immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Trends

  • Blockchain applications for the real estate sector

    Blockchain applications for the real estate sector

    The term blockchain should be familiar by now. Most people associate it with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and it is partly correct, although blockchain is the technology while Bitcoin is an application of it. The technology may seem complicated, the Swiss blockchain expert Michael Trübestein, but he is convinced that “blockchain technology is comparable to the debut of the Internet and it will not stop. For now it is only uncertain how it will develop ».

    First of all, you need to understand how it works: a blockchain is made up of individual blocks, on each of which sequences of data, such as transactions, are stored. A blockchain is a decentralized network. This means that anyone, anywhere in the world, can participate in a blockchain naturally with a computer. Each computer participating in a blockchain stores the same individual blocks in the exact sequence that forms the chain. Each block has its own "DNA". A new computer is only allowed when it has been checked and verified by everyone else. What has been programmed on a blockchain cannot be subsequently changed by a computer. To make a change, all the other computers on the network would have to be involved, and it is precisely for this reason that the blockchain is so secure. If a single computer tries to change the blockchain, the chain is immediately broken and the offender is kicked out.

    In Baar, «Hello World» is the first property in the world to be tokenized
    The possibilities that blockchain technology offers in the real estate sector are enormous, according to Michael Trübestein, professor of property management at the University of Lucerne who specializes in Real Estate Investment and Real Estate Asset Management. Numerous companies are currently researching possible application areas. “Currently, there are only isolated applications, such as in the land registry or in the investment / financing sector. A specific example is the world's first tokenization of a property, Baar's 'Hello World' property, ”says Trübestein. 20 percent (3 million Swiss francs) of the value of "Hello World" was tokenized by the Zug-based company "Blockimmo" and sold to four investors.

    Crowdlitoken also specializes in real estate: founded in 2018, the start-up sees itself as a digital real estate company. “Investors can acquire holdings in selected Swiss real estate for a minimum amount of 100 francs / euro. They are then allowed to build their real estate portfolio by allocating the purchased bonds (Crowdlitokens ‹CRTs›) individually to the various Crowdlitoken properties, ”explains Domenic Kurt, CEO of Crowdlitoken. By participating in the properties, investors can achieve annual returns of 7 percent and decide whether to have it deposited monthly into their bank account or digitally as a CRT token.

    Access to the financial market is liberalized
    No intermediary bank is needed for a digital bond and therefore it is more convenient for the investor. Crowdlitoken has over 630 investors with a volume of 18 million CRTs and its real estate portfolio is constantly growing. Among their prominent users are the Swiss professional footballer Diego Bena-
    son. Kurt defines the difference between Crowdlitoken and other companies based on blockchain technology thus: «there are no competitors who would accept such a low investment for a stake in different real estate properties. To manage investments, users can access the portal with their smartphone ».

    That blockchain has disruptive potential is clear to both Trübestein and Kurt. Crowdlitoken CEO adds: “Banks are becoming obsolete for investment products like ours. New distribution channels are emerging and access to the financial market is being liberalized ». On the one hand, the digitization of the capital market is completely disruptive as it leads to an opening of the financial market. "There are no barriers and the minimum amounts to access them have dropped." On the other hand, the digitization of titles is itself destabilizing: "it means that they are no longer transferred
    transferred values through third parties and – since they are based on blockchain technology – they can be sent without being duplicated first, ”explains Kurt.

    Trübestein adds: «Cryptocurrencies have already influenced the world and the way of thinking of the various operators on the market. Nobody knows how they will develop in the future, but the advantages are already clear now ». There are also prerequisites in Switzerland: “We have goal-oriented framework conditions and innovative companies,” says Trübestein. When implementing innovations it is important that companies work together. This is what happened, for example, with «Hello World»: the operation is the result of the collaboration between Block-immo, Elea Labs and Swiss Crypto Tokens.

    WHAT IS A TOKEN?
    Domenic Kurt, Crowdlitoken: is a digital asset (token) based on the blockchain. It is the digital representation of a title. It contains the ownership rights of the bond, as well as the right to returns and represents a redemption obligation.

    WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN?
    Michael Trübestein, expert: a chain (= chain) of information (= block). They are time stamped and stored on different computers. This ensures a high degree of protection against forgery. Blockchain systems also differentiate between public networks and private networks. They can be used 24/7.

    WHAT CAN BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY DO BETTER THAN A BANK?
    Domenic Kurt, Crowdlitoken: With securities based on blockchain technology, it is possible to send value without duplicating it. It replaces the creditors' ledger and ensures that transactions take place in a more streamlined, convenient and efficient manner.

    Michael Trübestein

    Domenic Kurt
  • Real estate management goes digital

    Real estate management goes digital

    Digitization is transforming more and more sectors, just think of the banking sector which has long since introduced the concept of E-banking and the ability to manage payments independently directly from your PC or Smartphone. When it comes to digital transformation, real estate is reticent in the implementation of new technologies. Yet if you look at the Swiss PropTech scenario, you will find more than 100 innovative companies and start-ups in the field of Property Management, Construction and Smart Building. This is proof that real estate innovations are not lacking. What seems to be lacking, on the other hand, is the predisposition of entrepreneurs to welcome them, too often short-sighted and tied to routine processes. These mechanisms will therefore have to adapt in the next few years to respond more and more to the needs of a digital market. Tomorrow's tenants are today's teenagers, "born with smartphones in hand", and they are unlikely to have the same way of communicating as current tenants. For this reason, it is important to have a proactive approach to new technologies right from the start and implement them gradually, enabling, on the one hand, current tenants and collaborators to adapt and, on the other, to be ready in time for the needs of tomorrow's tenants.

    We at FlatMan accompany companies in this digital transformation process, allowing them to face change gradually. In a first phase we propose to install our digital notice boards at the entrance of the buildings, through which it is possible to publish any type of notice to tenants directly from your office. This allows you to save paper and travel times, as well as generate additional financial income through optional advertisements. In a second phase, the platform developed by FlatMan allows you to manage communications between tenants, real estate agencies and craftsmen via App (www.flatman.ch). This allows to optimize most of the processes related to real estate administration, increasing their efficiency and traceability.

    Roberto Fantoni, Cofounder FlatMan Sagl.
    Rocco Vicenzi, Cofounder FlatMan Sagl.

  • What does newhome say about the merger?

    What does newhome say about the merger?

    What does newhome say about the merger? Before the announced merger of the marketplaces of TX Group and Ringier , with the kind assistance of Mobiliar and General Atlantic, I conducted an interview with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of newhome.ch. After the bomb burst, I asked Jan Werkman more questions. homegate.ch is playing with fire with the announcement of Quality Partner. The annoyance is great, but the alternatives are small.

    How is the acquisition of new shareholders going?

    As is well known, NNH Holding AG and Next Property AG (NPAG) are the owners. NPAG unites the interests of over 500 players in the real estate industry and decides for itself how to expand its shareholder base. Accordingly, the acquisition (acquisition of shareholders) is the task of Next Property AG with managing director Mario Facchinetti. At newhome.ch, the NPAG shareholders are treated as business customers who enjoy certain preferential conditions.

    Why didn’t newhome.ch participate directly in eMonitor?

    A direct investment does not make sense as there is no intention to merge. newhome sees itself as the hub of an evolving ecosystem and not as an orchestrator or investor. The cantonal banks involved in emonitor AG intend to ensure close cooperation between newhome and emonitor and thereby gradually expand the real estate and housing ecosystem. With a view to this expansion, the three cantonal banks (SGKB, GKB, LUKB) want to attract even more cantonal banks to participate and thus support this commitment more broadly.

    The long-time CEO leaves the portal, giving the impression that he did not leave voluntarily (there is no message on the homepage with the thanks of the Board of Directors)

    Jean-Pierre Valenghi is leaving newhome at the end of 2021. The Board of Directors has granted his wish to be able to devote himself to his family on a sabbatical of several months from August. Official information or further information on his successor will be provided by newhome in due course. newhome will continue to be managed by the second Co-CEO.

    How does the new board of directors intend to position the portal?

    The strategic positioning is in development and not yet completed. newhome will provide information here in due course.

    What should the ecosystem around newhome.ch look like?

    newhome sees itself as the hub of an ecosystem in the real estate and housing sector. Future strategic alliances and collaborations will be evaluated depending on the situation in consultation with the newhome shareholders.

    What does newhome.ch say about the merger? So much for the interview from mid-August. In the meantime the situation has changed fundamentally. I wanted to know from Jan Werkmann whether he would like to make a statement on the merger of the Ringier and TX Group marketplaces. I was also interested in whether the announcement affected the strategy of newhome.ch and whether the speed at which measures were implemented changed? Jan replied: We are not making a statement about the joint venture. Our strategic alignment is being revised in order to do justice to the current market situation even better.

    In old documents I found the vision defined earlier, that with newhome.ch, Switzerland’s dominant real estate marketplace should be created within 18 to 24 months. The data sovereignty should lie with the owners, service providers. The aim is to cooperate with the French-speaking Swiss marketplace immobilier.ch.

    What has been achieved? newhome.ch is far from being the dominant marketplace. The cooperation with immobilier.ch did not materialize. According to market statements, the cantonal banks in Western Switzerland are said to have said goodbye to the shareholders of newhome.ch. This information cannot be verified because the logos of the shareholders are no longer shown on newhome.ch. The previous co-CEO has not (yet) been confirmed as sole managing director. What does newhome say about the merger?

    “Find instead of search”

    The Handelszeitung mentions that newhome.ch has adopted a new strategy. At least this statement contradicts the information given by the Chairman of the Board of Directors in my interview. Above all, according to the Handelszeitung, newhome.ch wants to score with the sentence: Find instead of search. This suggests that newhome.ch has the largest selection of properties. This is definitely not the case. The author of the article in the Handelszeitung sees the greatest advantage of the cooperation between real estate agents and cantonal banks in the fact that the banks “know” whether the money is available for a purchase (and less for a rent). In this way, the potential buyers could be “qualified”. Here, too, it is assumed that only the cantonal banks grant mortgages. But this is not the case. The competition between banks and insurance companies is raging and intermediaries such as Moneypark are playing an increasingly important role. We owners all want the same thing: the lowest possible mortgage interest.

    homegate.ch ensures red heads again

    homegate.ch has created a new award with “homegate.ch Quality Partner”. According to homegate.ch , the portal wants to evaluate the quality of a property (and thus of a provider) according to uniform criteria. The result should be conveyed transparently to homegate.ch customers. homegate.ch attaches great importance to the fact that the seal cannot be bought. Rather, criteria known in advance must be met.

    The announcement causes great excitement on LinkedIn. Coupled with the call to rally together behind newhome.ch. Well, in the general outrage about the merger of the marketplaces, homegate.ch is certainly not acting wisely. Above all, they seem to have forgotten that the “homeday” project triggered Next Property back then. So why break even more dishes if you don’t have to? Are these the first signs of the coming monopoly?

    What does newhome say about the merger? The statements are currently very vague. Let’s just wait for the long-promised deeds.

