immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Sustainability

  • Proptech in the life cycle

    Proptech in the life cycle

    Planning, development and financing
    In this phase, land and building ideas are analysed, evaluated and financed. Proptechs provide market and location data, automated valuations and ESG analyses so that investors and owners can make faster and more informed decisions. Digital platforms connect project developers, financiers and consultants, reduce media disruptions and make risks, returns and carbon effects visible at an early stage.

    Construction and creation
    This is about the efficient realisation of the project. Proptech solutions provide support with BIM models, digital construction planning, schedule and cost controlling and construction site monitoring. This reduces planning errors, makes supplements more transparent and optimises the use of materials. Digital collaboration tools connect architects, contractors and clients in real time and create a clean database for subsequent operation.

    Operations and services
    Operations determine how economical and attractive a property really is. Proptechs provide platforms for letting, management, facility management and user services. Sensor technology and IoT make consumption visible and enable predictive maintenance. New services are emerging for owners, managers and users, from digital tenant portals and booking systems to smart building functions that increase convenience and efficiency.

    Refurbishment and conversion
    The greatest leverage lies in existing buildings. Proptech tools provide support in analysing the condition, calculating scenarios and prioritising refurbishments. They show which measures offer the greatest energy, financial and regulatory benefits. Data-based refurbishment roadmaps help owners to plan investments over the years and optimise the use of subsidies. At the same time, digital models enable better planning of conversions and densification.

    Decarbonisation and demolition
    Decarbonisation runs through all phases, but requires its own instruments. Proptech solutions record CO² emissions over the entire life cycle, simulate net zero paths, compare building portfolios and provide reports for taxonomy, climate and ESG reporting. When dismantling, digital material passports and cycle data help to preserve materials instead of disposing of them. This increasingly turns the life cycle into a material cycle.

    Proptech is shifting the focus over the entire life cycle of a property. Away from individual decisions and towards end-to-end, data-based management. Digital solutions connect separate phases and players. They make costs, risks and emissions visible at an early stage. This makes it easier to plan and prioritise investments. Life cycle thinking becomes an ongoing optimisation process for economic efficiency, user experience and climate targets. The construction and property industry has been thinking in terms of life cycles for years. Proptech is now making these concepts data-based and scalable.

  • 3D-printed concrete stores CO2 and reduces resource consumption

    3D-printed concrete stores CO2 and reduces resource consumption

    Researchers at the Structural Engineering Laboratory of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are working on the development of concrete elements produced using a 3D printer. According to a press release, the building elements are stable without traditional steel reinforcement and are virtually cement-free. The material is designed to store carbon dioxide as it cures.

    The research is being carried out as part of the European CARBCOMN project (Carbon-negative compression dominant structures for decarbonised and de-constructable concrete buildings). Alongside Empa, researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and the Empa spin-off re-fer in Seewen, as well as other European partners, are involved in the development.

    The material for 3D printing is derived from recycled industrial waste, such as steel slag. Geometrically optimised shapes are produced using a special process. Iron-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMA) from re-fer are used as reinforcement. To cure this concrete, carbon dioxide is injected into a combustion chamber, where it chemically bonds with the concrete mixture. “We are combining unique expertise here – 3D printing, structural performance and our speciality: iron-based shape memory alloys,” Empa researcher Moslem Shahverdi is quoted as saying in the press release. “On the one hand, we use digital manufacturing methods to build in a resource-efficient manner. On the other hand, we are replacing conventional cement with binders that have a lower carbon footprint.” The concrete components are also designed so that they can be dismantled after use and reused elsewhere.

    Launched in 2024, the four-year project is funded under Horizon Europe and brings together eleven leading research institutions and architectural firms from across Europe. According to the press release, these include Ghent University, Darmstadt Technical University, the University of Patras in Greece, as well as Zaha Hadid Architects from London, Mario Cucinella Architects from Bologna, and the companies Tesis from Penta di Fisciano in Italy, orbix from Genk, and incremental 3D from Innsbruck.

  • New district heating network makes efficient use of waste heat and water from the Rhine

    New district heating network makes efficient use of waste heat and water from the Rhine

    According to a press release, energy supplier AEW Energie AG is investing 8 million Swiss francs in the construction of a district heating network in Augst, in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. According to the company, this sends “a clear signal regarding the implementation of the energy strategy and the consistent expansion of renewable heating solutions”.

    Waste heat from the generators at the existing Augst hydroelectric power station and water from the Rhine are to be used for district heating. It is stated that, via a 1.3-kilometre-long district heating network, the connected buildings will receive CO2-free energy from the start of the 2026/2027 heating season.

    Three heat storage tanks, each with a capacity of 15,000 litres, will ensure a secure supply and reliable, stable operation even during peak loads. According to the press release, the plant’s thermal output is 2 megawatts and is expected to deliver a heat output of 4,400 megawatt-hours once fully operational. This is expected to save 1,200 tonnes of CO2 annually.

    At the start of the construction project with the ground-breaking ceremony on 16 March 2026, the company announced that it was creating a replacement for the AEW Contracting plant in Pratteln, which had been operated using wood pellets and oil. “With the Augst heating network, we are making optimal use of existing energy sources from our own infrastructure and making an important contribution to the decarbonisation of the region’s heat supply,” said Dr Raffael Schubiger, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AEW Energie AG and Kraftwerk Augst AG.

    According to David Gautschi, Head of Production at AEW, the Augst heating network exemplifies how existing energy infrastructure and natural resources can be efficiently combined.

  • District heating networks are becoming increasingly important for urban energy supply

    District heating networks are becoming increasingly important for urban energy supply

    Researchers at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) are working on the development of seasonal thermal energy storage systems. In an era of global warming, thermal networks are becoming increasingly important for cooling densely built-up cities. This involves circulating water from lakes or rivers through pipe systems to cool buildings; these same systems are then used for district heating in winter. To drive the development of such systems forward, the university organised an event to share experiences. According to a press release, the 22nd IGE Seminar of the Institute for Building Technology and Energy (IGE) took place on 11 March 2026. Representatives from Thermische Netze Schweiz,WWZ Energie AG (Zug), Wien Energie GmbH and the City of Zurich, with their CoolCity Zurich project, also took part in the presentations and discussions.

    At HSLU, flexible heat storage systems are being developed that adapt to changing conditions. Researchers led by Timotheus Zehnder demonstrated how firewood can be used more efficiently in wood-fired systems thanks to flue gas cooling and condensation. Three speakers presented thermal networks for heating and cooling supply in Zug, Zurich and Vienna.

    Dieter Kissling from the ifa Institute for Occupational Medicine raised an interesting point: office temperatures were adjusted in the 1960s to suit the needs of men (21 to 22 degrees Celsius). However, it has been shown that women are more productive at 26 to 27 degrees Celsius. With a higher proportion of women in the workforce, it is worth considering whether room temperatures should be adjusted.

    The diversity of topics demonstrated that climate change poses further challenges. The 23rd IGE Seminar has already been scheduled for 10 March 2027.

  • Swiss construction project focuses on sustainable earthen architecture abroad

    Swiss construction project focuses on sustainable earthen architecture abroad

    The go-ahead has been given for the construction of the new Swiss Embassy in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, and according to a press release, Dietikon-based Oxara AG is playing a key role in the project. The public building will be constructed using pressed clay bricks. Oxara is supplying its Oxabrick Loko stabiliser for the red raw material, which is available in abundance locally.

    The design for the embassy building is by the Basel-based architectural firms Caesar Zumthor Architekten and Nord Architekten and comprises an office block, a residence and a connecting building, all grouped around a courtyard. The buildings are to be constructed sustainably using local resources.

    On its website, Oxara – a company founded in 2019 – has launched a series reporting on the progress of the construction work. “In West Africa, clay is perceived as a sign of poverty and rurality, whilst concrete dominates in cities as a status symbol,” Oxara’s project manager Jonathan Ensslin is quoted as saying there. “It therefore sends a strong signal that the new Swiss embassy is being built with clay.”

    Oxara’s non-toxic mineral activator transforms clay into a stable and water-repellent building material. According to the company, this makes clay construction faster, less labour-intensive and scalable. At the same time, it is circular and low-carbon.

    Tests in the Oxara laboratory had shown that the material is well suited for use with Oxabrick Loko. However, the laboratory results could not initially be replicated on site. With the help of local materials researcher Berardin Beauderic Kenne Diffo, who had already got to know Oxara during his PhD at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, the mixing ratios were adjusted. A test wall comprising around 7,000 clay bricks is currently being completed. Construction work on the new embassy is then set to begin.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Climate project establishes CO2 storage within the building materials cycle

    Climate project establishes CO2 storage within the building materials cycle

    According to a press release, the climate protection programme run by zirkulit Beton AG in Kloten has now been officially registered as a project aimed at increasing carbon sequestration capacity. This makes it the first project for CO2 storage in circular concrete to be approved by the FOEN in Switzerland. The programme comprises several CO2 storage facilities operated in partnership with concrete manufacturers at various locations across Switzerland.

    As part of the programme, biogenic CO2 is captured from Swiss biogas plants, transported to recycled concrete plants and, there, brought into contact with granulate from demolition concrete in the storage facilities developed by zirkulit. The CO2 reacts with the cement paste contained in the concrete aggregate to form calcium carbonate and is thereby permanently bound in a mineral form. This aggregate is then used to produce circular concrete.

    “This creates a permanent carbon sink within a durable building material,” says zirkulit Beton AG, “a key lever on the path to net-zero in the building sector.” This underscores its commitment to actively contributing to the transformation towards a circular and climate-friendly construction industry.

    The programme is financially supported by the Klimarappen Foundation. Together with the partners of zirkulit Beton AG, it is funding the project as one of five national pilot projects for negative emission technologies and carbon capture and storage. Klimarappen is providing a total of 50 million Swiss francs for this purpose. Funding is provided under a multi-year supply contract for the CO₂ removals achieved through the programme.

  • The city is exploring new approaches to reducing waste and resource consumption

    The city is exploring new approaches to reducing waste and resource consumption

    The Government Council of Basel-Stadt is currently reviewing a pilot project with the Bern-based start-up Pretty Good aimed at the more systematic collection and repair of used or only slightly damaged everyday items. This is evident from a responseto a motion tabled in the Grand Council.

    The cantonal government refers to pilot projects carried out in Bern and Zug with Pretty Good. Their results showed that such an approach brings environmental benefits and is economically viable. However, these projects are not yet financially self-sustaining. This would also be the case for a pilot project in Basel. The cantonal government will therefore seek to bring further investors on board.

    If a pilot project goes ahead in Basel, the local second-hand goods and repair sector is to be involved. The aim is to build up a strong network of repair shops and sales outlets.

    Waste Management Recycling in the City of Bern and Pretty Good launched a pilot project in 2023, under which functional and slightly damaged everyday items could be handed in at two of the city’s waste collection centres. Of these, 74 per cent were refurbished, and almost 84 per cent of those were subsequently sold. A large proportion of the items were electronic goods. The project was supported by the industry association Swico, the Berner Kantonalbankand the Burgergemeinde Bern.

    Pretty Good is organised both as an association based in Langnau i.E. and as a limited liability company based in Bern. Following the pilot in Bern, the project was expanded to other locations in the canton of Bern and in Zug.

    The Basel Cantonal Government responded to a motion tabled by SVP member of the Grand Council Beat K. Schaller and other members of the Grand Council.

  • New building standard defines climate neutrality across the entire life cycle

    New building standard defines climate neutrality across the entire life cycle

    The Minergie Association, based in Basel, has introduced the Minergie Net Zero Standard for new builds and building renovations. It has now presented the standard at an event in Zurich.

    Until now, there have been no specific guidelines for building owners, planners, local authorities and companies on “constructing buildings whose carbon footprint is truly zero over their entire life cycle”, says Fabian Peter, Lucerne cantonal councillor and president of Minergie, in a press release. Minergie Net Zero offers a transparent and credible framework.

    According to the press release, Minergie Net Zero buildings generate “very low greenhouse gas emissions over their defined 60-year life cycle”. Regarding the procedure, it states that once the life-cycle emissions have been determined, the carbon stored in the building is deducted from the remaining emissions. This improves the carbon footprint in line with the Climate Act. For the remaining emissions, a balance is created using negative emission certificates.

    To achieve net-zero by 2050 as a country, “avoidance” alone does not go far enough as a measure. With Minergie Net-Zero, this could be achieved as early as 2026, albeit “with very high requirements”, says Andreas Meyer Primavesi, Managing Director of the Minergie Association. “We factor in grey emissions. And are therefore significantly stricter than the laws coming into force in the next few years,” he is quoted as saying. The canton of Basel-Stadt is aiming for net-zero by 2037, whilst many institutions want to be there by 2040.

    According to the information provided, Minergie is the Swiss building standard for comfort, efficiency and climate protection for new builds and renovations. The three well-known building standards – Minergie, Minergie-P and Minergie-A – can be extended to include the ECO designation.

  • 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.

  • Who pays, who lives, who benefits?

    Who pays, who lives, who benefits?

    The SOSDA framework developed by Zimraum and Stratcraft records the social performance of residential real estate along nine key figures in three scopes: tenants, neighborhood and society. The data pool comprises 30 portfolios with around 68,500 apartments from 17 owners. These include pension funds, investment foundations, listed funds and non-profit housing developers. A database that allows comparisons to be made for the first time.

    Affordability is holding up better than expected
    78 percent of the apartments in the data pool are considered affordable according to the SOSDA definition. The net rent accounts for less than a third of the monthly taxable median income in the respective municipality. Even in the new-build segment, this figure is 58 percent. In institutional portfolios, 48 percent of new-build apartments reach this threshold. This contradicts the widespread view that new construction and affordability are fundamentally mutually exclusive.

    High satisfaction, solid management quality
    Tenant satisfaction is remarkably high. 90 percent of respondents are somewhat to very satisfied with their apartment. 83 percent also give their property management good marks. The residential environment is also impressive. 85 percent are satisfied with their neighborhood, 77 percent rate the neighborhood conditions positively. Quality is obviously not a product of chance in the Swiss housing market.

    Family apartments remain under-occupied
    When it comes to occupancy efficiency, the benchmark reveals a structural weakness. Only 58 percent of apartments fulfill the “room minus 1” rule. For family apartments with four or more rooms, this proportion drops to 41 percent. Although non-profit portfolios perform slightly better than institutional portfolios when it comes to family apartments, the difference remains small. This is a clear area for optimization for all market participants.

    Letting practice under the magnifying glass
    For the first time, the benchmark also documents to whom apartments are actually let. The range is considerable. Depending on the portfolio, between 46 and 100 percent of family apartments went to households with children. Only 9 percent of apartments were rented to senior citizens. The proportion of affordable apartments that went to low-income households varied between 30 and 50 percent. The database is still limited, but the direction is clear. Social performance can no longer be ignored in the future.

  • Data partnership transforms decision-making processes in the property portfolio

    Data partnership transforms decision-making processes in the property portfolio

    OPTIML and Scaler have entered into a strategic partnership. According to a press release, the aim is to combine Scaler’s infrastructure for sustainable property data with OPTIML’s decision-making intelligence. This is intended to provide portfolio managers with a data-driven, verifiable and dynamic basis for decisions on refinancing and capital allocation, as well as insights into a sensible sequence for sustainable investments in existing portfolios.

    To this end, the new partners intend to contribute their respective expertise. Scaler offers a data infrastructure for buildings and portfolios that encompasses operational, technical and sustainability data. OPTIML’s proprietary Real Estate Decision Intelligence (REDI) software, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), combines this data with digital building models of engineering quality.

    In addition to optimising investments and their sequencing, the partners cite further benefits of their collaboration, including the harmonisation of data flows for assets and portfolios across systems and regions, the improvement of analysis for retrofitting and investment scenarios, and the strengthening of reporting to regulators and investors with verifiable and decision-relevant results.

    “By combining Scaler’s data infrastructure with OPTIML’s decision intelligence, we offer portfolio managers a closed-loop system in which every investment decision is based on real performance data and is continuously optimised as conditions change,” says Scaler co-founder and CIO Luc Van De Boom. The partnership bridges the gap between operational data and institutional capital decisions, explains OPTIML co-founder and CEO Dr Evan Petkov: “Data alone does not create an advantage. Investors need optimisation and governance to transform this data into actionable measures. Together, we offer real estate professionals a dynamic decision-making system for the world’s largest asset class.”

  • 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.

  • Intercantonal development project focuses on mobility and efficiency

    Intercantonal development project focuses on mobility and efficiency

    Voters in St. Gallen have approved the sale of two plots of land owned by the Canton of St. Gallen to the Canton of Thurgau, as well as the provision of compensation in the form of crop rotation areas. According to a statement from Regio Wil, this is a “landmark decision” for the Wil region. The plots are to form the WILWEST development area, which is intended to combine environmentally friendly mobility, energy efficiency and regional cooperation as a sustainable economic zone. At the heart of the project is a new junction with the A1 motorway, complemented by improved bus, rail and cycle connections for the entire region.

    For the Wil region, the project creates prospects for new jobs, reduced traffic congestion and coordinated, sustainable spatial development, the statement says. The decision by St. Gallen’s voters is also a strong signal for intercantonal cooperation between St. Gallen and Thurgau, as well as for the 22 municipalities of Regio Wil.

    The St. Gallen electorate had initially rejected a special loan for the WILWEST project in September 2022. The project was subsequently comprehensively revised, particularly in the area of sustainability. Among other things, land use was optimised, soil sealing reduced, and car traffic and the number of parking spaces cut.

    The priority now is to ensure sustainable implementation, to develop the area in a land-conserving manner and in phases, and to continue to take the concerns of the public into account. Regio Wil intends to remain actively involved in the process in the future.

  • Swiss energy consumption has risen slightly

    Swiss energy consumption has risen slightly

    According to an initial estimate by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), energy consumption in Switzerland in 2025 was slightly higher than in the previous year. Consumption rose to 778,630 terajoules. In the previous year, it had stood at 776,220 terajoules.

    Energy from petroleum products again accounted for the largest share in 2025. This supplied 351,420 terajoules. In the previous year, the figure had been 354,810 terajoules. Electricity consumption rose to 209,340 terajoules, compared with 207,040 terajoules in the previous year. Gas consumption fell from 95,480 to 93,840 terajoules. Consumption of biogenic fuels, biogas, solar energy and geothermal heat rose from 38,390 to 40,090 terajoules.

    The SFOE points out that the estimate is provisional. The final figures for final energy consumption are due to be published on 18 June.

  • Wind and solar power ensure a stable electricity supply in the regional energy system

    Wind and solar power ensure a stable electricity supply in the regional energy system

    According to a statement from the operator BKW, the Swiss Energypark in the supply area of the Société des Forces électriques de La Goule generated a total of 134.45 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2025. This represents 81 per cent of the region’s total consumption of 166.96 gigawatt-hours. In the previous year, the Energypark had generated 139.6 gigawatt hours.

    Wind energy once again contributed the largest share to electricity production, with a total of 86.50 gigawatt hours. The Juvent wind farm alone generated 72.6 gigawatt hours. Although this is less than the 91.1 gigawatt hours of the strong previous year due to low wind speeds, wind energy remains a reliable source of electricity, particularly during the winter months.

    The La Goule hydroelectric power station supplied 16.29 gigawatt hours, its worst result in decades. In the previous year, the figure had been 17.6 gigawatt hours.

    Solar energy, by contrast, grew significantly. In 2025, it supplied a total of 31.66 gigawatt hours, accounting for 24 per cent of total production. In the poor year of 2024, the figure had been just 13.6 gigawatt hours.

    The Swiss Energypark covers an area of 251 square kilometres between the cantons of Bern and Jura. 21,000 people live here.

  • How researchers are turning concrete into a climate saver

    How researchers are turning concrete into a climate saver

    The EU project CARBCOMN, launched in 2024 and funded by Horizon Europe with around six million euros, is taking a radical approach. Instead of using more material, the researchers are optimizing the shape. The principle is called “compression dominant structures”: concrete components are designed in such a way that they are almost exclusively subjected to compression, similar to the arches of historic stone bridges. Concrete can withstand compression well, but hardly any tensile forces. If you make consistent use of this, you need less material and less reinforcement.

    Printed, not poured
    Digital production makes shapes possible that would be unthinkable with traditional formwork. The robot prints the concrete layer by layer and leaves cavities where no reinforcement is required, directly controlled by the digital model. This not only saves material, but also reduces the seismic load in proportion to the weight loss. This is a decisive advantage in earthquake-prone regions.

    No cement, no problem
    The concrete used in the CARBCOMN project contains no cement. Steel slag, a by-product of the steel industry, is used as a binding agent. After printing, the components are placed in a chamber in which CO₂ is injected. The reaction with the slag mixture hardens the concrete and permanently binds the greenhouse gas. The result is a building material with a negative CO₂ balance that is made exclusively from industrial waste.

    Metal with memory
    This concrete does not manage entirely without reinforcement, but with a specialty that Empa has been using for around 20 years: iron-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMA). These pre-stretched metal rods contract during heating instead of expanding, thus subsequently pre-stressing the component. They are only inserted after printing, do not interfere with the automated process and can be separated from the concrete later. The Empa spin-off re-fer contributes this technology directly to the consortium.

    Built for dismantling
    What is built should also be able to be dismantled again. The individual concrete modules are designed as discrete blocks that can be detached, transported and reassembled elsewhere. Zaha Hadid Architects and Mario Cucinella Architects are working with the engineering teams to develop free-form structures that express this circular principle architecturally. By 2028, a real prototype will prove that concrete construction can also look like this.

  • Ein Quartier ohne Einsprache

    Ein Quartier ohne Einsprache

    Der Luzerner Regierungsrat genehmigte den Bebauungsplan Schützenmatt im Januar 2026. Der Emmer Einwohnerrat hatte ihn bereits am 1. Juli 2025 in zweiter Lesung einstimmig verabschiedet. Nach Ablauf der Beschwerdefrist liegt nun Rechtskraft vor, kein einziger Rekurs wurde eingereicht. Das ist bei einem Projekt dieser Grössenordnung keine Selbstverständlichkeit, sondern ein Zeichen breiter Akzeptanz.

    250 Wohnungen, 4000 Quadratmeter Leben
    Auf dem Areal entstehen rund 250 Wohnungen in verschiedenen Grössen sowie Gewerbe-, Gastronomie- und Dienstleistungsflächen von insgesamt rund 4000 Quadratmetern. Der Wohnungsmix reicht von kleineren Einheiten über Familienwohnungen bis zu Alterswohnungen . Bewusst konzipiert für alle Lebensphasen und verschiedene Einkommensstufen. Ein Teil der Wohnungen muss als preisgünstiger Wohnraum realisiert werden.

    Weniger Auto, mehr Velo
    Das Mobilitätskonzept setzt klare Prioritäten sodass Fuss, Velo und öffentlicher Verkehr Vorrang haben. Geplant sind über 970 Veloabstellplätze, darunter eine gedeckte, öffentlich zugängliche Velostation mit mindestens 300 Plätzen direkt an der Bahnhofunterführung. Für Autos stehen maximal 120 Parkplätze in der Tiefgarage bereit. Die Velohauptroute entlang der Gleise wird kreuzungsfrei geführt. Somit entfallen Konflikte mit dem Fussgängerverkehr.

    Die Stadt als Schwamm
    Das städtebauliche Konzept stammt von Fischer Architekten, deren Wettbewerbsbeitrag mit dem ersten Preis ausgezeichnet wurde. Im Zentrum steht das Schwammstadtprinzip. Sickerfähige Beläge, Bäume auf natürlichem Boden und begrünte Dachflächen speichern Regenwasser und geben es kontrolliert wieder ab. Mindestens 60 Prozent der Dachflächen werden intensiv begrünt. Das verbessert das Mikroklima und macht das Quartier klimaresilient.

    Ab 2027 wird gebaut
    Mit der Rechtskraft liegt die Umsetzung nun bei den Grundeigentümerschaften. Die Realisierung ist in vier Etappen geplant, ein Bezug der ersten Wohnungen ist ab rund 2030 realistisch. Christine Bopp, Leiterin Planung der Gemeinde Emmen, spricht von einem abgeschlossenen langen Planungsprozess, der nun Planungssicherheit für alle Beteiligten schafft. Emmenbrücke bekommt sein neues Herz und baut es mit Bedacht.

  • Digital tool assesses sustainability of events

    Digital tool assesses sustainability of events

    The Swiss Association for Sustainable Events (SVNE), based in Basel, has further developed its Clean Event platform. Under the new name Eventkit, it offers a uniform tool for planning and evaluating the sustainability of events. This tool can be used by both organisers and the approving authorities. According to a press release, the bilingual Eventkit platform also integrates the KITmanif platform, which was developed by the city of Lausanne and the canton of Vaud.

    Eventkit uses criteria formulated by experts in cities, cantons, federal offices and partner associations to evaluate events. These are grouped into clear categories ranging from management and communication, catering, traffic and transport, materials and waste, nature and landscape, health and prevention, inclusion and equal opportunities to the economy.

    A maximum of 340 points are awarded in total. 31 of the 58 criteria are scored with four points, while 27 criteria count double.

    The circular economy plays a central role. For example, catering is also assessed on the basis of whether there is a concept in place to avoid food waste. This includes avoiding disposable products and distributing free samples or flyers, as well as ensuring the return of reusable and recyclable disposable containers. Any damage to natural areas is repaired. Preference is given to the regional economy.

    Thanks to broad support, