immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Planning / Development

  • Zurich tests AI in the building permit process

    Zurich tests AI in the building permit process

    From April 2027, the canton of Zurich will require all municipalities to use the eBaugesucheZH platform. This lays the foundation for digitization, but only the foundation. The content of the applications will continue to be processed in different systems, depending on the municipality or canton. This historically evolved system landscape leads to media disruptions, manual coordination rounds and data inconsistencies.

    What the FHNW study shows
    The Building Directorate commissioned the FHNW Institute of Digital Construction to conduct a potential study along the entire process chain. 15 fields of action were identified, from initial digital information to building acceptance. The greatest short-term potential lies at the very beginning. Chatbots for the initial consultation, structured submission support and automated preliminary checks could immediately improve the quality of submitted applications and significantly reduce queries. Many improvements can already be achieved with rule-based systems, without generative AI.

    Prototype with the city of Kloten
    The Innovation Sandbox for AI of the Office of Economic Affairs tested an AI-based preliminary check for the notification procedure together with practice and technology partners, including the city of Kloten. For simple projects such as solar installations or heat pumps, a rule-based system automatically clarifies the admissibility and choice of procedure, and an AI then checks the completeness and quality of the entries. 3336 tests were evaluated. The results are encouraging, even if the reliable interpretation of complex plan representations remains an open challenge.

    Humans remain responsible
    Both studies agree that complete automation is currently not realistic. Where decision-making logic is clearly defined, rule-based systems are preferable to generative AI. The authority to make decisions remains with humans. Legal issues relating to data protection, liability, transparency and copyrighted blueprints as AI training material must be examined in depth before any implementation.

    The results are now being incorporated into the further development of eBaugesucheZH. Individual applications are to be tested in pilot municipalities. Zurich is thus demonstrating how the careful, step-by-step use of AI can work in a complex administrative domain.

  • Lucerne cantonal government plans to set up a foundation for innovation

    Lucerne cantonal government plans to set up a foundation for innovation

    The Canton of Lucerne intends to establish the Innovation Lucerne Foundation. To this end, the Cantonal Government has now submitted a request for a special grant to the Cantonal Council. This comprises CHF 1 million in endowment capital and CHF 23 million to fund the foundation’s activities between 2026 and 2029.

    This foundation forms part of Lucerne’s location strategy, which aims to strengthen the canton’s competitiveness. According to the statement, the background to this is that whilst the Canton of Lucerne ranks in the top third in national competitiveness rankings, it consistently ranks lower in terms of its innovative strength. And “without strengthening its innovative strength, the Canton of Lucerne risks further losses in competitiveness”, the analysis states.

    The foundation is intended to counteract this and focus on supporting Lucerne as a hub for innovation and start-ups, with a particular emphasis on SMEs. As a key player, it is to coordinate the established partner organisations “and ensure that their services are better integrated, become better known and achieve greater impact”. In addition, the foundation can co-fund implementation projects such as feasibility studies.

    From 2026, the Canton of Lucerne intends to invest a total of between 250 and 300 million Swiss francs annually in “business- and population-oriented measures” to promote the region. Voters will be able to vote on these regional development measures in September 2026.

  • Smart building becomes a location factor

    Smart building becomes a location factor

    Smart buildings become a location factor when they first make ESG performance visible and controllable. Energy and resource consumption, CO² emissions, indoor climate and space efficiency can be measurably optimised through sensor technology, automation and data-based operation, and these key figures can be verified for green finance, ratings and regulatory purposes. Lighthouse projects such as The Edge in Amsterdam, Taipei 101, Roche Basel and The Crystal in London show how smart building technology can be linked to clear sustainability indicators and certifications and thus have an impact beyond the individual property.

    Smart building as a talent magnet
    Smart buildings are changing the working and innovation environment. User-centred buildings with high air quality, plenty of daylight, flexible spaces, apps and services are becoming a magnetic factor for talent and for companies that demand modern, healthy working environments. In such smart buildings, technology merges with workplace quality. From personalisable comfort parameters to intelligent space management, they directly strengthen employer branding and the attractiveness of a location for knowledge- and technology-intensive companies.

    From individual buildings to networked campuses
    Location and campus strategies are characterised by intelligent buildings. Data from many smart buildings is aggregated in neighbourhoods and campus structures. This creates controllable networks of energy, mobility and utilisation that position a city or region as an efficient, sustainable location, far beyond the individual building. This shifts the discussion. Smart buildings are no longer just a technical upgrade, but a strategic lever to make locations future-proof, regulation-proof and internationally competitive.

    edge

    The Edge in Amsterdam is regarded as a prototype of an intelligent office building in which architecture, technology and data were conceived as a digital system from the outset. Covering around 40,000 square metres, an extremely dense IoT infrastructure with around 28,000 inputs and outputs networks sensors, LED lights with their own IP address, building automation and a workplace app. Employees book their workstations based on activity in the 3D model, receive personalised lighting and comfort profiles and work in highly flexible, daylight-oriented spaces. Thanks to its efficient shell, geothermal energy, large photovoltaic surfaces, rainwater utilisation and e-mobility, The Edge achieves an energy-positive balance and reduces CO² emissions in the double-digit million kilogram range over ten years. The permanently collected usage, comfort and energy data forms the basis for predictive maintenance, cleaning and space optimisation and makes ESG performance in operation measurable and controllable instead of just being reported. As a BREEAM Outstanding property with international benchmark status, The Edge shows how a single smart building can characterise both the working environment and the location profile of Amsterdam as an innovative, sustainable economic area.
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    Taipei 101 in Taipei shows how an iconic supertall can be transformed into a green and “healthy” skyscraper using smart building technology. An integrated building and energy management system monitors and controls lighting, HVAC, pumps and lifts, supplemented by cloud-based analytics to increase efficiency. Double façades, LED retrofits, optimised air treatment, water-efficient fittings, rainwater harvesting and an improved cooling water system significantly reduce energy and water consumption. The green retrofit made Taipei 101 a LEED Platinum pioneer for existing buildings. in 2025, the tower again achieved LEED v5 O M Platinum with the highest score and WELL v2 Core Platinum. Over several years, around 160 million kWh of electricity were saved and at the same time the air quality, comfort and health of the users were significantly improved. A global ESG lighthouse project for existing buildings.
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    f. Hoffmann-La Roche AG

    Roche Campus Basel/Kaiseraugst is pursuing a smart building and smart campus strategy on the Basel/Kaiseraugst campus, in which a continuous IoT backbone connects existing and new buildings. Sensor technology, building automation and data platforms are used in such a way that energy efficiency, user experience and operational optimisation converge in a scalable digital infrastructure. Specific use cases include occupancy and presence measurement, indoor navigation, geo-referenced floor plans and smart logistics and material flows. Large new buildings such as Building 2, BSN8/11 and the pRED Centre will serve as supports in which sensor technology, automation and data architecture will be integrated from the outset. This makes the campus a strategic ESG lever. Energy monitoring, space and operational optimisation support decarbonisation, while user-centric working environments improve orientation and service quality. Consistent data and life cycle management creates transparency for FM and governance. At the same time, Roche is strengthening Basel as a life sciences location with internationally visible reference buildings and a clear systemic sustainability logic.
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    archDaily

    The Crystal in London is a compact but consistently developed smart building lighthouse project with a clear ESG link. It was built in 2012 in the Royal Docks for Siemens as an exhibition and conference centre, covers around 6,300 square metres and is considered one of the most sustainable buildings in the world with LEED Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding. The fully glazed, two-storey building combines an all-electric concept without fossil fuels with a finely tuned glass façade and an integrated building management system. Photovoltaics on the roof, geothermal probes with heat pumps, LED lighting, rainwater and black water treatment and water-efficient fittings significantly reduce energy and water consumption. The BMS networks heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and security, adapts operation to occupancy and weather in real time and makes all systems measurable, benchmarkable and finely adjustable. The result is a virtually self-optimising building that also serves as a publicly accessible learning space for urban sustainability and has become an international reference case for smart, ESG-oriented architecture with its transparent performance display.
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  • Schlieren is modernising its maintenance depot

    Schlieren is modernising its maintenance depot

    Schlieren Town Council has allocated 2.229 million Swiss francs for the refurbishment and modernisation of its municipal works site. According to a statement from the City Council, the city’s growth and increasing demands on public services make modernisation necessary. Key parts of the facilities have become too old and need to be replaced in order to meet legal standards for fire safety and occupational safety. The modernisation will also prevent structural damage and ensure proper operation in the long term.

    The works yard site houses the waste collection, building services, gas and water supply, green space maintenance and administration departments of the Works, Supply and Facilities Division. Due to the city’s ongoing growth, it is necessary to create the conditions to meet increasing demands on public services.

    The plans include replacing the gas heating system with an environmentally friendly heat pump system and refurbishing the roof surfaces. To increase capacity, the storage areas in the green space maintenance, gas and water supply, cloakroom and staff lounge sections are to be expanded.

    Parts of the project will include the modernisation of the ventilation and summer heat protection in the administration building, as well as the expansion of the charging infrastructure for the city’s electric vehicle fleet, it is reported.

    The awarding of construction contracts by a building commission appointed by the city council has already begun. The municipal council will now decide on the installation of a high-performance photovoltaic system.

  • New open space concept enhances quality of life and biodiversity

    New open space concept enhances quality of life and biodiversity

    According to a press release, Spreitenbach Municipal Council has adopted the open space concept. This establishes a legally binding framework for the future development of open spaces within the municipality’s built-up area. The aim is to safeguard and improve the quality and use of open and green spaces.

    The plan’s objectives include strengthening the identity of neighbourhoods, promoting biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience based on the ‘sponge city’ principle – rainwater runoff should be absorbed locally wherever possible.

    The plan also includes a catalogue of 21 specific measures. The first measures include the planning and implementation of Neumatt Park, the further development of the Ziegelei site, and the creation of temporary open spaces. Immediate measures are intended to improve the quality of the environment, whilst better signage will indicate the route connections. By the end of 2026, responsibilities are to be clarified, priorities set and initial measures prepared.

    The municipal assembly approved the commitment credit for the open space concept, amounting to 170,000 Swiss francs, on 28 November 2023. An interdisciplinary planning team subsequently developed the concept in collaboration with a broadly based steering group.

  • Railway station heating plant switched to wood pellets

    Railway station heating plant switched to wood pellets

    Industrielle Werke Basel(IWB) is making progress with the decarbonisation of district heating. According to a press release, they tested the two new boilers of the wood pellet plant at the Bahnhof heating plant in March. With an output of 30 megawatts, it is expected to generate around 95 gigawatt hours of district heating per year.

    The switch from natural gas to wood pellets will save around 23,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This corresponds to a 9 per cent reduction in total CO2 emissions from district heating in Basel. “With the new wood pellet plant, IWB is making an important contribution to the decarbonisation of district heating and to achieving the net-zero target of the Canton of Basel-Stadt,” said Evelyn Rubli, Head of the Heating Division, in the press release.

    The area surrounding the heating plant will be open to the public as a green space in future. The city gardening department plans to start landscaping it in the autumn.

    IWB wants to have completely converted its district heating to waste heat and renewable energy sources by 2035. The next step is to convert the Volta district heating power plant. IWB will also rely on large heat pumps in future. ProRheno’s Basel wastewater treatment plant is a possible location.

  • Beer, concrete and living – Baden builds on its history

    Beer, concrete and living – Baden builds on its history

    Four new buildings are being constructed on around 8,000 square meters directly next to Baden train station, divided into two construction sites. Building site A is the responsibility of Frei Architekten AG from Aarau, building site B is the responsibility of the renowned Harry Gugger Studio from Basel. The volume is considerable: 81,888 cubic meters of enclosed space, 22,914 square meters of floor space and an investment of around 64.5 million Swiss francs. The general contractor is Gross AG from Brugg.

    Living where malt used to steam
    136 rental apartments with 1.5 to 4.5 rooms are being built in the heart of the city. On the first floor, a total of 2268 square meters of retail and restaurant space will characterize the quarter. In the inner courtyard, a 900 square meter beer garden invites you to linger. The motto of the building owner, the fourth-generation brewery H. Müller AG, sums it up: “brew – live – enjoy”.

    History remains visible
    Not everything makes way for the new building. The boiler house, brewhouse and malt silo remain as architectural witnesses to a brewing history that began in 1897. The Müllerbräu beer itself is now produced by the Falken brewery in Schaffhausen. However, there is still a specialty brewery on the site. The site’s past thus not only remains visible, it can still be experienced.

    Timetable and marketing
    The building permit dates from October 2023, with demolition starting in April 2024. The facades of the new high-rise buildings have been visible for the first time for a few days now. A milestone for the project. Marketing of the apartments is scheduled to start in summer 2026, with first occupancy planned for June 2027.

  • Laufenburg builds windmills at the train station

    Laufenburg builds windmills at the train station

    The Schützegärte site is located in a sensitive urban location. Three streets surround it, and building typologies from different decades clash all around. It is precisely this chaos that is the theme. AWW Architekten AG makes the “contrasting and bilateral” the basis of the concept. The architecture emerges from the tension of the location, not against it.

    Offset, rotated, anchored
    Two identical, four-storey buildings form the ensemble. They are not parallel, but offset and rotated in relation to each other on the slightly sloping terrain. This positioning is not an aesthetic conceit, but a precise reaction to the formation of edges and the flow of space in relation to the neighboring buildings. An ensemble that blends in while remaining independent. The total floor area is around 4,600 square meters, the building volume around 13,800 cubic meters.

    Windmill as a residential model
    The architectural concept is based on a compact four-span “windmill” building shape with a central staircase core. The projecting wings characterize the façade and make reference to typical bay window shapes in the district. Each apartment is oriented on three sides. At the heart of the building are the “four-season rooms” with spacious rooms that can be used as conservatories, studios or living and dining areas. Together with loggias, this creates a flexible range of spaces for a wide variety of lifestyles.

    Green, communal, grounded
    The open space between the houses is deliberately kept low-threshold. Accessible from inside and from the street. A green layer of native shrubs and perennials protects the first floor apartments and gives the development character. At one corner, the area opens up to a meadow-like situation with fruit trees, a reference to the local tradition of orchards close to settlements. The project considers housing and community as a unit.

    Next steps open
    The town of Laufenburg was not involved in the planning process. Town clerk Marco Waser confirms that the building authorities only clarified the building regulations in advance. The town has not yet made an assessment. The landowner Erne Immo AG has not yet commented on the time horizon for implementation.

  • When cantons go from being a drag to a location factor

    When cantons go from being a drag to a location factor

    In several cantons, digital building permits are no longer a vision of the future, but part of everyday life. Building applications are submitted via central platforms, distributed digitally and reviewed in standardized processes. This relieves the burden on administrations, planners and building owners and makes procedures more transparent for all parties involved.

    Pioneers rely on clear cantonal solutions and cooperation. Shared platforms reduce costs, pool expertise and prevent isolated solutions. At the same time, digitalization is only effective if it is not thought of as an IT project, but as a change to the entire process, from submission to decision.

    Who already approves digitally
    Several cantons use canton-wide platforms to submit and process building applications electronically. Bern with “eBau”, Zurich with “eBaugesucheZH”, Graubünden with ebau.gr.ch or Valais with “eConstruction” show what a digitally managed procedure looks like, in some cases obligatory or with transitional periods. Other cantons such as Solothurn or Aargau rely on the common open source solution Inosca and are introducing their systems in stages.

    However, the degree of digitization differs significantly. In some cantons, digital submission is mandatory; in others, analog and digital channels run in parallel or there are only pilot municipalities. There is no complete, up-to-date overview across Switzerland, and not every platform already maps the process fully digitally end-to-end.

    Politics between speed and legal protection
    Politically, the building permit process is caught in the crossfire. On the one hand, there is the housing shortage, energy and climate targets, and on the other, federalism, appeal rights and complex technical specifications. Business associations are calling for shorter deadlines and more binding regulations, while municipalities and cantons are insisting on their own responsibilities and limited resources.

    Digitalization reveals these tensions. It makes it clear how many places a dossier affects, where there are snags and how different practices are between the cantons. However, it does not replace political decisions. Whether objections are restricted, procedures harmonized or deadlines shortened remains a question of power, not software.

    Costs, benefits and risks
    For administrations, the switch to digital procedures is a tour de force. New specialist applications, interfaces, training and change management cost time and money. Smaller municipalities in particular are reliant on cantonal platforms and joint solutions to carry the burden.

    On the other hand, there are tangible effects. Fewer interruptions to a process, fewer multiple entries, faster workflows. Even more important are the indirect effects. Every shortened approval week reduces project and financing costs, increases the ability to plan and makes a location more attractive. At the same time, the handling of data remains sensitive. Transparency, data protection and acceptance must be carefully balanced.

    From e-dossier to intelligent inspection
    The digitalization of building permits is only just beginning. In the short term, the aim is to introduce cantonal platforms across the board, eliminate media disruptions and manage building applications digitally throughout. At the same time, expectations are growing. Planners want digital interfaces, investors want reliable deadlines and municipalities want more control options.

    In the medium term, the focus will shift to automated plausibility and rule checks, the integration of planning and construction data and AI-supported assistance. They can speed up procedures, enforce standardization and direct resources to those cases where political or technical decisions really need to be made. Whether building permits in Switzerland go from being a drag to a strategic locational advantage will depend on how consistently politicians and administrators manage this change and whether they are prepared to shake up rules, roles and routines.

  • From data to AI in the real estate world

    From data to AI in the real estate world

    This is precisely why it is worth looking back. Because the way in which real estate is planned, operated and managed has changed fundamentally over the last 30 years.

    Thirty years ago, many processes were still surprisingly analog. Data was stored in folders and paper documents, decisions were based heavily on experience and less on systematic analysis. A phase soon began in which the industry developed step by step: processes became more digital, data more important, buildings and companies increasingly networked.

    It was in this environment that pom was founded in the mid-1990s as a spin-off from ETH Zurich – with the idea of integrating tasks, data and processes in the construction and real estate sector more closely. Thirty years later, pom is celebrating its anniversary and the basic question is still very topical: How can real estate, organization and technology be meaningfully combined?

    In terms of technology, we are now at a new turning point. The digitalization of real estate continues to advance: cloud technologies, IoT and digital models are enabling ever more precise mapping of buildings. The so-called digital twin is increasingly becoming a reality and creating new opportunities for automating processes.

    At the same time, the way companies work is changing. Artificial intelligence will change many processes in the coming years – especially where large amounts of information have to be processed and decisions still have to be made manually. Different data can be analyzed more easily, finished results can be generated automatically and decisions can be massively accelerated, even with the involvement of humans. Assistance systems, known as agents, are becoming part of everyday working life.

    At the same time, a look at the industry reveals an interesting area of tension: technological development is progressing rapidly, while implementation in companies is much slower.

    Every year since 2016, pom Consulting AG has measured the digital maturity of the construction and real estate industry as part of the Digital Real Estate & Construction Study. The Digital Real Estate Index currently stands at 4.3 out of 10 points – a slight recovery compared to the previous year, but definitely not a quantum leap.

    Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence is increasingly coming into focus. According to the latest study, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning is once again one of the most frequently used technologies, alongside Platforms & Portals and Data Analytics. However, the assessment of AI is much more differentiated than in previous years: Around two thirds of respondents see a high benefit in it. In last year’s survey, the figure was 75%. With more frequent use of AI, the possibilities of the technology, but also its limitations, are becoming much more visible, making expectations more realistic.

    Technology alone therefore does not determine success. The decisive factor remains the organization: data quality, implementation strength, clear responsibilities – and the willingness to question existing ways of working.

    Perhaps this is the real parallel to the last 30 years.

    Back then, too, it wasn’t just about new technologies, but about new ways of thinking. Artificial intelligence could therefore become the next big development step in the industry – not because it changes everything, but because it helps to better manage the growing complexity of real estate and organizations.

  • Zurich remains the world’s number one smart city

    Zurich remains the world’s number one smart city

    Zurich retains the top spot in the seventh edition of the IMD Smart City Index. Oslo is ranked second, ahead of Geneva, which, according to a statement, also occupies third place this year. Lausanne has climbed three places since 2025 to reach seventh place. For the index, the World Competitiveness Center (WCC) at IMD Business School surveyed citizens in a total of 148 cities.

    As the index showed, citizens also assess the quality of their city based on its political transparency and opportunities for participation. ‘Smartness’ therefore concerns not only the introduction of the latest technologies, but also a stronger perception of good urban governance and the implementation of digital services. According to the press release, cities where people feel they are being listened to perform significantly better.

    “The most progressive urban centres, where citizens feel happiest, are not necessarily those characterised by utopian skylines, visible sensor networks or pure technological sophistication,” Arturo Bris, Director of the WCC, is quoted as saying in the press release. “They are distinguished by how effectively they align administrative structures, sustainability priorities, decisions on public investment and – perhaps most importantly – citizens’ trust.”

    Behind Zurich, Oslo and Geneva, London, Copenhagen and Dubai rank fourth to sixth. Behind Lausanne, Canberra, Singapore and Abu Dhabi round off the top 10.

  • Winterthur is turning to solar power from the local area

    Winterthur is turning to solar power from the local area

    Since the start of the year, residents of Winterthur have been able to sell their own solar power to their local community. To do so, they must register their solar installation with a local electricity community (LEG) run by Stadtwerk Winterthur. The municipal utility currently offers 155 such LEGs across the city, according to a statement from Winterthur City Council. This means that around seven in ten households in Winterthur have the opportunity to purchase solar power from their neighbourhood.

    Of the 2,500 photovoltaic systems installed across the city, 535 are currently registered with the 155 existing LEGs. Anyone wishing to register their own system or purchase electricity from an LEG can do so via the leghub.ch platform. It is also possible to set up your own LEG via the platform.

    The federal government is promoting the purchase of solar power from the neighbourhood by offering a discount on the grid usage component of the electricity price. The price of LEG solar power is therefore up to 15 per cent lower than the standard electricity price. In the press release, Stefan Fritschi, Head of Winterthur’s Department of Technical Services, highlights a further advantage of electricity communities: “LEGs also enable tenants and homeowners without their own system to access locally produced solar power”.

  • Zurich Soft Robotics installs a Solskin façade on the KELLER Diamant building

    Zurich Soft Robotics installs a Solskin façade on the KELLER Diamant building

    Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH has deployed its Solskin technology on the KELLER Diamant building owned by KELLER Pressure AG in Winterthur, marking its largest façade project to date. A total of around 3,500 movable modules were installed, which adjust to the position of the sun. As Zurich Soft Robotics writes in a blog post, this can increase energy generation by up to 40 per cent compared to standard static solutions. At the same time, Solskin provides effective shading whilst maintaining natural light levels.

    The starting point for the project in Winterthur was the high level of solar radiation on the south-facing façade and the correspondingly increased cooling requirements within the building. The adaptive façade is designed to reduce energy consumption whilst improving working conditions.

    Installation was modular and relatively quick: individual units could be fitted in less than an hour. With this project, the company demonstrates that the technology can also be implemented on an industrial scale.

    Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH was founded in 2022 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and is based at Technopark Zurich.

  • How digital systems are reorganizing urban development

    How digital systems are reorganizing urban development

    Modern cities must simultaneously manage transportation, energy supply, housing, infrastructure, administration and climate adaptation. This is despite a growing population and increasingly scarce resources. Smart city approaches see the city as an ecosystem in which mobility, energy, buildings, climate and governance are interlinked. Sensors, data rooms and digital platforms create transparency, provide real-time information and improve the basis for long-term decisions. The decisive factor is not the digitalization of individual silos, but the interaction of systems.

    Switzerland in the top international group
    Zurich has held a top position in the IMD Smart City Index for years and once again leads the global rankings in 2025. Geneva and Lausanne are also in the top 10, underlining the strength of the Swiss approach with high data quality, well-developed infrastructure and a strong research landscape. At the same time, medium-sized cities such as St. Gallen, Winterthur and Lugano are developing their own smart city strategies, data platforms and pilot projects. Often with a focus on mobility, administration and energy.

    International role models and different approaches
    Singapore is regarded as a reference for integrated national digital strategies in which mobility, energy, administration and health are linked via data and platforms. Copenhagen combines smart city technologies with a consistent sustainability policy and low-emission mobility, while Helsinki scores with extensive open data approaches and digital administration. Cities such as Dubai, London and Amsterdam have different priorities. From large infrastructure programs to data-driven mobility and data-ethical governance. What they have in common, however, is a clear political will and long-term strategies.

    Governance, data and federal reality
    Smart city is only partly a question of technology. Without resilient data spaces, clarified responsibilities, data protection rules and transparent decision-making processes, projects remain piecemeal. In federal Switzerland, municipalities, cities, cantons and the federal government also have to coordinate their roles. For many municipalities, Smart City therefore primarily means process modernization, cross-departmental cooperation and a new understanding of urban development. UrbanTech and PropTech combine administration, real estate management, energy and mobility systems. The closer these systems are linked, the greater the leverage for sustainable urban development.

    Technology as a means, not an end
    The most successful smart cities in the world are not characterized by the number of sensors they have, but by the way they deal with complexity. They use technology in a targeted way to improve quality of life, resilience and efficiency. They embed digital solutions in social and ecological goals. Smart City is therefore less an IT project than an urban development project in which technology remains a tool. The decisive factor is how cities use data and digital systems to make smarter, more inclusive and more sustainable decisions.

    What exactly is a smart city?
    Smart city – precisely defined:
    A smart city is a city that uses digital technologies, data and networked systems to improve quality of life, sustainability, efficiency and participation. It integrates energy, mobility, buildings, administration and the environment into a common data and organizational model and uses this information to intelligently manage services, infrastructure and urban planning.
    The decisive factor is not the technology itself, but the ability to use it responsibly, safely and purposefully in the interests of the entire population.

    Smart cities promise efficiency, sustainability and better urban services. At the same time, they harbor risks that need to be carefully addressed. The following areas are particularly critical:
    Data protection and surveillance
    Sensors, cameras, mobility data and networked infrastructures generate huge amounts of data about the population’s behavior, movements and usage. Without clear rules, this can lead to a risk of surveillance, whether by the state or the private sector.

    The power of algorithms
    When data-based systems control decisions, for example in transport, administration or energy use, there is a risk of non-transparent or difficult-to-understand processes. A lack of explainability or unverifiable models can weaken public trust.

    Democratic control
    Smart city decisions are often made at the interface between the administration, technology providers and infrastructure operators. Critics warn that important urban development decisions could increasingly be influenced by technical systems or private companies.

    Social inequality
    Digitalization is expensive. Cities with fewer resources run the risk of falling behind. A “digital divide” can also emerge within a city. Between those who can use all services and those who remain excluded. Be it for financial, technical or social reasons.

    Complexity and dependency
    The smarter a city, the more dependent it is on digital systems, platforms and external technology partners. Outages, cyberattacks or technical disruptions can have significant consequences for infrastructure, security or supply.

    Lack of standards and governance
    Without clear governance models, isolated solutions, incompatible systems and unclear responsibilities arise. This can negate efficiency gains and make long-term investments more difficult.

    International smart city gadgets that have made headlines
    Smart lamp posts, networked street lamps (Barcelona, Los Angeles, London)
    Smart lanterns with sensors for traffic, noise, weather, air quality and parking lot detection.
    They caused a stir because they are disguised as harmless infrastructure but collect large amounts of data.
    – Symbol for “visible invisible” smart city technology.

    “Quayside Project” Sidewalk Labs sensor masts (Toronto)
    Alphabet/Google planned a district with a fully sensorized environment.
    Temperature, movement, mobility, waste, energy – everything was to be measured in real time.
    – Stopped after criticism of data protection. Discussed worldwide.

    “Lampposts-as-a-Platform” (Singapore)
    Singapore equipped lampposts with cameras, microphones and IoT modules as infrastructure for autonomous driving and safety systems.
    – Internationally renowned for AI-based monitoring and efficiency.

    Smart waste bins, solar-powered waste containers (Bigbelly, New York, Berlin, Vienna)
    Compact waste, report fill levels and sometimes serve as Wi-Fi hotspots.
    – Was in the headlines because some models were able to secretly collect data (“WLAN tracking”).

    Intelligent parking spaces, sensor parking spaces (San Francisco, Amsterdam)
    Ground sensors report free parking spaces in real time.
    – Known for the SFpark project, which measurably reduced traffic.

    Autonomous delivery robots (London, Tallinn, San Francisco)
    Robots that transport food and parcels.
    – Media excitement because they are considered “new road users” on the sidewalks.

    AI-based traffic lights (Hangzhou, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles)
    Cameras and AI control traffic lights dynamically, reducing congestion times by up to 30 %.
    – The “City Brain” system from Alibaba in Hangzhou has become particularly well known.

    Drone programs for rescue and logistics (Rwanda, Dubai, Zurich)
    Drones deliver medicines, defibrillators and medical supplies.
    – Known for Zipline (Rwanda) and medical drone logistics in Switzerland.

    Smart benches with charging function and sensors (Prague, New York, Dubai)
    Solar modules charge smartphones, integrated sensors measure environmental values.
    – Viral because they combine design, energy and technology.

    Holographic citizen information and AR maps (Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai)
    Interactive AR displays for navigation, participation or administration.
    – The first prototypes were celebrated at trade fairs and shared globally.

    Sound Traffic Light, noise radar systems (Paris)
    Cameras and microphones measure vehicles that are too loud and automatically trigger fines.
    – Great media coverage due to privacy vs. noise abatement.

    Robot police and autonomous security vehicles (Dubai)
    Dubai was one of the first cities to present “Robocop”-like surveillance robots.
    – Global media topic, futuristic and controversial at the same time.

    Top 20 Smart Cities 2025 – International ranking

    1.Zurich (Switzerland)
    Outstanding combination of quality of life, digital administration, mobility and energy efficiency.

    2.Oslo (Norway)
    Leading in climate protection, autonomous mobility solutions and digital governance.

    3.Singapore (Singapore)
    Smart nation as a guiding principle of the state, fully integrated mobility & administration.

    4.Geneva (Switzerland)
    International governance, smart mobility management, high urban service quality.

    5.Copenhagen (Denmark)
    World leader in sustainable urban development and networked mobility planning.

    6.Lausanne (Switzerland)
    Strong research (EPFL), innovative urban planning, mobility and energy data spaces.

    7.Helsinki (Finland)
    Open data, digital administration and one of the highest transparency standards in the world.

    8.London (United Kingdom)
    Mobility data, AI pilot zones, sharing economy and world-leading GovTech scene.

    9.Abu Dhabi (UAE)
    Massive digitization of administration, smart mobility & automated infrastructure.

    10.Amsterdam (Netherlands)
    Pioneer in data ethics, circular economy and citizen-oriented smart city projects.

    11.Stockholm (Sweden)
    Strong IoT infrastructure, energy efficiency, digital access to public services.

    12.Seoul (South Korea)
    Smart governance, AI traffic light systems, highly connected city infrastructure.

    13.Dubai (UAE)
    One of the most technology-driven cities in the world: autonomous transportation, 3D printing, GovTech.

    14.Vienna (Austria)
    Excellent administration, smart living, social innovation and urban resilience.

    15.Barcelona (Spain)
    Urban sensor technology, mobility platforms, open data movement and civic tech.

    16.Prague (Czech Republic)
    Rise in Europe: smart mobility, digital administration, open data initiatives.

    17.Tokyo (Japan)
    Autonomous mobility, robotics, smart infrastructure on a megacity scale.

    18.Tallinn (Estonia)
    E-government world champion, blockchain-based administration, digital identity.

    19.Canberra (Australia)
    Digital administration and mobility systems at a very high level.

    20.Vancouver (Canada)
    Sustainable urban planning, smart mobility, strong tech and innovation scene.

  • What was considered a bargain becomes a billion-euro project

    What was considered a bargain becomes a billion-euro project

    When the city of Zurich announced the renovation of the armory on the barracks site in Zurich-Aussersihl, it still sounded like a manageable project. The initial cost estimate was around 55 million francs. Today, a figure of just under 200 million francs is on the table that makes even experienced city parliamentarians sit up and take notice. A multiplication that needs to be explained.

    Dilapidated fabric drives up costs
    The main driver is the fabric of the building itself. The historic arsenals are in a far worse condition than originally assumed. Pollutant remediation, structural interventions and monument conservation requirements add up to a cost that was simply underestimated in advance. Added to this are increased construction costs and an expanded usage concept that requires higher technical standards.

    Culture, commerce and community
    What is to be created after the renovation has substance. The city council is planning a mixture of cultural use, small businesses and publicly accessible spaces. A lively meeting place in the middle of Zurich-Aussersihl. The social mix is an explicit part of the concept. The aim is to enhance the barracks area as a whole, not just the arsenals themselves.

    Long road to opening
    The timetable is ambitious and the history of the project calls for caution. The renovated arsenals should be ready for occupation in 2034 at the earliest. Until then, the municipal council will need to approve a loan, an approved construction project and a smooth construction process. In Zurich, experience shows that these three factors rarely all work smoothly at the same time.

    Monument obliges
    The arsenals are part of the protected barracks area. An ensemble that makes the city’s history visible. Demolition is out of the question. If you want to preserve historic buildings, you have to be prepared to pay for them. The question is not whether, but how the city finances this task and communicates it transparently, comprehensibly and with clear added value for all Zurich residents.

  • Network Switzerland elects new members to the board

    Network Switzerland elects new members to the board

    According to a press release, the Netzwerk Standort Schweiz has renewed its board. Christina Doll and Andreas Zettel were elected to the board on 18 March. Christina Doll has been the business development officer for the town of Schlieren since 2025. Prior to this, she spent around ten years helping to develop the Zurich Airport region, amongst other roles. Andreas Zettel has been Head of Business Development since 2015 and Deputy Head of Lucerne Economic Development since 2020.

    The two new members replace Albert Schweizer and Jasmina Ritz. Schweizer was Schlieren’s first location promoter and co-founded Netzwerk Standort Schweiz – then known as the Swiss Association for Location Management – in 1998. He has also been a member of its board since 2007. Jasmina Ritz was the first Managing Director of Limmatstadt AG, the cross-cantonal location promotion agency in the Limmat Valley. She has also been a member of the board of Netzwerk Standort Schweiz since 2022. Since the beginning of March, she has been Managing Director of SwissFoundations, the association of Swiss grant-making foundations.

    The spring event organised by Netzwerk Standort Schweiz also addressed the changing landscape of location competition. “Whilst major economic blocs are putting pressure on one another through tariffs, massive support programmes and technological races, and military conflicts are creating new uncertainties, location competition is also entering a new phase,” Remo Daguati, President of Netzwerk Standort Schweiz, is quoted as saying in the press release.

    Vassiliki Riesen, Head of Economic and Location Promotion in Köniz, highlighted the consequences for Switzerland’s largest agglomeration municipality. She demonstrated how location promotion initiatives can respond to different stakeholder groups whilst also collaborating with numerous partners within the municipality and the canton.

    André Guedel, Director of International Business Development at KPMG, highlighted how the new competition is affecting Switzerland as a business location through both taxation and subsidies, and how companies are responding to this.

    Netzwerk Standort Schweiz is the umbrella organisation for location and business promotion agencies. Its current membership of around 110 comprises organisations active in location promotion, regional marketing, business development, site development, spatial planning and the property sector.

  • The Learning Factory is forging new links between industry, research and education

    The Learning Factory is forging new links between industry, research and education

    The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) is planning to establish the ETH Learning Factory Zug within the Tech Cluster Zug – an industrial and innovation hub operated by Metall Zug AG. According to a press release, the Learning Factory will enable students, vocational trainees and experts from research and industry to work together on real-world challenges facing industry and society.

    The project is supported by ETH, the Canton and City of Zug, and a total of nine Zug-based companies. The Learning Factory will focus on topics such as industrial automation and digitalisation, sustainable systems and digital learning. Around 20 full-time positions are planned on-site for operations, teaching and research. The new learning and working environment is set to include modern workshops, digital learning spaces and meeting areas for interdisciplinary collaboration.

    The first phase is scheduled to last ten years and will cost a total of around 110 million Swiss francs. The Canton of Zug intends to contribute 55 million Swiss francs to the funding, and the City of Zug 27.5 million Swiss francs. Further contributions will come from business partners and from services provided by ETH.

    Political decisions still need to be made before implementation can begin. In addition to resolutions by the Cantonal Council and the Grand Municipal Council, a referendum is planned in the city of Zug. If approved, the refurbishment could begin in 2027, with commissioning planned for 2029.

  • The circular economy is gaining in importance in the construction and civil engineering sectors

    The circular economy is gaining in importance in the construction and civil engineering sectors

    According to a press release, INDUNI & CIE AG has developed solutions to promote the reuse of reinforced concrete from existing buildings. The three-stage approach covers the demolition, transport and storage of materials before reconstruction begins.

    In the first stage, concrete elements are crushed during the demolition of buildings in such a way that they are already suitable for later reuse. The parts are then transported to various storage sites in the Lake Geneva region using the company’s own logistics. Finally, the concrete elements are integrated into new projects by the company’s structural and civil engineering teams.

    INDUNI is also supporting Matériuum’s 10th anniversary. The Geneva-based association for the protection of natural resources helps to “promote the reuse of building materials” and “support the transition to a circular economy”, writes INDUNI in a further statement. The company thus makes it clear that it intends to “continue its commitment to more responsible and circular construction”.

    Founded in 1917 and based in Lancy, INDUNI & CIE AG is active in building construction and civil engineering in French-speaking Switzerland.

  • Confidence in Swiss property is growing

    Confidence in Swiss property is growing

    According to a press release from EY Switzerland, 98 per cent of property investors continue to view the Swiss property market as attractive. The Zurich-based audit and advisory firm reports this in its latest “Property Investment Market Trend Barometer”. Last year, only 93 per cent expressed a positive interest.

    For the study, EY surveyed 96 experts and investors who have been actively involved in the Swiss property market in recent years. Of those surveyed, 35 per cent of investors rated the Swiss market as “very attractive” last year; in the new survey, this figure had risen to 46 per cent. Nine out of ten respondents believe that new-build activity can be significantly boosted by simplified, digitalised planning permissions. Three-quarters see digitalisation as a driving force, yet only 16 per cent already use artificial intelligence for their business operations.

    Residential property remains in vogue in the top nine centres (Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Lucerne, St Gallen, Zurich and Zug), whilst demand is lower in rural areas. Demand for office and logistics properties has risen in the centres. Office properties in particular are in greater demand, with a ratio of 58 per cent to 48 per cent (2025). In the logistics sector, the trend remained virtually unchanged: 51 per cent to 52 per cent (2025).

    “Geopolitical uncertainties – such as US tariffs, international trade conflicts, the war in Ukraine or global financial market risks – are having an increasing impact on the Swiss property market as exogenous disruptive factors, particularly in centres with a strong international focus,” says Daniel Zaugg, Sector Leader Real Estate, Construction & Building Materials at EY in Switzerland, quoted in the press release. “These effects are reinforcing existing trends towards regional polarisation by widening the gap between highly internationalised markets such as Geneva and Zurich and more domestically oriented regions. Nevertheless, Switzerland remains a politically and economically stable location overall – and in uncertain times even positions itself as a ‘safe haven’ for capital.”

  • Partnership drives smart urban development in the region

    Partnership drives smart urban development in the region

    The City of Thun and the Smart Regio Thunersee association have signed a cooperation agreement. According to a press release, the collaboration will be guided by the Smart City Thun vision.

    “The partnership aims to drive innovation in a targeted manner, use resources efficiently and further develop the city of Thun and the Thunersee region as an attractive place to live and do business,” said Councillor Andrea de Meuron, Head of the Finance, Resources and Environment Department, in the press release.

    The Smart City project, developed as early as 2021/22, aims to make Thun “liveable, progressive and resource-efficient”. Digitalisation is to be used to increase the efficiency of services. At the same time, there is also a desire to bring together the various forces within society.

    The agreement now concluded is intended to strengthen selected innovation and networking formats. As concrete projects, Thun-based SMEs are planning to use cargo bikes for inner-city transport; an information day on this will take place on 2 June 2026. In the autumn, the focus will be on the circular economy in construction. “We don’t just want to discuss smart projects, but actually initiate and implement them, working closely with the city and the local community,” says Markus van Wijk, President of the Smart Regio Thunersee association.

  • Local energy cooperatives are driving the expansion of solar energy

    Local energy cooperatives are driving the expansion of solar energy

    Since the start of the year, owners of solar panels have been able to sell their surplus electricity locally via local electricity communities (LEG). The City of Zurich’s electricity utility (ewz) offers a straightforward way to do this with its new product, ewz.solarquartier.

    According to a press release, 130 such electricity communities are already feeding their surplus electricity into the grid. In return, they receive a guaranteed purchase price of 14 centimes per kilowatt-hour. Already 6,000 customers are purchasing this electricity from ewz.

    The product is designed to promote the use of roof space for solar installations. “With our LEG product ewz.solarquartier, we have created a further economic incentive to ensure that solar installations are not simply built, but that high returns can be achieved in the long term,” Corinne Pellerin, Head of Market and Customers at ewz, is quoted as saying in the press release. The local use of the electricity also reduces the load on the grid.

    The Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich (ABZ) is already feeding in the surplus electricity from all its installations. “Thanks to the LEG solution from ewz.solarquartier, it was clear to us that we would register all 28 photovoltaic installations in our housing estates within the city limits,” says Eliane Hurni, Head of Buildings and Environment and a member of the Executive Board at ABZ.

    In total, there are currently almost 2,900 photovoltaic systems installed in the city, with a peak output of almost 100 megawatts. They produce around 80 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. By 2040, production is set to rise to 500 gigawatt-hours.

  • Rent cap eats its own children

    Rent cap eats its own children

    Since the Housing Protection Ordinance came into force in Basel-Stadt in May 2022, planning applications for rental apartments have plummeted by 76 percent. in 2024, only 151 new-build apartments were completed in the city canton, less than a quarter of the long-term average. While Zurich recorded a 20 percent increase in building applications in the same period, construction activity in Basel effectively came to a standstill.

    No renovation, buildings fall into disrepair
    Regulation not only slows down new construction, it also paralyzes the renewal of existing buildings. Craft businesses are complaining about a lack of orders; individual companies are looking for work 40 kilometers away in Fricktal. Necessary energy-efficient renovations are not being carried out and properties are falling into disrepair. This ultimately affects the tenants themselves and thwarts any claim to climate protection.

    Geneva 40 years of regulation, 40 years behind
    Geneva has had one of the strictest tenant protection laws in Switzerland since 1983. The result is sobering. 83.5 percent of residential buildings over 40 years old have never been comprehensively modernized, compared to 47.6 percent in Basel and 41.3 percent in Zurich. New tenants in Geneva pay an average of 30 percent more per square meter than existing tenants. Strict tenant protection therefore primarily protects those who already have an affordable apartment. Not those who are looking for one.

    The real problem, too little supply
    If you want to reduce rents, you have to increase supply. This means faster approval procedures, more densification, more replacement new builds and extensions and fewer objections. The Zurich Cantonal Council has already drawn up two counter-proposals that focus on better framework conditions rather than bans. This is the right direction.

    What Zurich needs to decide
    The housing market in the canton of Zurich is under pressure, that is real. But a rent cap does not solve the problem, it exacerbates it. Basel and Geneva are not a theory, but a living warning. On June 14, Zurich has the choice of learning from its mistakes or repeating them.

  • That’s what it’s all about: usage and operating concepts as the key to needs-based sports facilities

    That’s what it’s all about: usage and operating concepts as the key to needs-based sports facilities

    From a competition venue to a facility for leisure and exercise
    Over the last five decades, the sporting behaviour of the population – whether on an individual basis or in organized sport – has changed dramatically. New training habits, a significant rise in population figures, increasing professionalization in club sport and changing social needs have led to facilities having to perform significantly better today than they did 50 years ago. This also includes aspects such as gender and age equality, which are now taken for granted.

    Accordingly, at the beginning of every infrastructure project, the focus should not be on the structural solution, but on the question of a suitable utilization and operating concept (including a profitability analysis). All too often, however, a planner is hastily commissioned before the project fundamentals and dependencies on other institutions and projects have been identified. The result is then the development of volumetric options, but not strategic options for the communities concerned. As a specialist in strategic utilization and operational concepts, BPM Sports has more than 20 years of experience in this field.

    So what characterizes a good utilization and operating concept? In principle, it comprises three key levels:

    • Strategic-conceptual: purpose, target groups, offer, business case, strategy, sponsorship
    • Operational-conceptual: Maximum utilization and use with added value
    • Operational: staffing requirements, maintenance, visitor management, self-financing of maintenance

    At the strategic level, the question of the raison d’être – the purpose of the facility – must be answered. This needs to be sharpened and clearly defined for all stakeholders. The better this is done, the easier it will be to communicate with taxpayers and the parties ultimately involved in the planning.

    The key elements include

    Political leadership: sports facility projects require broad support. Perceptible, continuous and strong political leadership is therefore essential.

    Addressed target groups: The user groups and their needs must be identified. This includes recording routines and expectations, but also future developments. Frequencies and capacities derived from this are key to optimally utilizing the facility for both users and operators.

    Sharpened offer: The available space and functionalities are formulated in a targeted manner, with a focus on energy and personnel costs. These are based on the formulated needs, with a direct impact on the follow-up costs of a facility.

    Construction costs vs. follow-up costs: The latter are (too) often overshadowed and only tend to come into focus in a later project phase. An early consideration of the follow-up costs is helpful to ensure the financial viability of a system.

    System strategy: An effective lever for predicting operating costs and earnings potential. Particularly in the case of seasonal facilities such as outdoor pools or ice sports facilities, complementary or supplementary offers can increase income and influence resource requirements.

    Operator model: There is a wide variety of models here. Different organizational forms (administrations, public limited companies, private-public partnerships) offer different advantages, whereby PPPs have become increasingly established in recent years and offer new opportunities, especially for less profitable club and popular sports.

    Other success factors at operational and conceptual level are

    Utilization: Generating high utilization is a challenge. This is because it does not always go hand in hand with profitability due to the different purchasing power of the target groups and unavoidable wear and tear. Checkrooms and loading areas are also a decisive factor. If they were neglected during construction to save money, this has a negative impact on capacity and therefore on maximum utilization.

    Staff: Employees of sports facilities are identification factors. In order to optimally promote this potential, it is important to keep operating routes short and clear and to design efficient work processes. This can be ensured with the appropriate layout of the facility and the individual rooms.

    Conclusion: A utilization and operating concept for sports facilities is a complex interplay of strategic, operational and economic factors. Correctly compiled and applied, it forms the basis for the long-term success and profitability of a facility.

    BPM Sports is a specialist for public sports infrastructures operating throughout Switzerland and based in Bern. With over 20 years of experience in consulting, monitoring and supporting a wide range of sports facility projects and operations, the company, founded in 2006 by owner Rainer Gilg, is one of the leading service providers in this field.

  • Historic Spa District gets a new perspective for use

    Historic Spa District gets a new perspective for use

    Verenahof AG, based in Baden, wants to revitalize the building complex in Baden’s Spa District. To this end, it concluded a contract with the city on February 5. According to a press release, this forms the basis for the development and use of the complex and is intended to provide planning security.

    Verenahof AG has developed a utilization concept in collaboration with the city and the cantonal monument preservation authorities. This envisages combining assisted living for older people with cultural offerings and publicly accessible uses. The technical feasibility has already been examined. Now a building application and a cost estimate are to be drawn up within twelve months under the management of Verenahof AG.

    “The concept for services in the areas of prevention, rehabilitation and healthy ageing is a perfect fit for this historically valuable location for Baden,” said Markus Schneider, Mayor of Baden, in the press release. “The Spa District has been investing in health since Roman times – it is important for Baden and the region that this offering continues to be expanded in the future.”

    The complex has been vacant since the closure of the Verenahof, Bären and Ochsen hotels in 1987 and 2004. It has been under national protection since 2019. As the owner of Verenahof AG, the Bad Zurzach Baden Health Promotion Foundation has examined several uses, including for a rehabilitation clinic. These possible uses came up against the economic and structural framework conditions as well as the requirements for the preservation of historical monuments.

  • Wind measurements provide the basis for new energy projects

    Wind measurements provide the basis for new energy projects

    According to a press release,Zürich Wind will begin wind measurements in Zünikon, in the municipality of Wiesendangen, during the week of 16 March. The 125-metre-high mast does not need to be connected to the electricity grid. It is powered entirely by solar panels and a battery storage system. Two further measurement masts are to be erected in Ossingen and Rickenbach after the Easter holidays.

    The masts are to collect data on wind conditions and bat activity at their locations for at least one year. This data will form the basis for a yield forecast. If this indicates that the use of wind energy at this location is economically viable, Zürich Wind will commission an environmental impact assessment as the next step.

    Zürich Wind publishes the measurement data on its website. “Zürich Wind is one of the first project developers in the Swiss wind energy sector to publish wind measurement data as early as the data collection phase,” says Pascal Müller of Zürich Wind in the press release.

    Zürich Wind is a joint venture between the electricity utilities of the canton and the city of Zurich, EKZ and ewz, and the municipal utility of Winterthur.

  • Spectacular cultural building sets new architectural trends

    Spectacular cultural building sets new architectural trends

    Nüssli, the construction services provider based in Hüttwilen, celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the extension to the Mack Pyramid in Monheim am Rhein on 8 March 2026, in the presence of the building’s namesake, Heinz Mack. With this extension, the company – which specialises in temporary event structures – is realising an “architecturally ambitious construction and cultural project”, writes Nüssli in a press release.

    Thanks to the installation of a load-bearing steel structure shortly before the topping-out ceremony, the double pyramid is already a prominent feature of the townscape. “The structure is characterised by sophisticated geometry, high design standards and complex structural engineering,” the statement says. According to the city, the building is intended to provide a culturally significant architectural landmark. Exhibition spaces for contemporary art are to be created.

    According to the press release, the Thurgau-based company is contributing its experience with complex special-purpose structures such as pavilion architecture, exhibition design, as well as façade designs, sculptures and exhibits. “At various world exhibitions, we have learnt to turn extraordinary forms and complex structures into reality. It is precisely this expertise that is now being put to full use in the Mack Pyramid,” says Udo Baader, Head of Project Management Special Projects. The opening is scheduled for June 2027.

    Alongside the progress of the construction, the day also focused on the pyramid’s namesake, Heinz Mack. The sculptor was among the visitors, celebrating his 95th birthday. “Despite all the plans, I can’t quite picture it yet. The main thing is that the light remains,” he is quoted as saying. The light is part of his artwork inside the building, the press release states.

  • Modern office location underscores strategic development

    Modern office location underscores strategic development

    The Landis Gyr Group is moving into new headquarters. The Zug-based energy management specialist, which operates worldwide, is relocating to a new state-of-the-art office building within Cham, Landis Gyr announced in a press release. The new global headquarters is located at Alte Steinhauserstrasse 14, just a few steps away from the old headquarters on the same street. This will ensure a smooth transition, the press release states.

    “With the new headquarters, we are sending a clear signal of continuity and innovation,” Landis Gyr CEO Peter Mainz is quoted as saying in the press release. “Cham remains a key location for us, where we are shaping the future together with our employees and partners.” Mayor Georges Helfenstein interprets the move within Cham, among other things, as “the result of the municipality’s forward-looking and reliable economic management”.

  • City wants to acquire industrial building for archive and temporary uses

    City wants to acquire industrial building for archive and temporary uses

    The Biel Municipal Council is proposing to the City Council that it purchase the industrial property at Mattenstrasse 133. According to the announcement, the building is intended to serve as the new city archives from 2033 onwards. Prior to that, it will be used as a temporary gymnasium and library.

    The industrial property at Mattenstrasse 133 was built in 1959 for Maveg AG, a trading company for construction machinery. The building comprises three large halls and an administration building and is listed as worthy of preservation in the building inventory.

    From winter 2026/27, the large hall of the property is to replace the Collège des Platanes’ gymnastics facilities. Since 2024, these have only been usable to a limited extent due to structural problems. Until the gymnasiums are renovated, the city wants to create a temporary solution by simply expanding the hall.

    Later, during the planned complete renovation of the city library on Neumarktplatz starting in 2031, the property will serve as a temporary library location. There are hardly any suitable rental solutions available in the city centre for the library’s approximately 1,700 square metres of floor space.

    After the library moves out, the building will be used permanently as the city archives from 2033 onwards. The city has been looking for a new solution for this for years, as the current premises no longer meet legal requirements and the archive holdings are spread across several locations.

    The municipal council is applying to the city council for two loans totalling CHF 3.890 million for the purchase of the property and the temporary provision of the gymnasium. The city council will make its decision on 19 March.

  • Land belongs to everyone – except SBB owns it itself

    Land belongs to everyone – except SBB owns it itself

    At the end of the 1990s, Parliament separated SBB from the federal government. This gave it the freedom to manage its most valuable asset. Huge plots of land in prime locations throughout Switzerland. There were no clear specifications as to how many apartments should be built and at what prices. The Federal Council merely demanded that the proceeds flow into the pension fund and the railroad infrastructure. This was the birth of a system that is still a source of controversy today.

    3.5 billion for whom?
    Since 2003, CHF 3.5 billion has flowed from the SBB real estate portfolio into the railroad infrastructure. SBB sees this as a contribution to society. Carlo Sommaruga, SP member of the Council of States and President of the Swiss Tenants’ Association, takes a different view. SBB has “almost fully exploited” the financial value of its properties at the expense of the social component. It is particularly offensive that parts of these properties were once expropriated in favor of the former state-owned company.

    Europaallee as a mirror
    The prime example is in the middle of Zurich. A 4-room apartment on Europaallee costs around CHF 5,000 per month. For the tenants’ association, the project has become a symbol of real estate speculation with public land. SBB counters that it is a fair landlord and that its apartments are on average below the market price. But the impression of maximum densification for maximum profits persists.

    Lausanne escalates
    In Lausanne, the conflict is coming to a head. The “La Rasude” project right next to the train station is set to accommodate around 500 residents and 1,200 jobs. However, only 20 percent of the living space is earmarked for moderate rents, even though SBB officially promises to rent out more than half of its apartments at low prices. The result is now almost 1000 objections. Construction work could start in 2029 at the earliest.

    The framework is lacking
    Salomé Mall, Head of Development at SBB Real Estate, emphasizes that the profits are used for rail operations and relieve the burden on the public purse. The argument is understandable, but falls short. As long as there are no legal requirements for housing shares and rents, the orientation towards the common good remains voluntary.

  • Regensberg fights for survival

    Regensberg fights for survival

    Regensberg has exactly 477 inhabitants at the end of 2024. Despite two tax increases in recent years, there is not enough revenue to finance the municipality’s tasks. The structural deficit threatens the independence of the medieval country town on the rocky spur above Dielsdorf. A merger with a neighboring municipality is on the cards, a scenario that many Regensberg residents want to avoid.

    A meadow as a turning point
    The impetus came in April 2024 at a Future Day, where the population openly discussed the fate of their municipality for the first time. On the agenda was the Pünt meadow, the last major building site in the village. This discussion gave rise to the idea of a cooperative. In July 2025, the Pünt Regensberg building cooperative was officially entered in the commercial register.

    40 apartments, 80 new people
    The project, a four-storey building with 41 apartments, is to be built on the Pünt, around three quarters of which will be large family apartments with 4.5 to 5.5 rooms, the rest smaller units with 2.5 to 3.5 rooms. The cooperative anticipates 60 to 80 new residents. For a community the size of Regensberg, this corresponds to a population increase of around 15 percent. A competition to find the project team was held back in 2025.

    More than taxes
    The goal is not just fiscal. Regensberg has the fourth-highest average age of all Zurich municipalities. Younger families should come and thus also secure the elementary school, because without a school there are no families and without families there is no village life. The flexible usage concept also allows older people to move from their single-family home to a suitable smaller apartment without having to leave the village.

    non-profit instead of speculative
    If the project had ended up in private hands, the apartments in the attractive location would have primarily been investment properties. In contrast, the cooperative lets on a cost-rent basis, i.e. without the intention of making a profit. The project is being financed via share certificates, member loans, state subsidies and bank mortgages, with a target equity ratio of 35 to 40 percent.

    the cranes will rise in 2028
    Because Regensberg is listed in the federal inventory of sites worthy of protection, particularly strict conditions apply to construction. The building permit is due to be issued in 2027, with construction scheduled to start in 2028. The first apartments could be occupied one or two years later. Whether the cooperative can solve the structural deficit on its own remains to be seen. But it proves that sometimes a village saves itself.