  • Digital Day 2021 by SVIT

    Digital Day 2021 by SVIT

    As with the first event in 2020, many interested members of the Swiss Association of the Real Estate Industry (SVIT) and other visitors flocked to the popular event location on “Europaallee Zurich”. Providers, users and interested parties were able to exchange ideas at this specialist conference and seek direct contact with various software developers. The latest software applications for the real estate industry were presented by around 40 exhibitors. The practice-oriented specialist presentations are an additional highlight on the “SVIT Digital Day”. At noon, Mario Facchinetti presented the Global Real Estate Run in which people inside and outside the real estate industry are made aware of the importance of the industry for achieving the climate goals. The running event is a symbol of promoting the necessary changes for our health and energy. Daniel Bruckhoff from ImmoScout24 presented the new and diverse possibilities on the new platform for marketing success. How do you make it from classic property management to networked property management? Peter Schindlmeier CEO of casavie, showed where companies have to start in order to be able to set up their system landscape on a sustainable basis. The managing director Rolf Truninger from QualiCasa AG presented the “Visits” app, which allows the most important properties such as condition, standard and materials to be systematically recorded and evaluated using an intuitive and fast interface when viewing properties.   Access to the symposium and the presentations were free of charge for everyone. We are already looking forward to the upcoming event in 2022, which will again show interesting paths in this dynamic digital transformation.
  • Ownership obliges – sustainable area development

    Ownership obliges – sustainable area development

    Creating places to live and study, maintain infrastructures, secure values: the public sector, as the largest property owner, has a special responsibility. Social and technological change presents those responsible with new challenges, plus the effects of Corona. How do you deal with it today and tomorrow?

    Under the motto “Ownership obliges”, the Swiss Public Real Estate Forum 2021 offers food for thought and tools. Get an overview: About innovative concepts in planning, useful cooperation in development, the new procurement law and digital realities in the life cycle of a property. Network and exchange ideas.

    We look forward to seeing you on October 28, 2021 in Aarau!

    Albert Schweizer
     Association of state and municipal real estate directors

    Prof. Dr. Boris Szélpal
     Bern University of Applied Sciences, Architecture, Wood and Construction

    Vanity: bfh.ch/spref

  • Holcim wants to reduce marine litter

    Holcim wants to reduce marine litter

    Holcim , the subsidiary Geocycle and the German Society for International Cooperation ( GIZ ) want to jointly advance the circular economy in order to reduce pollution of the oceans. For this purpose they have entered into a partnership.

    According to a press release from Holcim, this strategic alliance focuses on reducing plastic and marine litter in India, Mexico, Morocco and the Philippines. Waste management is to be improved in the coastal communities there. It is also planned to set up equipment for material recovery. In addition, the partners want to start awareness campaigns and involve the tourism and hotel industries.

    The participating municipalities are to be involved in the collection of large quantities of plastics for recycling or co-recycling for energy generation. This should give employees access to the legal labor market, better wages and social protection benefits.

    Holcim already worked with GIZ and the Northwestern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences last year. At that time, the organizations jointly revised the guidelines for recycling waste in cement production. In the waste and cement industry, they are considered a reference document for safe and environmentally sound waste management.

  • Implenia sells building construction business in Austria

    Implenia sells building construction business in Austria

    Implenia intends to sell its building construction business in Austria to Zech Bau Austria GmbH , the construction and real estate company from Dietlikon informs in a message . The sale should be completed by the end of October. The two partners have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

    "We are pleased to have found a strategically suitable owner for our building construction activities in Zech Group, who will implement a sustainable growth strategy together with our employees in Austria," explains Jens Vollmar, Head of the Buildings Division at Implenia, in the press release. Implenia intends to take responsibility for completing projects that are already under construction.

    The sale of the building construction business in Austria is part of Implenia's strategy of concentrating on the company's core portfolio. The group wants to "focus on integrated construction and real estate services in Switzerland and Germany as well as tunnel construction and related infrastructure projects in other markets", it says in the announcement. At the end of 2020, Implenia had already sold Tüchler Aufbau GmbH in Austria. The company for interior and dry construction was taken over by HK-A Aufbau Holding GmbH.

  • Hofer municipal management expands board of directors

    Hofer municipal management expands board of directors

    Hofer Kommunalmanagement AG in Riniken presents three new board members. According to a press release , Otto Müller, mayor of Dietikon until 2018, the former CVP National Councilor Melchior Ehrler and the Limmattal network manager Jürg Hässig are new members of the board of directors. Bruno Hofer, founder of the agency for location promotion, which has also been active in the Limmattal since 2007, becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors.

    Hofer is setting a new focus in location development advice, according to the press release. For this purpose, the newly developed method for community management, the systemic community management SysKom, which is now under trademark protection, is being marketed throughout Switzerland. A market analysis has shown that the need for location promotion in Swiss municipalities exists and is growing, Hofer is quoted as saying: "The competition between locations virtually forces us to carry out impact-oriented location promotion."

    The methodological approach created by Hofer and his employees in Riniken is described in the media release as a handy method that is intended to help cities, municipalities and regions to experience an upgrade for their location in a simple process, which can also be reflected in rankings. According to Hofer municipal management, the method comprises eight steps from determining the location to spatial planning and location communication. According to the announcement, the end point is location marketing.

  • Real estate platform immo-invest.ch now online in four languages

    Real estate platform immo-invest.ch now online in four languages

    The Swiss platform for locations and real estate www.immo-invest.ch has been online since April 2020. Since this Monday you can also read all Immo-News and Immo-Projects in English, French and Italian. The digitization of the established real estate magazine “immo! Nvest” is now entering the next phase. Click your way through.

  • 2. Global Real Estate Run

    2. Global Real Estate Run

    Autumn is approaching with great strides and with it, unfortunately, the time of increasing corona case numbers again. A decentralized team event outdoors provides planning security and does not require a certificate or the associated organizational effort. Companies can register as an entire company or only participate with individual teams. An ideal opportunity for a strategy walk away from the hectic everyday life – or just for a nice chat among work colleagues.

