time, the project forms the structural foundation for future expansions such as the possible Basel SBB underground station. In its entirety, Basel SBB West thus stands for a new generation of railroad stations – open, networked and future-proof.

  • The fifth generation of the Basel agglomeration program

    The fifth generation of the Basel agglomeration program

    New impetus for space and transport
    The program marks a decisive step in the joint planning of landscape, settlement and transport across national borders. Germany, France and Switzerland are pulling together to make mobility in the tri-national area more efficient, safer and more climate-friendly. In the coming years, eleven new transport hubs will be built along the tri-national S-Bahn and Basel-Stadt is investing in a fully electrified bus fleet. Around 200 million francs have been earmarked for the upgrading of municipal streets and the promotion of pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

    Mobility with a future
    In essence, it is about more than just infrastructure. The agglomeration program is a coordinated response to the complex mobility needs of a region that uses busy international transport routes on a daily basis. The integrated planning of public transport, private transport, footpaths and cycle paths is intended to reduce traffic congestion and CO² emissions. The priority is to develop a sustainable transport system that increases the quality of life and attractiveness of the location.

    Broad political support
    Esther Keller, member of the cantonal government and President of Agglo Basel, emphasizes the success of the cross-border cooperation, which has been in existence for over 15 years. Isaac Reber, Director of Construction in Basel, sees the large number of small and medium-sized projects as the backbone of progress. Jean-Marc Deichtmann from Saint-Louis and Marion Dammann from Lörrach also emphasized the strategic horizon. This ranges from multimodal platforms to citizen participation that strengthens climate protection and spatial quality.

    Looking ahead to the sixth generation
    Work has already begun on the 6th generation agglomeration program. Submission to the federal government is planned for 2029, with the construction phase starting in 2032. The Agglo Basel association is continuing the coordination and ensuring that space, transport and landscape in the border triangle are not considered separately, but as a coherent project for the future.

  • How the old real estate market is slowing down the new China

    How the old real estate market is slowing down the new China

    For years, the real estate sector was China’s most important growth engine. Build, sell, keep building. This was the simple formula that at times accounted for up to a third of economic output. With stricter requirements to limit debt, the leadership put the brakes on this model, triggering a creeping but persistent crisis.

    Evergrande was the visible turning point in 2021. The former industry star missed interest payments, became a global warning figure and suddenly made it clear how vulnerable the growth model was. Since then, developers such as Country Garden and now Vanke, which had long been considered stable, have come under pressure. A signal that the real estate sector has not yet bottomed out.

    Deflation, wealth shock and insecure households
    The real estate crisis is eating deep into the real economy. Residential real estate is the central store of wealth for Chinese households. When prices fall in series, the sense of security erodes. Those who see their own apartment as a retirement provision become reluctant to consume, invest and make major life decisions.

    Domestic consumption is correspondingly weak. Retail trade is growing at a rate well below previous levels and the economy is struggling with persistent deflationary pressure. Falling or stagnating prices may seem attractive in the short term, but they increase the debt burden in real terms and prolong the clean-up process in the real estate and financial system.

    Provinces in the debt shadow
    The situation of local governments is particularly delicate. Provinces and cities have accumulated a gigantic mountain of debt through land sales to developers and off-balance sheet financing companies. Land sales were the most important source of income, but were never enough to sustain the credit-financed construction boom and infrastructure programs. Now that sales are collapsing, the hidden debts are coming to light.

    Many regions are being forced into a silent diet. Investments are being postponed, spending cut, new infrastructure delayed. This has direct consequences for growth, employment and local businesses. The crisis is therefore less a loud crash than a slow pressure that weakens the system for years and restricts the scope for action.

    Old real estate-driven economy meets new tech power
    At the same time, China is presenting itself as a high-tech superpower. Electric car manufacturers, AI companies and internet companies that are reinventing themselves represent the “new China”. Politicians are focusing on a long-term technology strategy with a focus on electromobility, semiconductors, AI, renewable energies and robotics.

    However, this new economy is built on a foundation of the old, real estate-driven economic structure. Without stable domestic demand, reliable credit channels and household confidence, the tech sector will not be able to fully develop its dynamism. The path to success therefore does not lead past an orderly dismantling of the real estate sector, but through it.

    Growth targets as a boomerang
    Beijing is sticking to its ambitious growth targets. The target of “around 5%” is achievable because the state and state-owned companies are taking countermeasures in many areas. For conscious cadres on the ground, the signal remains clear: the numbers have to add up, if necessary with additional projects that have little economic impact.

    The result is new infrastructure and construction projects that support GDP in the short term but do not solve the structural problems. On the contrary, they prolong the debt cycle. This creates a tension between the official growth story and the real need for deleveraging in the real estate and local debt complex.

    What is at stake until 2026
    The coming years will determine whether China manages the transition from a debt-driven, real estate-heavy model to an innovation-based growth path. If a controlled contraction of the real estate sector can be achieved while at the same time strengthening consumption, productivity and future-oriented industries, the country can remain robust despite dents. If this balancing act fails, a scenario of sustained low growth with recurring bouts of deflation and growing mistrust among investors looms.

    The real estate crisis is not a marginal issue, but the central test of China’s ability to correct its economic course. The decisive factor will be whether the political leadership and administration find the courage to put short-term growth targets into perspective in favor of a more sustainable, less property-driven model and thus not allow the new China to be crushed by the old.

  • Real estate market 2026 stable tailwind from low interest rates, AI boom and scarce space

    Real estate market 2026 stable tailwind from low interest rates, AI boom and scarce space

    According to estimates, the Swiss National Bank is leaving the key interest rate at 0% for 2026 and signaling that the hurdles for a return to negative interest rates remain high. The conditional inflation forecasts of around 0.3% for 2026 and 0.6% for 2027 are clearly within the range of price stability and support a moderate growth scenario. For the real estate market, this means that short-term financing, particularly SARON mortgages, will remain attractive, while long-term fixed-rate mortgages will only benefit hesitantly from monetary easing.

    Real estate as an investment
    Wüest Partner has observed that investment properties with rental apartments will become significantly more expensive again in 2025, reflecting a high willingness to pay and strong confidence in the asset class. At the same time, prices for multi-family homes have reached a very high level, while earnings prospects and regulatory risks are dampening the imagination. A flattening of price momentum is therefore expected for 2026, both for residential yield properties and commercial properties. With clear differentiation according to location, property quality and ESG profile. Indirect investments such as public limited companies and funds continue to benefit from the low interest rate environment, but already carry high expectations in the form of above-average premiums.

    Boost in renovation, moderate new construction
    The combination of low interest rates and slowing construction price momentum is stabilizing the willingness to invest in construction. Nominal growth in construction investment of around 3.4% in new construction and 8.5% in renovation is expected in 2026, with the renovation sector receiving an additional boost from pull-forward effects related to the planned abolition of the imputed rental value. Many owners are likely to prefer energy-efficient renovations and refurbishments as long as maintenance costs are still fully tax-deductible. In the medium term, new construction activity could slow down again somewhat, as the number of new apartments in planning applications has recently declined.

    Rental and property market
    Following the sharp rise in rents in 2023 and 2024, the growth in asking rents has slowed considerably. Moderate growth in the national average is expected for 2026. At the same time, the reduction in the mortgage reference interest rate will provide relief for existing rents. This could lead to a slight decline in average rents for existing properties. Demand for residential property remains intact despite higher price levels. For 2026, price increases of around 3% are expected for single-family homes and slightly less for condominiums, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years.