    For this purpose, some companies used the event last spring for additional team building measures and spontaneously organized an aperitif reception, started their own slack channel to strengthen the (international) team spirit or decided to collect waste along the entire route Communicate this good deed through social media. Interested parties can find more impressions of the past event here .

    There are no special requirements for participation, only the will to complete 6 kilometers within 24 hours. Whether jogging or ambitious walking is up to each participant. After registering, the participant receives access to a geotagged app. The route can be chosen freely by the private persons / teams regardless of location.

    With this initiative, the organizers want to draw attention to innovation and sustainability in the real estate industry. Everyone can contribute to this. Because sustainability is not a local but a global issue. Just like the Global Real Estate Run . As a “green” sign, thanks to the main partners Unispace , Immo! Nvest and PropTechMarket , a tree is planted for every kilometer covered.

  • 2. Global Real Estate Run

    2. Global Real Estate Run

    Autumn is approaching with great strides and with it, unfortunately, the time of increasing corona case numbers again. A decentralized team event outdoors provides planning security and does not require a certificate or the associated organizational effort. Companies can register as an entire company or only participate with individual teams. An ideal opportunity for a strategy walk away from the hectic everyday life – or just for a nice chat among work colleagues.

    For this purpose, some companies used the event last spring for additional team building measures and spontaneously organized an aperitif reception, started their own slack channel to strengthen the (international) team spirit or decided to collect waste along the entire route Communicate this good deed through social media. Interested parties can find more impressions of the past event here .

    There are no special requirements for participation, only the will to complete 6 kilometers within 24 hours. Whether jogging or ambitious walking is up to each participant. After registering, the participant receives access to a geotagged app. The route can be chosen freely by the private persons / teams regardless of location.

    With this initiative, the organizers want to draw attention to innovation and sustainability in the real estate industry. Everyone can contribute to this. Because sustainability is not a local but a global issue. Just like the Global Real Estate Run . As a “green” sign, thanks to the main partners Unispace , Immo! Nvest and PropTechMarket , a tree is planted for every kilometer covered.

    Registration and more at: www.globalrealestaterun.com

  • Fundamenta Real Estate is growing at double digits

    Fundamenta Real Estate is growing at double digits

    According to a statement from Fundamenta Real Estate AG , the Zug-based real estate company generated net rental income totaling 17.9 million francs in the first half of 2021. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 10.6 percent. The communication cites the completion of projects and the purchase of new properties as growth drivers. In addition, the company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year by 0.8 percentage points to 2.7 percent.

    The net profit in the reporting semester was 12.0 million francs, 36.7 percent more than in the first half of 2020. "The strong profit growth" is mainly due to the good operational development and a revaluation success of 5.3 million francs, writes Fundamenta Real estate. The company also points to a “disproportionate increase in operating expenses”.

    The balance sheet value of Fundamenta Real Estate's real estate portfolio exceeded the billion mark for the first time on June 30, 2021. Compared to the end of 2020, the value increased from CHF 991.9 million to a good CHF 1.06 billion. The company acquired three properties in the reporting semester and transferred two projects to the portfolio after completion. As of the reporting date, the portfolio comprised a total of 66 existing properties and two development projects. In July, Fundamenta Real Estate acquired another residential property with 13 residential units in Richterswil ZH.

  • open2work receives award from the travel industry

    open2work receives award from the travel industry

    The travel industry regularly honors the most interesting start-ups. Four young Swiss companies presented themselves at the fourth Travel Start-up Night organized by the Association of Internet Travel Sales (VIR) and the Travel Industry Club. According to a VIR announcement, open2work was able to convince the analog and digital participants. The Zurich start-up will be able to present itself to representatives of the travel industry in German-speaking countries in Frankfurt in December.

    The open2work platform enables companies with surplus office space to offer these interested parties for hourly or daily use. According to co-founder and CEO Lionel Ebener, the company, which was founded in 2020, already has 27 locations in Switzerland. There is also interest on the demand side. The platform recorded 30 bookings in the first week of September. "Our customers can now see that we are something special."

    The start-up is now looking for funding in the mid six-figure range. “We want to build a professional infrastructure and now make all steps scalable,” says Ebener. open2work wants to become the Airbnb for offices.

  • SUPSI starts a series of lectures on climate and environmental crises

    SUPSI starts a series of lectures on climate and environmental crises

    The Department of Environment, Building and Design of SUPSI starts its high-profile public lecture series on the climate and environmental crisis on September 22nd. According to a press release, this reflects “the challenges facing our entire knowledge”. It is entitled “Earth Emergency – Live, Build, Think a Sustainable Future”. A total of four events are planned in this context on the SUPSI campus in Mendrisio. They are not only aimed at students, but also for all citizens. Participation is free in each case, but registrations are required.

    Thomas Stocker from the University of Bern will play the first evening. In its announcement, SUPSI introduces him as “one of the most important protagonists of international climate research”. The professor for climate and environmental physics has been working on the climate for 30 years and was instrumental in drafting the UN reports on climate change. On September 22nd at 6:30 pm he will give a lecture entitled “Climate Crisis – Is There a Vaccine?”.

    On October 27, the geophysicist and former President of the Roman Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology , Domenico Giardini, will give a lecture on the subject of “On the way to Mars”. On December 9th, Telmo Pievani, Professor of the First Chair in Italy for Philosophy of Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Padua, will give a lecture entitled “We are changing the world and the world is changing: An evolutionary look at the environmental crisis”.

    Finally, Francesca Bria, President of the National Innovation Fund of Italy and Honorary Professor at the Institute for Innovation and Public Affairs at London’s Global University , will speak on February 23, 2022 on “The Revolution of the City: Data Democracy, Participation and Ecological Change”.

  • The foundation stone for the Rieter Campus has been laid

    The foundation stone for the Rieter Campus has been laid

    With its construction project for the Rieter Campus, Rieter is committed to the Winterthur location and to Switzerland as a business location, according to a press release from the textile machine manufacturer. The foundation stone for the new customer and technology center as well as the administration building was laid on Wednesday. The company, which has been based in Winterthur for 225 years, is investing around 80 million francs in this

    From 2024, the Rieter campus is to offer space for around 700 workplaces on a floor area of over 30,000 square meters. To this end, the company developed an open room concept with a specialist in office architecture. With heat generation via geothermal probes and a 1,300 square meter photovoltaic system, Rieter is relying on renewable energies. “The entrepreneurial focus on sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for yarn production is thus reflected in the overall concept of the campus,” CEO Norbert Klapper is quoted as saying.

    In the course of its company history, Rieter has helped shape the city of Winterthur, said Chairman of the Board of Directors Bernhard Jucker. “Now, with the new campus, the foundation is being laid for the future as a leading technology company.”

  • Holcim wants to strengthen water resources and biodiversity

    Holcim wants to strengthen water resources and biodiversity

    According to its own statements, Holcim is the first company in the construction industry to commit itself to measurable positive effects on biodiversity and more ecological water management. At the same time, the group wants to bring more nature into the cities.

    According to a press release , Holcim aims to reduce the water intensity in all product lines by 2030. A reduction of 33 percent is to be achieved in the production of cement. It should be 20 percent for aggregates and 15 percent for ready-mixed concrete. The building materials company promises to replenish fresh water in water-endangered areas by 2030: 75 percent of the locations should be “water-positive” by then. In addition, Holcim intends to equip 100 percent of all locations with water recycling systems during the same period.

    Holcim also wants to achieve measurable positive effects on biodiversity. The group wants to orient itself on the reporting system for biodiversity indicators (Biodiversity Indicator and Reporting System, BIRS ) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN . Rehabilitation plans should be available for all quarries by around 2022. The BIRS principles for all cultivated areas should be fulfilled by 2024. In addition, the use of solutions such as the water-permeable Holcim concrete Hydromedia and green roof systems for more livable cities is to be accelerated.

    Eva Zabey, Executive Director at Business for Nature , praises Holcim for these ambitious goals. They could “lead to scalable changes both in the building materials sector and in industry as a whole.” All ecosystems and societies are dependent on such measures and obligations from companies.

  • Helbing models room air

    Helbing models room air

    The engineering and consulting company Helbling uses innovative technologies to design ventilation systems for interiors, among other things to increase the air quality at workplaces. Last but not least, the COVID19 pandemic has put the reliable quality of indoor air at the top of the agenda of companies and institutions. According to a specialist article by Helbling, ventilation systems are also becoming more important because more and more buildings are being built according to the energy-saving Minergie standard. Improved thermal insulation and less fresh air supply help to save energy. However, sources of foreign matter such as building materials in the interior also influence the air quality.

    The aim of well-designed ventilation systems is to eliminate gaseous substances such as odors as well as irritating substances and particles such as dust or viruses from the ambient air. This also includes carbon dioxide from human respiration and tiny liquid droplets, so-called aerosols. In the technical article, the authors Reto Wäger and Christian Seiler emphasize that the transport properties of aerosols are used for an efficient analysis. Since aerosols move with the expelled air, the concentration and distribution of carbon dioxide in the room can be measured and analyzed using sensors. If real measured values already flow into the planning phase, for example for workplaces or factories, “a certain air quality at the workplace can be achieved right from the start with targeted measures”, says the article.

    To do this, the company uses flow simulations, for example. They are created using suitable software tools such as Ansys or COMSOL. Typical movement scenarios are also taken into account during planning. In addition, according to Helbling, other innovative systems can be used to optimize the room air, such as UV photocatalysis or plasma cleaning.

  • Sto AG replaces crude oil with pine oil

    Sto AG replaces crude oil with pine oil

    Sto AG replaces a third of the binding agent in the coatings of its StoTherm AimS facade insulation system with a renewable raw material based on pine oil. This saves around 43 liters of crude oil in a single-family house with a facade area of 200 square meters, according to a press release.

    A complete replacement of crude oil with pine oil was not possible. This would have had a negative effect on quality and durability.

    According to a media release, StoTherm AimS is the only facade insulation system with under and top plasters and a facade paint that is partly based on renewable raw materials. It is certified with the German Blue Angel eco-label. In addition, it is crack and impact-proof and cannot burn. Therefore, it is also suitable for high-rise buildings.

  • TTS Inova wins Schaffhauser innovation award

    TTS Inova wins Schaffhauser innovation award

    Every two years the Industry and Business Association Schaffhausen ( IVS ) and the ITS Industry and Techno Center Schaffhausen host the IVS Innovation Prize of the Schaffhauser Platzbanken . It is awarded to companies from the Schaffhausen economic area for developing and successfully placing an innovative product on the market. Criterion for awarding the prize are, among other things, the profitability and the economic potential of the innovation.

    This year 23 companies competed for the award. Among them, TTS Inova from Thayngen SH won the prize and a prize money of 10,000 francs, the IVS informed in a message. The family company, which specializes in trimmings and technical textiles, was awarded for an elastic geothermal probe. “Our product is food-compliant, so it can also be used in areas where you would otherwise not be able to install a geothermal heat pump,” owner Simon Bernath is quoted in the press release.

    The young company Imnoo from Buchberg SH came second with its artificial intelligence-based application for milled and turned parts. “Calculating technical parts is time-consuming and requires a great deal of specialist knowledge, which usually only a few people in the SME – and not infrequently only the managing director himself – has”, explains Inmo co-founder Jonas Albergatti.

    Savvy Telematic Systems AG took third place with its sensor for rail transport wagons. In the last competition in 2019, the company from the canton capital won first prize for a sensor for automatic flat spot detection in rail transport. The Tanne Schaffhausen restaurant received a special award for its ethical and ecological business model.

  • The digital, meaningful and forgery-proof alternative to the debt enforcement extract

    The digital, meaningful and forgery-proof alternative to the debt enforcement extract

    There is an enormous amount of dynamism in the real estate market. The apartment carousel also rotates correspondingly quickly. Supply and demand find each other easily and directly via digital platforms. Because the web clearly shows what the rental property has to offer. In the further process, however, the creditworthiness of the potential tenant remained opaque until a year ago. Despite the excerpt from the debt enforcement register that those interested in the rental property had to submit. Because even this document, which at that time still had no alternative and was therefore indispensable, with a cumbersome name and the same procurement method, did not provide the landlord with any clarity. On the one hand, the conventional extract only shows the debt enforcement situation at the current place of residence. Any debt enforcement proceedings at previous places of residence remain invisible – the more than 400 debt enforcement offices in Switzerland are not networked. On the other hand, the document, which is still issued on paper, can be ‘corrected’ fairly easily. Accordingly, trickery is often used here with unpleasant entries.

    More trust, less uncertainty with CreditTrust …
    It is therefore not surprising that the newly developed CreditTrust certificate, launched in 2020, has established itself as an innovative and extremely reliable creditworthiness certificate with property managers within a few months. The digital, blockchain-secured certificate cannot be falsified, uses the two largest creditworthiness databases in Switzerland to determine solvency and only brings advantages on all sides: the landlord minimizes his risk of rent defaults many times over and the prospective tenant can deal with it within show the certificate issued in three minutes as really solvent and trustworthy.

    … and gain a multiple of security and expressiveness
    Almost as quickly, the CreditTrust certificate made it into the group of nominees for this year’s Real Estate Award in the management category. The award recognizes key projects and innovations that change the market and give impetus to the Swiss real estate world. The joy of all three companies involved in the development of the CreditTrust certificate – Intrum AG, CRIF AG and Certifaction AG – about the nomination was correspondingly great: Manuel Zollikofer, CRIF AG, Benoit Henry, Certifaction AG and Martin Honegger, Intrum AG, are themselves unanimously: “The nomination is valuable recognition. It confirms to us that with CreditTrust we have created a radical innovation that the market has been waiting for. ” The founders and innovators are well aware of the real estate industry’s difficulties with the debt enforcement extract: “We are proud to have set a new digital standard together. CreditTrust has not simply replaced the debt enforcement register extract. The digital certificate is many times more secure, more meaningful and more digital than a conventional debt collection register extract. “

    A large market is open to the reliable, digital certificate
    The CreditTrust certificate entered the market with great success. It is to be expected that the digital certificate will soon completely replace the conventional debt enforcement register extract due to its qualities and advantages. In view of the 3.2 million debt enforcement register extracts ordered annually in Switzerland for a variety of purposes, the predicate ‘radical innovation’ for CreditTrust does not only apply to its effect in the real estate industry.

  • SVIT Digital Day 2021

    SVIT Digital Day 2021

    When it was first held in 2020, many interested members of the Swiss Real Estate Association (SVIT) and other visitors flocked to the popular event location on “Europaallee Zurich”. "Digitization has been a major topic in the real estate industry for many years," says Pascal Stutz, CEO of SVIT Zurich. “But a lot of smaller companies find it difficult to deal with the subject. We have been telling our members for a long time that digitization will simply come – regardless of whether they participate or not. " On the one hand there is the digital compass to check the digital fitness of a company. Trying out, watching, but also personal contact is in the foreground at the SVIT Digital Day.

    Meet & Greet
    Also this year, providers, users and interested parties can exchange ideas at the symposium and seek direct contact with various software developers for the digital offerings. The latest software applications for the real estate industry will be presented by around 40 exhibitors. In addition, the “SVIT Digital” commission is launching a “Meet and Greet” for all visitors on this day. Specific digital concerns and questions can be discussed intensively directly with proven professionals on site and other users in order to develop efficient solutions. The practice-oriented specialist presentations are an additional highlight on the “SVIT Digital Day”. And the best part: access to the symposium and the presentations is free for everyone.

    Date: Friday, September 17, 2021
    Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Announcement Flyer Location: KOSMOS, Lagerstrasse 104, 8004 Zurich Arrival plan KOSMOS
    Admission is free for visitors.

    Subject presentations 2021
    1 2.00 a.m.
    Global Real Estate Run
    Mario Facchinetti, initiator

    12.00 p.m.
    Global Real Estate Run
    Mario Facchinetti, initiator

    1 p.m.
    Electronic signature in real estate practice
    Dr. Boris Grell, LL.M., lawyer; LAW FIRM GRELL

    Hall plan

    List of exhibitors 2021

    Stand Exhibitors
    number 1
    No. 2 Conreal Swiss AG
    No. 3 Schwyter Digital AG
    No. 4 FLOWFACT Schweiz AG
    No. 5 casavi GmbH
    No. 6 casavi GmbH
    No. 7
    No. 8 onOffice Swiss AG
    No. 9 Flatfox AG
    No. 10 GARAIO REM AG
    No. 11 Huperty AG
    No. 12 SVIT Digital
    No. 13
    No. 14 QualiCasa AG
    No. 15
    No. 16
    No. 17 immo! nvest
    No. 18 CreditTrust
    No. 19
    No. 20 Ormera AG
    No. 21 W&W Immo Informatik AG
    No. 22 WOONIG
    No. 23 WOONIG
    No. 24 goCaution AG
    No. 25 READY DATA
    No. 26 CreditTrust
    No. 27 NeoVac ATA AG
    No. 28 NeoVac ATA AG
    No. 29 Processfux AG
    No. 30
    No. 31 DesignRaum GmbH
    No. 32
    No. 33 Aandarta AG
    No. 34 Aandarta AG
    No. 35 ImmoScout24
    No. 36 eMonitor AG
    No. 37 eMonitor AG
    No. 38 ImmoScout24
    No. 39 immotrailer.ch – immotraffic.ch
  • Far superior to drones

    Far superior to drones

    New construction projects can be digitally modeled using drone recordings. With the help of software, the planned object is, so to speak, “inserted” into the property and surroundings images received by the drone. This Building Information Modeling (BIM) creates realistic visualizations of a new building project in two or three-dimensional views. Object-strategic statements can thus be made reliably, quickly and cheaply.

    Drones are also used for construction-related work themselves. One of the most recent applications is the computer-controlled use of drones for painting facades. The flying robotic helpers can be controlled very precisely and can fly very close to a wall. So it is possible to paint facades without work preparation and erection of scaffolding. In addition to saving time, this is also a step forward in terms of safety on the construction site.

    Another area of application is that for inspections and damage tests of buildings and structures – for example the use of drones for roof inspections. Due to the high altitudes and good stabilization in flight, drones can also be used in historic buildings, such as churches. But drones can also be used comfortably and safely to check building cracks, glass damage or hard-to-reach areas. Thanks to the high resolution of the images, even the finest damage can be detected and these images can be saved for later documentation purposes.

    You can find impulses around innovations in the real estate and construction industry here: https://hubs.li/H0RQl480

  • SUPSI examines air in schools

    SUPSI examines air in schools

    The research project called Quality of Air in School Buildings ( QAES ) aims to find concrete technological solutions to improve air quality in schools. The Institute for Applied Sustainability in the Built Environment of SUPSI is involved, as is the Logistics Section of the Ticino Finance and Economics Department, the Minergie Association and the communities of Bellinzona and Mendrisio. As part of an Interreg project of the European Regional Development Fund , Ticino research, industry and public institutions are working together with South Tyrolean partners.

    According to a press release , the aim of this study is to measure air quality in classrooms and to provide tools to improve it, which reduce pollution. The starting point was a study by the Federal Office of Public Health . Samples in 200 classrooms showed that the limit of 2000 ppm (parts per million) CO2 in the room air was exceeded in two thirds.

    This study showed that the concentration is lower in Minergie-certified buildings with systematic air exchange. During the measurements, cases were also found in which volatile organic and microbial compounds exceeded the safety limit or were very close to it. The recommendations of the study authors range from air monitoring systems in classrooms to the use of air purifiers and the replacement of windows and doors.

    On September 15 and 16, SUPSI is holding a further training course on the subject for specialists from the construction sector. Registration is required for this. There will also be a public conference on the subject on September 16.

  • Empa proposes a plan for building renovation

    Empa proposes a plan for building renovation

    The Dübendorfer Urban Energy Systems Laboratory of the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt ( Empa ) has developed measures to reduce the greenhouse gases of the 1.8 million buildings in the country. The laboratory wants to show what the appropriate steps are and in which order they should be taken, it says in a message . The goal is a decisive reduction in CO2 emissions for heating and cooling in order to achieve Switzerland's net zero target by 2050. If the ecological renovation of the building stock progressed at the current pace, it would take another 100 years, Empa calculates.

    Led by Kristine Orehounig, the researchers used data mining to divide all residential and commercial buildings in Switzerland into over 100 archetypes, depending on the year of construction, heating type, location and number of users. Then all of them were checked for their suitability for photovoltaics and connection to a heating network.

    According to Empa, this sorting work has shown that it is worthwhile to start renovating the roofs and windows of older buildings particularly quickly. This should be followed by the renovation of heating systems in almost all house types. It is important to replace fossil fuels as quickly as possible with photovoltaics on roofs and facades. The research team recommends generating heat using heat pumps and biomass heating. "If the proposed measures are taken," believes Kristine Orehounig, "the greenhouse emissions in Switzerland's existing building stock can be reduced by 60 to 80 percent".

  • Kompotoi is a finalist in the Swiss Excellence Product Award

    Kompotoi is a finalist in the Swiss Excellence Product Award

    Kompotoi is among the six finalists for the Swiss Excellence Product Award 2021 . Swiss Excellence has now announced this. The Zurich start-up convinced the jury with its mobile and sustainability-focused composting toilets. The award ceremony will take place on September 16 in the Technopark Winterthur. With the Swiss Excellence Product Award, the Swiss Excellence Foundation claims to make a contribution to promoting entrepreneurship and Switzerland as a technology and innovation location.

    Kompotoi says it offers a “beautiful, user-friendly and sustainable alternative” to conventional toilets. They are “absolutely odor-free” and are made from wood “by hand in Switzerland”. You can get by without plastic, chemicals, electricity and flushing water. “We have developed a better solution than the conventional one for the mobile toilet area. It’s simple and obvious. That is why customers are enthusiastic about our product, ”said Kompotoi in his presentation for the Green Business Award , for which the company has also been nominated.

    Instead, the collected residues are converted into stable humus soil using a combined process technology of fermentation and composting. “One kilo of compost stores an average of 0.2 kg of CO2,” said Kompotoi when asked about the environmental benefits of their product. “Kompotoi produced around 100 tons of compost in 2019, that’s around 20,000 kilograms of stored CO2. If all mobile toilets in Switzerland were operated as compost toilets, 13,200 tons of CO2 could be sustainably stored in the soil. “

    Kompotoi rents out its wooden toilets for larger festivals, for example. The company is also planning systems in the public sector or for single and multi-family houses. Kompotoi also sells toilet solutions for garden houses, hunting lodges and alpine huts.

    With Kompotoi, two more start-ups are competing for the Swiss Excellence Product Award: Hivewatch and Smartbreed . Three companies have also been nominated in the SME category: Advanced Osteotomy Tools – AOT AG , Qumea and Rheonics . All start-up finalists are already supported with a three-year coaching from the start-up sponsor genisuisse .

  • Canton of Zurich combats overheating of the settlement area

    Canton of Zurich combats overheating of the settlement area

    The canton of Zurich wants to reduce the heat load in the canton’s settlement areas. To this end, the canton is making a new website called Heat in the settlement area available, informs the canton administration in a message . The site offers an interactive tool with which the current climate situation for any area can be analyzed. The website also has recommendations and specific measures against overheating for any further development of the selected area.

    In addition, examples of climate-adapted settlement development are presented on the new website. 18 possible measures are shown with which the climatic situation in urban planning, buildings and open spaces can be improved.

    The canton also provides a digital application that can be used to examine and visualize measurement data on the air temperature from around 50 locations in the canton, explains the cantonal administration. For this purpose, the application is based on a measuring network operated by the cantonal office for waste, water, energy and air for two years. The digital tool is intended to contribute to a better analysis of heat waves and the effect of urban development measures on heat reduction.

  • Avobis launches real estate platform

    Avobis launches real estate platform

    Avobis is launching a new real estate platform. Property Captain should cover the entire spectrum from the search to financing, insurance and maintenance to the valuation, purchase or sale of properties, the Zurich-based real estate and mortgage service provider informs in a message . The platform uses artificial intelligence for this purpose. “Property Captain is pursuing the vision of matching the four million residential properties with the individual dream homes of the Swiss population and thus improving satisfaction with the living situation”, Avobis Co-CEO Patrick Schmid is quoted in the press release.

    The new Avobis subsidiary is designed as an open platform with an independent network of partners. Around 120 financing partners and 150 brokerage companies were already involved in the launch, Avobis informs. The group was able to win Bank CIC (Schweiz) AG as an innovation partner.

    Avobis will bundle all of its own offers for private customers, in particular the corresponding mortgage services, in the new Property Captain Tech AG, is further explained in the announcement. Myriam Reinle is to take over the management of the Proptech. In the press release, Avobis refers to Reinle’s many years of experience in managing online marketplaces and tech start-ups. The designated head of Property Captain was active in the real estate industry for ImmoStreet and Homegate , a company belonging to the TX Group.

  • FHNW trains in geodata analysis

    FHNW trains in geodata analysis

    The FHNW University of Architecture, Building and Geomantics will be offering a certificate course in spatial data analytics at its location in Olten from January. This is intended to enable specialists from the fields of data science, transport, logistics, spatial planning as well as natural and environmental sciences to digitally plan the cities of the future and evaluate the data from infrastructures. The university is responding to a need in the construction and planning industry, according to its media release .

    The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Spatial Data Analytics is intended to impart the knowledge required to model, process and interpret geodata in a targeted manner in 16 course days and in cooperation with experts from the field. For this purpose, “a balanced mix of lectures, case studies, group work and practical exercises” is planned, according to the FHNW. In addition, time blocks are planned for self-study.

    “The question of where spatially measurable events take place is no longer sufficient,” says Prof. Dr. Pia Bereuter quoted in the communication. “In the future, we also need to understand why these happen. This requires well-founded analysis processes that are integrated into the digitization strategy of companies or organizations. “This expertise represents the basis for decisions with spatial reference” in almost every industry “.

  • Lumineo installs translucent concrete for Vinci

    Lumineo installs translucent concrete for Vinci

    Lumineo , a young company from the Jura, has been invited to design part of the prestigious entrance hall in the new Vinci headquarters with its innovative material. Lumineo built an 80 square meter wall made of translucent concrete for the largest construction company in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. The material used is called Lumistone. It is an in-house development of the Porrentruy-based company.

    According to a press release , this is the largest wall the Lumineo Group has ever built with this material. Lumistone looks like concrete. Animated images can be projected through this wall using LEDs. The way to the successful development of this translucent material was "as hard as concrete", according to Lumineo on its website. Countless layers of fiberglass would have had to be poured into the concrete "before the recipe was discovered".

    In addition, this is a curved wall, "which means that the structure had to be processed differently," Lumineo CEO and one of the project managers, Aurélie Pezzotta, is quoted as saying. In mid-June she was a guest of the new Femmes Fondatrices series of events in the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area , Jura location . Pezzotta is happy to have completed this building, because "the nights have been very short in the past few months".

    A wall in the reception area of the world's leading construction company could only be an advantage for the Lumineo Group. “Lots of architects and project managers will come by here,” so it is a great showcase for the company. Now Lumineo wants to develop further on a national level and hire more employees.

  • Mobiliar and Raiffeisen launch platform for home ownership

    Mobiliar and Raiffeisen launch platform for home ownership

    Mobiliar and Raiffeisen founded the Liiva joint venture at the beginning of the year. This is now starting with a digital home ownership platform of the same name. Users should be supported with all homeowner needs, according to a media release .

    Specifically, Liiva offers various digital tools. For example, it helps when buying a home by clearly displaying suitable advertisements on the largest real estate marketplaces. The platform also offers homeowners, for example, support in assessing the market value, assessing the current condition of the building and in renovations. Functions related to the sale of real estate are also to be activated soon.

    "We want to digitally mirror the customer proximity of our parent companies and make life noticeably easier for both existing and future homeowners," said Phil Lojacono, CEO of Liiva, in the press release. Lojacono is also the founder of the Zurich fintech company Advanon, which was taken over by CreditGate24.

    The Mobiliar and Raiffeisen want to stir up the traditional real estate market with Liiva and drive the digitization of the industry, it is said. They each have a 50 percent stake in the Zurich-based joint venture. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is Philipp Ries, who also works as Head of EMEA Assistant Distribution Partnership at Google in Zurich. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the holiday provider Hapimag.