    Investment outlook for 2026
    Zürcher Kantonalbank expects moderate global economic growth in 2026, driven by falling inflationary pressure and improved financing conditions. Advances in artificial intelligence are driving investment and providing an additional tailwind for US equities in particular, while uncertainty on the financial markets remains high. In this environment, broad diversification across asset classes and currencies is recommended, with selected areas of focus. Corporate bonds, Swiss real estate and small caps are considered attractive, supplemented by global corporate bonds and gold as stabilizing additions. Direct and indirect real estate investments therefore remain an important building block for long-term investors. Embedded in a portfolio that benefits equally from AI-driven growth and the persistently low interest rate environment.

  • How much of the past can densification tolerate?

    How much of the past can densification tolerate?

    The Brunnergut estate was built in two stages in the mid-1950s and early 1960s and marked the transition to the functionalist, automotive city. As one of Winterthur’s first residential ensembles with underground parking, it replaced the Villa Malabar and reshaped an entire inner block between Lindstrasse, Kreuzstrasse, Sulzbergstrasse and St. Georgenstrasse. The 1954 planning application itself sparked a fierce controversy. Early debates about density, traffic and cityscape, as they occupy the entire agglomeration today

    in 2016, the city of Winterthur added Brunnergut to the inventory of buildings worthy of protection, followed by its entry in the cantonal inventory of listed buildings of supra-municipal importance in 2018. This made it clear that the estate was not only considered everyday architecture, but also an ensemble with architectural and socio-historical significance that should be taken into account in any further planning

    Legal ping-pong over protection
    With the cantonal dismissal in 2024, the building department wanted to relax the protection status again. Based on an expert opinion from the cantonal monument preservation commission and subsequent additions. The Zurich Heritage Society challenged this, and the Building Appeal Court demanded a supplementary or top-level expert opinion during the proceedings and criticized gaps in the expert assessment

    At the same time, the Winterthur city council planned to remove Brunnergut from the municipal inventory. The Zurich Heritage Society lodged another appeal against this. In its decision of November 6, 2025, the Building Appeals Court has now ruled that the city is unlawfully relying unilaterally on the KDK report and that the facts of the case have not been sufficiently clarified for the property to be removed from the inventory. The judges demanded an expert opinion from an independent expert who had not previously been involved. A clear signal for higher requirements for the justification of de-protection decisions

    More than just a technical issue of monument preservation
    The criticism focuses not only on formal deficiencies, but also on gaps in content. Imprecise plans, insufficient discussion of the qualities identified in the inventory sheet and an insufficient appreciation of the social and economic-historical significance. Specifically, the court criticized the fact that the role of the estate as an early example of dense, car-oriented post-war modernism and as part of Winterthur’s settlement history was not seriously included in the comparison with other estates

    For urban planning and the real estate industry, Brunnergut is therefore far more than an isolated case. The procedure shows how strongly inventory decisions must be legally and professionally underpinned today if they are to survive in an environment of housing shortages, pressure to densify and politically heated debates about objections and heritage protection

    What the case means for future projects
    The Zürcher Heimatschutz sees the decision as a strengthening of the inventory concept. Inventories are not mere lists, but planning instruments that must meet high standards before they can be dismantled. For cities like Winterthur, this means that anyone wishing to subsequently remove protection must transparently explain why arguments relating to building culture, urban development and social history outweigh the interests of densification, renewal or returns

    For investors, owners and planners, this increases the importance of well-documented surveys and early involvement of heritage conservation. Especially in the case of post-war housing estates, which were long regarded as “ordinary” existing buildings. Brunnergut shows that the second half of the 20th century is increasingly understood as part of the architectural heritage and that the path to conversion or replacement construction will in future often lead via independent expert reports and carefully balanced conservation concepts

  • Modern site project in Sittertobel focusses on renewable energies

    Modern site project in Sittertobel focusses on renewable energies

    Sitter Projekt AG and Mettler Entwickler AG are realising the Sitter Valley in St.Gallen’s Sittertobel. The two St.Gallen companies want to develop an area of 50,000 square metres here for offices, commerce and industry with up to 600 workplaces.

    St.Gallen’s public utility company will supply the site with energy for heating and cooling. According to a press release, they are relying on a combined energy supply with a wood pellet boiler and a reversible air/water heat pump. The pellet heating system will primarily be used in the winter months. The first heat supply is scheduled for winter 2026/2027.

    The Sitter Valley is also to be equipped with photovoltaic systems. These will contribute to the site’s electricity supply.

  • Future area in the north of Basel creates living and working space

    Future area in the north of Basel creates living and working space

    The Klybeck site in the border triangle of Basel is to become a modern neighbourhood on the banks of the Rhine. According to a press release, the planning partners Canton Basel-Stadt, Swiss Life and Rhystadt have initiated the klybeckplus indicative project, which forms the basis for the utilisation planning.

    The approximately 30-hectare site is to become a mixed neighbourhood with residential complexes, commercial buildings and parks. The aim is to create living space for 8,500 people. According to the plans, a third of the flats will be made available to the public for rent at cost. In addition, 7500 jobs are to be created. The two owners, Swiss Life and Rhystadt, will invest 3 billion Swiss francs in the renovations, according to the press release.

    “The finalised indicative project, as it is now available, offers a good basis for realising the enormous potential of the site and creating significant and, above all, long-term added value for the population and the entire region,” Christian Mutschler from Rhystadt is quoted as saying in the press release. Jürgen Friedrichs from Swiss Life adds: “The indicative project shows how the diverse objectives from residential to open space can be combined while at the same time ensuring structural, spatial planning and economic feasibility.” District President Conradin Cramer is convinced that the project will create an “attractive new part of the city for the well-being of the population”.

  • Renovation creates modern space for research and teaching in Zurich

    Renovation creates modern space for research and teaching in Zurich

    The Careum Tower was officially inaugurated in mid-November after around two and a half years of renovation work. According to a statement from the Careum Foundation, which is in charge of the project, the former nurses’ tower block of the University Hospital Zurich(USZ) has now become a modern working and meeting place for education and healthcare. According to the statement, this will create more space on 17 floors in Zurich for the planned expansion in the field of medicine. This was celebrated at the inauguration with the Director of Education of the Canton of Zurich, Silvia Steiner, and the Director of University Medicine Zurich, Beatrice Beck Schimmer, among others.

    The Careum Foundation has concluded a 40-year lease agreement with the USZ with an option to extend. There are now 6000 square metres of floor space available with the possibility of 350 workstations. The foundation itself, which offers training and further education in the healthcare sector, intends to use three of the 17 floors itself. The Careum Publishing House and the Careum Centre for Health Literacy, for example, will move into rooms. The remaining space has been let to institutes of the University of Zurich Medical School.

    “We are thus expanding our campus and creating additional space for networking and inspiration between disciplines and institutions. In keeping with the purpose of our foundation, we are utilising the potential in Zurich’s university district to further promote education and research in the healthcare sector and make a contribution to healthcare provision,” Careum Foundation President Hans Werner is quoted as saying.

    According to documentation, the historical character played a central role in the renovation. For example, two floors were left in their original state. According to the press release, the responsible experts from Bhend & Schlauri Architects worked closely with the City of Zurich’s monument preservation authorities.

  • Building objections Federal Council wants to crack down harder

    Building objections Federal Council wants to crack down harder

    A study commissioned by the Federal Office for Housing and the Federal Office for Spatial Development shows that objections and appeals are the most common reason why residential construction projects are delayed or even prevented. This drives up costs, slows down construction activity and contributes to the worsening housing shortage. Particularly problematic are cases in which objections do not serve to protect public interests, but primarily secure private advantages or are used as a means of exerting pressure. For example, when money is demanded for the withdrawal of an appeal

    New rules against abuse of the law
    The motion “Sanction abusive building objections” is intended to instruct the Federal Council to create a basis for obliging objectors without an interest worthy of protection or with a clear intention to abuse the law to pay costs and, if necessary, damages. The Federal Council is prepared to examine the existing possibilities for sanctions and to sound out the extent to which it can provide guidelines in the Spatial Planning Act on the legitimacy of objections and the consequences of abusive objections based on Article 75 of the Federal Constitution. The specific structure of the procedures should remain with the cantons, but within a federal legal framework

    Delicate demarcation and open risks
    Legal experts point out how difficult it is in practice to clearly qualify an objection as abusive. Financial compensation for the withdrawal of an appeal can be legitimate, for example, if neighbors give up views, peace and quiet or other positions. In addition, stakeholders such as the Swiss Heritage Society warn that stricter hurdles and threats of sanctions could weaken the protection of townscape and monuments. Especially in cantons without the right of appeal, where neighbors often act as the final protective authority. Parliament will therefore have to perform a balancing act. Speed up procedures and curb abuse without devaluing legitimate objections and democratic participation.

  • All the world’s buildings in a 3D model

    All the world’s buildings in a 3D model

    The GlobalBuildingAtlas comprises around 2.75 billion digital building models, making it the most comprehensive collection of spatially explicit building data to date. It includes all buildings for which suitable satellite images were available in 2019. The 3D models have a spatial resolution of 3×3 meters and are therefore around 30 times finer than previous global data sets. The atlas was developed by a team led by Prof. Xiaoxiang Zhu, holder of the Chair of Data Science in Earth Observation at TUM, which combines remote sensing, artificial intelligence and data-driven urban research in a global approach

    Detailed 3D models and global coverage
    Of the 2.75 billion entries, standardized LoD1 3D models are available for around 2.68 billion, which depict the basic shape and height of the buildings in simplified geometry. This allows volumes to be calculated, urban structures to be analyzed and settlement patterns to be compared worldwide. Of particular importance is the systematic coverage of previously underrepresented regions such as Africa, South America and rural areas, which are now captured with the same accuracy as dense metropolitan areas

    Tool for planning, climate and risk
    The data makes it possible to examine growth dynamics in fast-growing cities, identify high-density neighborhoods with potentially strained living space and determine infrastructure requirements more precisely. Researchers and administrations can thus develop indicators that show where the expansion of transport, energy and water networks, additional housing or climate adaptation measures are particularly urgent. At the same time, the GlobalBuildingAtlas creates a globally standardized reference system that allows analyses of urbanization, energy consumption and disaster risks on a comparable data basis.

  • Bassersdorf plans the next growth step

    Bassersdorf plans the next growth step

    Today, around 90 people work at the Pöschen, Gmeindwisen site on over 90,000 square meters. Over the next 20 years, 600 to 800 new jobs are to be created there and living space for around 1,200 people.
    With the further conversion of all plots, additional space for 100 to 200 more jobs and around 300 more residents is planned. The basis for this is the rezoning to a five-storey residential and commercial zone with a design plan obligation, which has been legally binding since February 2024. The development will take place in stages over several decades, with existing businesses retaining their place.

    Traffic, public transport and “low-car” concept
    The focus of the dialog with the population was on traffic. Questions were asked about parking, access and the future of the bus station. The planning team emphasized the clear focus on public transport. The district is not intended to accommodate through traffic, residents’ cars will be parked in underground garages and no new park-and-ride areas are planned. Despite the development of the area, the planned bypass will remain possible. Those responsible expect to attract a younger, more public transport-oriented population.

    Green spaces, neighborhood life and phasing
    The approximately 50 attendees were particularly positive about the generous green and open spaces, squares and connecting paths. The winning project structures the area into clearly recognizable neighbourhoods, with a noise-shielding block along Zürichstrasse, workplace-oriented uses towards the tracks and diverse residential areas in between. This structure facilitates implementation in stages. Complete realization is expected in ten to fifteen years.

    Political backing and participation
    Mayor Christian Pfaller and the landowners reaffirmed their support for the winning project and the long-term development of a diverse, sustainable district. As the municipality does not own any land itself, it is reliant on a cooperative approach with the owners. A school building is not required. Kindergarten and daycare facilities are planned, which the municipality intends to buy into. With the 2022 building and zoning regulations, the electorate approved the transformation to a mixed zone in principle, but at the same time anchored a design plan obligation. The current consultation event is part of this communication process. The feedback will now be incorporated into the indicative project, which will form the basis for the public design plan, which is expected to be discussed again next year.

  • Swiss office market under pressure

    Swiss office market under pressure

    The available office space in Switzerland remains at 2.12 million square meters. A stable figure on the surface. However, this conceals a worrying trend. At 425,000 square meters, the average quarterly take-up in 2025 is significantly below the previous year (2024: 540,000 m²). This corresponds to a decline of around 21 percent. Companies are hesitating, making slower decisions or withdrawing from letting processes.

    No employment – costs are rising
    The reason for this lies in the weak labor market dynamics. Employment growth in typical office sectors has shrunk from an already meagre 0.3% in 2024 to 0.1% in the third quarter of 2025. The situation in industry is particularly dramatic. Here, job losses intensified from minus 0.2 percent (2024) to minus 1.1 percent (2025). High American import duties and a strong Swiss franc are an additional burden on Swiss companies. The planned tariff reduction could provide relief, but has yet to prove its worth.

    Maintaining centers, periphery under pressure
    The spatial polarization on the office market is intensifying. Availability remains low in the five largest Swiss centers, with the exception of Basel. In the city centers, the rates average 3.7 percent, in the surrounding urban areas 3.6 percent. The suburbs, on the other hand, are struggling with a vacancy rate of 9 percent. This shows an east-west divide. The suburbs of western Switzerland have seen significantly more new construction activity than German-speaking Switzerland.

    Risks for 2026
    If take-up remains at this low level, the vacancy rate threatens to rise in the coming year. Today’s stability could quickly become tomorrow’s brakes if employment growth and entrepreneurial willingness to invest do not return.

  • Basel focusses on the circular economy

    Basel focusses on the circular economy

    BaselCircular is not a traditional funding initiative, but forms the basis for a new innovation ecosystem in the region. As a public-private partnership, the initiative is working with the Basel business community to develop structures that combine knowledge, research and entrepreneurship. At the centre of this is the networking of established companies, start-ups and universities. They form a system that promotes innovation, shares knowledge and makes circular business models marketable – according to the principle of “enabling the enabler”.

    Knowledge, technology and cooperation
    A central field of action is the creation of digital platforms for knowledge exchange and cooperation. Practical tools and expert systems are being developed in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and other scientific partners. AI-based tools are planned to make it easier for companies to adapt circular solutions. However, personal exchange remains crucial, as technology serves as an amplifier for human collaboration.

    Inspiring the next generation
    The network aims to inspire young people to become entrepreneurs in the circular economy. Together with educational institutions, programmes are being developed to promote start-ups. Existing start-up support centres are supported in firmly integrating sustainability into their competitions and training courses.

    Shaping the future
    A survey of companies in Basel has shown that knowledge and implementation levels in the circular economy vary greatly. BaselCircular is responding to this with customised offers and close collaborations, initially in the construction and life sciences sectors. Further areas will be added from 2025. This is a clear signal that Basel is actively strengthening its role as a centre of innovation and is resolutely driving forward the transformation towards a resource-efficient economy.

  • Transparency in three dimensions – How geodata can help the property industry

    Transparency in three dimensions – How geodata can help the property industry

    Densification, climate adaptation and increasing regulatory density pose new challenges for the property industry. At the same time, digital geodata opens up a holistic view of space. With the 3D viewer MapBS 3D, the PLR cadastre and property information, digital tools are available in the canton of Basel-Stadt that help owners, developers and investors to sharpen their view of the canton and its properties.

    MapBS 3D – City and buildings as digital twins
    What was previously only recognisable on plans can now be experienced in three dimensions in the browser:

    – Basel as a digital 3D city model with buildings
    buildings, terrain and trees.
    – 3D aerial images and oblique aerial images for a
    photorealistic view of the canton.
    – The buildings can be filtered by height, for example,
    and the data can be freely obtained and
    integrated into customised applications.
    – The toolbox can be used, for example, to simulate shading over the course of the year or visibility axes.

    This makes a location spatially comprehensible. Whether an extension is realistic, how a new building fits into the silhouette or which visual axes are affected – initial answers are just a few clicks away.

    You can quickly recognise how a property fits into the urban context and where potential lies dormant. This makes MapBS 3D a valuable tool – not only for planners, but also for decision-makers.

    The PLR-cadastre – Legal certainty at a click
    Anyone who develops or acquires must know what applies. The PLR-cadastre – the abbreviation stands for public-law restrictions on ownership – bundles relevant specifications for a property: building zones, protected areas, noise or water protection, etc.

    In Basel-Stadt, the cadastre currently covers over twenty subject areas, available online and also as a PDF extract. It is always up to date. This allows risks to be recognised at an early stage and legal framework conditions to be checked efficiently – an advantage that should not be underestimated in times of complex planning processes.

    What else is possible?
    If PLR topics are superimposed in MapBS 3D using the “Add layer” tool, a digital decision space is created.

    Other interesting topics can also be found in the cantonal WebGIS MapBS. There you can use the “Property information” tool to call up information on a property and its buildings directly. The same information can also be automatically integrated into your own applications using an API.

    All of this can be used, for example, to check whether a building intention conforms to the zoning plan or whether noise might make residential use unfavourable. This creates clarity and avoids misunderstandings. In this way, complex knowledge becomes spatially visible and it is easier to recognise location qualities, risks and scope for development.

    What is planned for the future?
    With twinbs, the Canton of Basel-Stadt wants to make geoinformation even more transparent and reliably accessible in the future. The full potential of spatial data is to be utilised. The Geoinformation Centre regularly collects feedback from users. Anyone with questions about MapBS 3D, the PLR cadastre or geodata in general is welcome to contact them directly.

  • Dynamics of the economic future in Ticino

    Dynamics of the economic future in Ticino

    The urbanisation of Pian Faloppia was a strategic project for the future. Modern transport connections, a high-performance electricity network and an advanced water supply system create optimal conditions that are particularly attractive to companies with innovative aspirations. The specific site planning of the Balerna municipal association was developed in close dialogue with owners and entrepreneurs in order to sustainably strengthen the settlement area.

    Innovation dynamics and network expertise
    Companies from the precision engineering, watchmaking, solar technology and advanced logistics sectors operate in the centre. The interaction between research, industry and entrepreneurship is a key success factor. Companies located here benefit from links to research centres and universities as well as access to a qualified workforce, creating a powerful and future-oriented economic dynamic.

    Management with vision and synergies
    With the newly created role of Area Manager, Pian Faloppia is focussing on actively supporting and developing the quality of the location. This position bundles regional development structures and ensures targeted networking between companies, authorities and other stakeholders. This creates synergies that continuously strengthen the economic region and ensure attractive conditions for companies to settle here.

    Quality of life as a location argument
    The location is not only characterised by economic advantages, but also by a high quality of life. A wide range of leisure and cultural activities as well as the natural surroundings guarantee attractive conditions for specialists and managers. The temperate climate and Swiss stability offer additional planning security for long-term developments. The Pian Faloppia development centre is an example of future-oriented regional development in Ticino. The consistent focus on sustainable innovation, networking and synergy creates an attractive economic area that offers prospects for companies and skilled workers alike.

  • Schlieren remains an Energy City Gold

    Schlieren remains an Energy City Gold

    Schlieren has been recognised as a Gold Energy City for the second time since 2021, as detailed in a press release from the city. The award is valid for four years. Schlieren has been recognised as an Energy City since 2008. “Being awarded the Energy City Gold label once again is a great honour and shows us that we are on the right path as a city,” said Beat Kilchenmann, City Councillor and Head of the Works, Utilities and Facilities Department, in the press release.

    The Energy City Gold label serves to recognise particularly ambitious energy and climate protection goals. The city cites the specific measures that were defined in various fields of action as part of the net-zero strategy adopted in 2023 with the target year 2040. These measures served as a programme of activities for recertification as an Energy City Gold. They include the expansion of the district heating network, the use of renewable energy in municipal properties and strengthening the circular economy.

  • New building to replace outdated shopping center

    New building to replace outdated shopping center

    A feasibility and potential study has shown that the Migros shopping center in the “Im Funken” area in Zofingen is outdated in terms of use and operation. According to a statement from the town of Zofingen, partial preservation is not an option, so a new replacement building is now to be planned. This new building is at the heart of the plans for a “mixed quarter for shopping, living and working”, which is being planned by Migros Aare, the city of Zofingen and the real estate company Zofimmo AG.

    Now that a “first milestone” has been reached with the study, “viable and concrete projects” are to be developed by several teams through a study contract. In a subsequent step, these are then to be legally secured through corresponding municipal planning instruments or a design plan.

    The results of the study commission should be available by the end of 2026, with construction starting in 2029 at the earliest. During the possible construction phase, a temporary facility would allow shopping to continue. On completion of the work, residential space is to be created on the existing parking lot by the railroad tracks. In addition to commercial space, residential space is also planned for the green part of the site opposite the old town – but the green character is to be retained.

  • 27 years of commitment to Schlieren’s transformation

    27 years of commitment to Schlieren’s transformation

    Albert Schweizer has been shaping the economic development of the city of Schlieren since 1998, i.e. for over 27 years. During this time, he has not only located companies and organized space, but also led dialogues between business, politics and administration. Always with a clear philosophy, networks and trust instead of blind optimization of figures.

    “Schlieren has grown rapidly, but in a controlled manner, with location promotion that is not just based on figures, but on networks and trust,” is an apt description of Albert Schweizer’s approach. A classic industrial city has become a dynamic technology location.

    From industry to biotechnology
    Schweizer’s ability to consistently turn opportunities into projects made all the difference. He organized spaces, untied knots, launched festivals and created the conditions for companies to settle and grow in Schlieren. The transformation of former industrial wasteland into centers of biotechnology and medical technology is particularly impressive. A strategic change that repositioned Schlieren.

    Well-deserved retirement
    Albert Schweizer will take his well-deserved retirement next spring 2026. This will mark the end of an era for the city of Schlieren, but his mark will remain – in the networks he has built up, in the projects he has initiated and in the culture of location promotion that he has helped to shape.

    “We are proud of how Schlieren has developed,” says Mayor Markus Bärtschiger, paying tribute to Albert Schweizer’s achievements.

    Albert Schweizer’s retirement marks the departure of not only an experienced location promoter, but also the architect of modern Schlieren. His award is a well-deserved finale to an influential career that shows that sustainable development comes from people – people who not only manage the economy, but also build trust.

  • ImmoTable Basel – Of superclusters, new bridges and the path out of digital antiquity

    ImmoTable Basel – Of superclusters, new bridges and the path out of digital antiquity

    [smartslider3 slider=”51″]

    Christof Klöpper, CEO of Basel Area Business & Innovation, kicked things off. He painted a picture of a region that is far more than “just” a pharmaceutical location. Although the life sciences supercluster remains a global leader, the innovation ecosystem has diversified.

    Supported by the three cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Jura, the organization focuses on international start-ups and a public-private partnership that is strongly driven by industry. Klöpper’s message was clear: the task is not just classic location promotion, but the active provision of innovation infrastructure for an ecosystem that is constantly growing.

    Basel-Stadt and the 500 million lever
    Julian Kamasa from the Office of Economy and Labor underlined how the canton of Basel-Stadt intends to further expand its position as a leading innovation location, supported by around 800 life sciences companies and numerous start-ups. At the heart of this offensive is the new “Basel location package”, with which the canton will take on a pioneering role throughout Switzerland from 2025.

    With an annual budget of 150 to 500 million francs, targeted investments will be promoted. 80% of the funds will flow into an innovation fund that rewards research and development activities at the location in particular. The remaining 20 percent supports social and ecological goals such as parental leave or climate protection measures.

    The core message is clear. Those who conduct substantial research in Basel benefit the most. The canton wants to use this financial leverage to consolidate its position as a leading European healthcare location, build up targeted tech expertise and transform the economy towards a circular economy. The great potential of urban transformation areas plays a key role in this.

    An urban planning liberation
    The presentation by Marko Kern (SBB) and Marc Février (Canton of Basel-Stadt), who presented the winning project for the new Margarethenbrücke bridge and platform access, took a concrete turn. A key project for future mobility. In view of the massive increase in passenger numbers due to the SBB expansion phase 2035 and the desire for more space for streetcar and bicycle traffic, the old bridge needs to be replaced.

    Following a study commission process, in which the listed SNCF hall posed a particular challenge, the project by Penzel Valier AG won out. It envisages a slender, elevated bridge with a green roof. This creates more space for all road users and integrates a new, barrier-free streetcar stop in the middle of the bridge.

    The benefits of the project are manifold. It improves the transfer at the SBB railroad station, relieves the Centralbahnplatz, optimizes the bicycle and pedestrian connections between Gundeldingen and the city centre and creates clear added value in terms of urban development with over 11,000 new bicycle parking spaces and additional green spaces. The costs in the low to mid three-digit million range are being borne jointly by the federal government and the canton, and the project is a prime example of successful cooperation.

    Out of the “digital antiquity“
    Isabel Gehrer (pom+) held up a critical mirror to the industry. Her presentation “From digital antiquity to the industry of the future” showed the discrepancy between Switzerland as a world champion of innovation and a construction and real estate industry that provocatively remains in “digital antiquity” in terms of digital maturity.

    While Switzerland once again takes first place in the Global Innovation Index 2025 and Basel is home to three of the top 10 investors in Roche, Novartis and Syngenta, the real estate industry invests significantly less in innovation than other sectors. Only BIM has really caught on.

    Gehrer referred to Bill Gates’ concept of the “Green Premium”. Sustainable solutions must become so efficient that they no longer cost a premium. She cited the automotive industry as an example of success, where battery costs have fallen by 80 percent since 2010, making electric cars suitable for mass production.

    Her approach comprises four points. Securing research infrastructure through better networking between universities and industry, increasing research and development intensity, mobilizing venture capital for PropTechs and conducting strategic foresight in order to use transformation areas such as Klybeckplus as experimental spaces. Her appeal to the industry: “Let’s make it real.”

    Real Estate Award 2026
    To conclude the ImmoTable, Mara Schlumpf turned her attention to the coming year. The next Real Estate Award will take place on October 22, 2026 at Trafo Baden and will bring together around 300 decision-makers from the industry. The gala combines award ceremonies with top-class networking. Outstanding projects and companies will be honored in five categories, such as sustainability, digital, marketing, project development & innovation and the real estate personality of the year. The target group includes project developers, real estate and construction companies, investors, politicians and the media. For partners, the award offers exclusive visibility and access to a first-class network.

    The immoTable event impressively demonstrated that Basel has the capital, the infrastructure and the political will to change. Now it is up to the real estate industry itself to use the funds and areas provided with the necessary innovative spirit and to take the leap from digital antiquity into the future.

  • Between stability, housing protection and growth pressure

    Between stability, housing protection and growth pressure

    Current mood in the Basel real estate industry
    The current situation is ambivalent. On the one hand, Basel enjoys great economic stability and a strong real economic basis, as current market analyses confirm. On the other hand, the shoe is on the other foot when it comes to the actual production of living space. In an international comparison with Paris, San Francisco or London, for example, the cost of housing is still moderate in relation to wages in Basel. But the mood is gloomy. Housing production is not doing well. This is not so much due to a lack of investors, but rather to complex planning processes and home-made hurdles.

    The challenge of housing protection
    A central topic of the debate is Basel’s “housing protection”. The law, originally intended to ensure the social compatibility of renovations and protect tenants, is proving to be an obstacle to investment in practice.

    The criticism is that although the housing protection is well-intentioned, it actually reduces supply. If refurbishments become uneconomical due to excessive requirements, they simply do not take place. Although adjustments have already been made to the ordinance, for example to facilitate energy-efficient renovations, the uncertainty remains. Fewer new apartments are coming onto the market, while immigration continues. This is exacerbating the very shortage that was supposed to be combated. Anyone looking for an apartment today, whether due to family matters, a job change or a move, will find a dried-up market and high prices. The regulation thus protects the existing stock, but puts those who want to enter the market at a disadvantage.

    Lessons for other cantons
    A look across the border shows that Basel currently serves more as a warning than a role model in terms of regulation. The introduction of strict protective provisions is reminiscent of past mistakes (interest rate and regulatory policy 40 years ago). The lesson for other cantons is therefore that supply should not be artificially reduced when it is increasing.

    Another phenomenon is the conversion of office space. What was hardly conceivable four years ago due to yield expectations has suddenly become attractive due to rising interest rates and changing office markets. However, these transformations usually do not create affordable living space, but rather high-priced offers.

    Basel in the Switzerland of 10 million
    Switzerland is growing and Basel is growing with it. The city has enormous potential in the form of former industrial sites (e.g. Klybeck Plus) and transformation areas. Investors would be willing to develop and densify these areas. But the problem is the length of time involved. Planning processes, such as the one for the Klybeck site, take 5 to 6 years before construction can even begin.

    For a Switzerland with 10 million inhabitants, there is no alternative to inner densification. Compromises have to be found, as was the case with the “climate cardinals” initiative. Areas over 30,000 m² should be allowed to be built on more densely, but must meet strict ecological and social criteria. It is important to understand the investor side here, especially pension funds. These manage trust funds for retirement provision and cannot simply cross-subsidize living space. Planning security is the hardest currency here.

    Future and solutions
    What does the future look like? Above all, the sector is calling for acceleration and flexibility. As in Germany, we should discuss the planning turbo and mechanisms would be needed to drastically shorten approval procedures. The real estate of the future must be flexible. What is an office today must be able to be an apartment tomorrow and perhaps an office or logistics space the day after tomorrow. Fragmented monostructures are no longer in keeping with the times. The fear of growth must give way to a desire for design. Quality is created through good internal densification and a mix of uses, not through stagnation.

    The means and the capital would be available to alleviate Basel’s housing shortage. What is lacking is a regulatory environment that enables rather than prevents investment and a planning process that keeps pace with the speed of social change.

  • Norman Gobbi points to sustainability in Ticino

    Norman Gobbi points to sustainability in Ticino

    Mr. Gobbi, you have recently been in charge of construction in Canton Ticino. What are your first priorities in this area?
    “In my new role as head of the Construction Division, which I have held since September 1, the priority is to initiate contacts with all the main players in the construction sector in Ticino, in order to understand their view of the current situation and prospects-short, medium and long term.”

    How do you intend to make spatial planning in Ticino more sustainable, particularly in the delicate balance between densification and landscape protection?
    “The canton of Ticino has a very different geographic conformation than the highland cantons. Everything is concentrated in the few square meters of the valley floors, which were already heavily anthropized during the 20th century: this makes it very difficult to reconcile all the functions that the territory has to perform, while ensuring the highest possible degree of sustainability and quality of life. The key lies in forward-looking planning, as well as the patience to remedy, step by step, the mistakes inherited from the past.”

    What role does climate change play in your building policy? Are there concrete plans for climate-resilient building in the canton?
    “Ticino stretches from 200 to over 3,000 meters above sea level and is therefore particularly exposed to the effects of climate change. The State Council is aware of this and has included mitigation of these phenomena among the goals of its long-term program.”

    What is your position on promoting the use of wood and modular construction in public building?
    “More than 50 percent of our canton’s land area is covered by forests. So our interest in promoting the use of this abundant and high-quality resource is obvious. The state is there and will play its part in this area: I also expect creative impulses from our Academy of Architecture and, of course, increasing sensitivity from the private sector.”

    Housing space in Ticino is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. What strategies will you adopt to create affordable housing?
    “Our constitution entrusts the management of these issues, first and foremost, to the municipalities: I consider this a wise choice, since local authorities have an in-depth knowledge of what is happening on the territory and can therefore react promptly to changes in the housing context. That said, the canton is following the issue very closely and is ready to take regulatory action where it is appropriate to do so.”

    How will it work with municipalities to ensure consistent and uniform spatial planning?
    “The new Federal Law has completely changed the paradigm, and Ticino has incorporated it into its Master Plan: it is clear that-for the reasons related to the conformation of the territory I mentioned-the issue of densification is particularly delicate for our canton. The implementation of this strategy will require a broad debate both among institutions and within society as a whole.”

    In German and French-speaking Switzerland, economic promotions are very active. How much energy does the canton and individual districts, respectively, economic regions invest in positioning, and what are they doing concretely?
    “Ticino is constantly working to position itself as a dynamic region that is open to innovation. We are just under two hours from the economic hubs of Zurich and Milan, and in the future we can aspire to accommodate realities that want to remain connected to the dynamism of these metropolises without necessarily having to suffer the disadvantages in terms of quality of life.”

    What lessons do you draw from your time as safety director for your new role in the construction industry?
    “Attention to safety is a ‘mindset,’ and it helps in all situations in life-especially in professions where people risk serious or even fatal injuries. So it will be a priority for me to strengthen awareness on these issues and try to strive for a construction industry where people can work without ever having to fear for their safety.”

    How do you manage the transition from a heavily safety-focused area to a more technical one?
    “Our militia system encourages us to be ‘enlightened amateurs,’ avoiding overspecialization and maintaining an awareness that the work of the state is not made up of watertight compartments, but of interconnected organs that must work in constant dialogue.”

    Do you see your new role as a long-term task or rather as a temporary solution until the end of the legislature in 2027?
    “As I have said many times, land management is my great passion after institutions.”

  • Zurich readjusts housing and transport policy

    Zurich readjusts housing and transport policy

    The counter-proposal to the “More affordable housing” initiative is adopted with around 51% of votes in favor. The credit for cantonal housing subsidies increases from CHF 180 million to CHF 360 million. This will provide cooperatives and non-profit developers with additional funds to realize projects in the affordable segment without directly interfering with ownership contracts

    The actual pre-emption initiative was clearly defeated with almost 60 percent of votes against, although the housing shortage is widely recognized. Voters thus accepted the diagnosis of a tight market, but rejected the instrument of a systematic right of first refusal for the municipalities as too much of an encroachment on freedom of ownership and contract

    Canton takes over the speed sceptre
    The mobility initiative is accepted with just under 57% in favor and establishes 50 km/h as the rule on main traffic routes, while 30 km/h remains possible on short stretches and in justified exceptional cases. In future, it will no longer be Zurich and Winterthur but the canton that decides on speed limits on main roads. A change of power that sets tight limits on urban traffic policies

    As a result, voters will strengthen cantonal control of motorized traffic and weaken municipal attempts to implement noise and safety goals more broadly by means of 30 km/h speed limits. For planners and investors, this means more regulatory clarity at the network level, but less scope for neighborhood-related traffic and urban development policy experiments

    Digital rights and premium reduction fail
    The initiative “For a fundamental right to digital integrity” received little support with around 25% of votes in favor. The more moderate counter-proposal was also rejected with a good 55% voting against. Neither an explicit right to a “mobile phone-free life” nor additional constitutional guarantees against surveillance and data analysis were convincing. The canton is therefore not given a constitutionally enhanced mandate in the digital space

    The increase in cantonal premium reductions was also rejected, although around CHF 1.3 billion already flows into this pot today. The No to an additional CHF 50 million per year signals fiscal restraint and leaves low-income households caught between rising healthcare costs and stagnating transfer payments

    Signals for the housing market and planning
    For housing construction in the canton of Zurich, the package means more subsidies, but no new coercive instruments under planning law such as a general right of first refusal. Municipalities and cooperatives must therefore focus their strategies more on cooperation, mobilizing building land and accelerating approval procedures rather than on direct market intervention

    Overall, the vote shows an urban-rural tension. The housing shortage is recognized, but financial incentives and cantonal control are preferred to far-reaching interventions in property rights or everyday mobility. For the real estate industry, planning and politics, this opens up a field in which the implementation of increased housing subsidies becomes a decisive lever.

  • Basel Area has developed into a life sciences supercluster

    Basel Area has developed into a life sciences supercluster

    Specifically, Basel Area Business & Innovation works on the one hand to attract foreign companies that are expanding to the Basel region. On the other hand, the non-profit organization supports innovative start-ups in their foundation. In both areas of activity, the focus is on the region’s leading industries of life sciences, healthcare technology and production technology.

    As a third pillar, Basel Area Business & Innovation operates the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, which is also home to its own accelerator programs BaseLaunch and DayOne. At its three locations on the Main Campus in Allschwil, the Novartis Campus in Basel and in the canton of Jura, the Innovation Park offers a large number of start-ups a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a wide range of services so that they can concentrate on research and promising projects.

    The Basel Area has undergone enormous economic development in recent decades. The constant transformation of the business location has been decisive. Silk ribbon production in the 19th century gave rise to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. At the end of the 20th century, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries finally went their separate ways and the pharmaceutical companies Roche and Novartis subsequently left their mark on the location. Over the past 20 years, small, agile biotech start-ups and private research institutions have enriched the ecosystem. Today, the Basel Area is regarded as Europe’s most important location for pharma and biotech and as an actual life sciences supercluster, in which the healthtech and medtech sectors are also strongly represented.

    The Basel Area’s life sciences ecosystem currently consists of more than 800 companies, over 1,000 research groups and around 35,000 specialists. It is unique in Europe that the entire value chain is represented in the Basel Area. From basic research at university institutes to the further development of innovations in the laboratory by start-ups or the research and development departments of established pharmaceutical companies through to the market launch, production and distribution of medicines.

    The Basel Area also offers the opportunity to conduct clinical trials at local hospitals and to be supplied with active ingredients by various pharmaceutical suppliers. CDMO Lonza, Bachem, Primopus, Celonic, Corden Pharma and ten23 health are all present in the Basel Area. There are also plenty of local service providers that are necessary for the functioning of the life sciences industry, for example in the areas of logistics, consulting and ICT.

    The academic landscape has developed in parallel with the growth of the industry. While the University of Basel has long focused on life sciences, the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich was added a few years ago. It expands the research capacities of privately financed institutes such as the Friedrich Miescher Institute, Roche’s Institute of Human Biology and the Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering.

    Finally, the infrastructure is another ace up the Basel Area’s sleeve. Additional laboratory space has been created in recent years, and more will follow in the coming years. Companies that need laboratories can now choose from numerous providers such as Superlabs, iCITY Reinach, Tech Park Basel or Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area. Office space with meeting rooms is also easy to find, whether in a coworking area, a dedicated office or an open-plan office.

    In short, the Basel Area boasts a uniquely high density of companies and specialists in the life sciences sector. No other location in the world has so much to offer in so little space.

    Find out more:
    www.baselarea.swiss
    www.baselsupercluster.com

  • Basel is building the future with responsibility

    Basel is building the future with responsibility

    Mr. Hess, you have been involved in the Basel economic region for many years in various roles. What milestones or formative developments have you particularly remembered during this time?
    Today, politics and administration are much more interested in the needs of the economy than when I started working for the canton. Visible examples of mutual trust are the site developments by Novartis, Roche and Lonza and the multi-billion euro investments by these and other companies at the location. In addition to nurturing existing companies, Basel-Stadt has also massively increased its promotion of innovation. Since 2024, almost 68 million francs have been invested over eight years in nine programs in the areas of life sciences, digital innovation and the sustainable economy. The latest addition is the Basel location package. Depending on the budget situation, the canton is investing between 150 and 500 million francs per year in strengthening the attractiveness of the location. Almost all of the money goes to companies in Basel.

    Basel is considered one of the most dynamic business locations in Switzerland.
    How do you assess the current economic situation in the canton of Basel-Stadt?
    Thanks to our industry structure, Basel-Stadt is doing well economically. The erratic economic policy of the USA has hardly left any traces, even if it does pose challenges for our companies. The current position of the location can be seen, for example, in the cantonal competitiveness indicator of UBS, where Basel-Stadt is again in second place of all Swiss cantons this year. Or the triple A rating that the rating agency S&P has once again awarded the canton. Both encourage us to continue on our chosen path – as an innovative and reliable partner to the economy.

    What is the current focus of location promotion for urban areas and residential construction?
    The cantonal development plan envisages a population and employment target of 220,000 by 2035. People need living space, but also areas to work and ideally short distances between home and work. We strive to provide companies in the canton of Basel-Stadt with sufficient available high-quality space as a locational advantage. A particular focus here is on securing production space and an optimized supply of space for scale-ups.

    What are the challenges posed by a shortage of space and high demand? How is Basel-Stadt solving these?
    A major challenge in Basel-Stadt is the competition for space in the limited space available due to cantonal and national borders. We often hear from those involved in real estate project development that it is not a problem to build upwards in Basel. It is also important to make optimum use of the potential of the transformation sites in order to create more space for living and working areas.

    What are the most important findings from the Basel location package for site development?
    The Basel location package is attractive for site developers and investors, as taxable companies in Basel-Stadt that spend on research and development, parental leave, climate protection and energy efficiency can receive substantial subsidies. This facilitates the establishment and promotes the growth of companies on sites in the canton.

    How does the canton of Basel-Stadt accompany and support the transformation of industrial sites into modern residential and working quarters?
    Through an active and systematic exchange with companies and landowners. At the AWA, we not only know about a company’s confidential, potential development steps, but can also provide the company with the necessary development sites.

    What role do investors and developers play for Basel today?
    Both play an important role. They invest in underutilized, partially derelict land in order to develop it and generate substantial added value for Basel as a location. However, transformation sites are also in the public eye due to their size. All parties involved must take this responsibility into account.

    How does the promotion of start-ups and life sciences contribute to real estate development?
    A concrete example: the canton has been operating the Tech Park Basel for 14 years. We offer small-scale laboratory and office space there at attractive rental conditions. Start-ups that outgrow Tech Park Basel then look for larger spaces on commercial terms. We are therefore producing a pipeline of mature, well-financed startups (mostly biotechs) for the benefit of the private, unsubsidized real estate market.

    What future trends do you see for Basel up to 2030, particularly with regard to digitalization and new forms of work?
    Job quality is much more important today than it used to be. Digitalization could further drive the flexibilization of space rental. Our experience shows that some companies are looking for rental space where, for example, a meeting room can be booked flexibly via an app. Although Basel has a healthy supply of office space, it is still not so easy to find this type of space through real estate agencies.

    They will enter a well-deserved retirement in the next few years.
    What skills are particularly important for your succession?
    Skills are important. But personal qualities are even more important. These include entrepreneurial thinking, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, perseverance and the joy of working together in a great team to develop the site every day. I have a bit of a problem with the term “retirement” anyway. I love my work as a “public entrepreneur” and would like to remain involved in areas that are important to me personally even after I leave my current position in May 2027.

  • Real estate prices remain high

    Real estate prices remain high

    Real estate prices will remain on an upward trend in 2026. Forecasts by Zürcher Kantonalbank(ZKB) predict a price increase of 4.5 percent. The abolition of the imputed rental value will have no impact on this, nor will the baby boomers change the situation, according to a press release on the latest Immobilien aktuell study.

    On the housing market as a whole, the pressure on owners, tenants and tradespeople is growing as a result of the housing shortage and immigration. Switzerland is dependent on immigration, but the influx is “exacerbating the demand for housing in already tight markets”. One in four newcomers move to the five largest cities – one in ten to Zurich.

    The ZKB experts expect the situation to remain tight as a result of a drop in demand for rental apartments. Vacancy rates are at a record low and are having a particular impact on the relocation behavior of young adults. In 2023, 15 percent fewer people between the ages of 21 and 25 will have moved than in 2020. “Many will stay in Hotel Mama because there is no suitable living space available,” they say.

    Demographic change will not have a price-reducing effect. “Baby boomers are expected to increase the supply of single-family homes by around 14% and condominiums by 10% by 2035,” it says. “Demographic change will change the market, but will not trigger a price slump,” Ursina Kubli, Head of Real Estate Research at ZKB, is quoted as saying. Prices for second homes rose by 40 percent in 2019 and 2024, but will remain at a high level after a slight decline in 2025.

    ZKB’s forecasts are based on studies of the abolition of the imputed rental value, the supply restriction for rental apartments, a possible wave of sales by the baby boomer generation, market influences due to immigration and the changed vacation apartment market.

  • Modern logistics construction focuses on efficiency and sustainability

    Modern logistics construction focuses on efficiency and sustainability

    Transstahl AG, which belongs to Pestalozzi, is to be able to transport long and bulky goods even more efficiently and flexibly throughout Switzerland in future. The Pestalozzi Group is therefore building a new logistics center in Pieterlen, for which the ground-breaking ceremony has now been held, according to a press release. In addition to representatives from Pestalozzi and Transstahl, Beat Rüfli, Mayor of Pieterlen, and Simon Enderli, Head of Location Promotion for the Canton of Bern, as well as other guests also took part in the ceremony.

    The logistics center will be 100 meters long, 30 meters wide and 12 meters high. An energy-efficient heating system is planned, as well as a photovoltaic system and charging stations for electric trucks and cars. A large proportion of the materials used come from the Pestalozzi Group, which specializes in steel technology and building services.

    “With this ground-breaking ceremony, we are investing in the development of our group of companies and making a clear commitment to Switzerland as a business location and to working in partnership with municipalities and regions,” Matthias Pestalozzi is quoted as saying in the press release. He is the owner and Delegate of the Board of Directors of the Pestalozzi Group.

  • New impetus for the Schwarzbubenland region

    New impetus for the Schwarzbubenland region

    The Forum Schwarzbubenland has appointed a new location promotion officer for the districts of Dorneck and Thierstein. According to the association, it has entrusted National Councillor Christian Imark with the mandate. The aim is to better meet the needs of a dynamic economic situation.

    On the one hand, the location promoter should help to attract new companies in order to strengthen the economic base. On the other hand, he is to support local companies in overcoming current challenges and achieving growth. Finally, Imark is to intensify cooperation between business, education and politics.

    “As an experienced personality from politics and business, Christian Imark brings with him the ideal tools to make our region better known, position it successfully and provide new impetus,” Dieter Künzli, President of Forum Schwarzbubenland, is quoted as saying in the press release.

    Christian Imark (born 1982) has been a member of the National Council for the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) since 2015. He is also the owner of Airboxx GmbH, a company based in Fehren SO that specializes in the rental of marquees. The location promotion mandate comprises a 30 percent workload.

    Imark replaces Karoline Sutter, who took over location promotion in 2022. At that time, the mandate still consisted of the location promotion of Schwarzbubenland and the neighboring Baselbieter Laufental. Sutter took over the mandate together with Rita Stoffel-Meury.

  • Frauenfeld integrates old town car park into Smart Parking

    Frauenfeld integrates old town car park into Smart Parking

    The city of Frauenfeld is expanding its Smart Parking system to include the Altstadt multi-storey car park. The city has now announced this. To this end, it has been equipped with sensors that display free parking spaces in the Regio Frauenfeld app. The pilot project was launched in 2023 and continued in 2024 following a comprehensive evaluation. It now comprises a total of six car parks and 24 cameras.

    Occupancy is recorded there every two minutes and visualised on the app. This should enable road users to find a free parking space more quickly and benefit from smoother traffic flow.

    The Altstadt multi-storey car park is the only one not equipped with cameras. It is owned by Wohnpark Promenade AG and managed by Tobler Immobilien AG. A one-year trial operation was agreed with the managers of both companies. The underground car park offers 66 parking spaces in a central location.

    Following the renovation of the Passage shopping centre, its multi-storey car park with around 260 parking spaces will also be connected. The construction work should be completed by the end of 2027.

    Frauenfeld’s smart parking concept is based on a project by the Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence in the canton of Zurich. Parquery AG from Zurich, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH), used image recognition to efficiently record and analyse car park occupancy in real time.

  • Expansion of the company site for future growth

    Expansion of the company site for future growth

    HKG, a company specialising in building technology and energy consulting based in Aarau, is moving to new premises in Baden. From 1 March 2026, it will be operating from its site at Täfernstrasse 14a in the Dättwil district of Baden. HKG is currently still looking for additional employees for the new location, as detailed in a press release. The new offices are described as a “state-of-the-art workplace with light, space and a feel-good atmosphere” as well as a “workplace of the future” with a roof terrace, focus zones and modern infrastructure.

    Founded in 1978, Herzog Kull Group Holding operates in various fields of electrical engineering. These include electrical engineering, building automation, building IT and security, as well as consulting, energy, digitalisation and overall planning. While Herzog Kull Group Holding is headquartered in Rotkreuz, companies belonging to the group such as HKG Engineering and HKG Consulting are based in Aarau.

  • Education cluster Polyfeld Muttenz

    Education cluster Polyfeld Muttenz

    The canton of Basel-Landschaft is combining the BBZ BL, the Muttenz grammar school and the Zentrum für Brückenangebote into a joint secondary II campus at Polyfeld. Stage 1 focuses on the dismantling and conversion of the existing tower, which has been gutted from top to bottom, decontaminated and completely dismantled in the core area. The core walls, staircases, floor slab and foundations were removed in a controlled manner over an area of around 20 by 20 meters.

    To ensure that the slender tower remained stable during the conversion and new construction, temporary bracing with heavy steel frames was installed on each floor. At the same time, the new construction of the building core and the construction of the new main staircase, which is to become a design center of the BBZ as a freely suspended prefabricated construction in exposed concrete, began.

    Exposed concrete, workshop building and triple sports hall
    All new buildings in stage 1 will be constructed in high-quality exposed concrete, with a project-specific formwork and concreting concept for uniform surfaces. The workshop building, which is around 55 meters long and 26 meters wide, is being built in three stages so that walls, columns, earthquake walls and ceilings can be constructed in parallel on each floor.

    The new triple sports hall will have a complex supporting structure made of pre-stressed prestressed concrete beams, which will be assembled in stages, provisionally supported and pre-stressed after the ceiling has been concreted. This allows the hall to be flexibly divided into three smaller units at a later date. An external spiral staircase with specially developed formwork provides an architectural accent. The adjoining assembly hall and canteen is a prefabricated construction, combining exposed concrete with a composite timber ceiling and functionally linking the different parts of the building.

    Life science training building in the Polyfeld
    Parallel to the cantonal campus project, the Polyfeld is being given an additional focus with a new life science training center. The Basel district council has approved a contribution of around two million francs for this. Around CHF 1.7 million for the construction of the new training location at Birsfelderstrasse 46 and around CHF 390,000 for special laboratory equipment. The new building will have a net floor area of around 19,500 square meters. Cantonal funding will be provided for an eligible floor space of around 1,400 square meters.

    The project is sponsored by the Aprentas training association, which intends to combine its existing locations on Lachmattstrasse and in Schweizerhalle in the new building. Aprentas, which originally emerged from the Novartis environment, offers inter-company courses for EFZ training in chemistry, biology and chemical and pharmaceutical technology. The cantonal funding strengthens Muttenz as a life science training location and complements the Polyfeld secondary school campus with a clearly profiled, practice-oriented training infrastructure for regional industry.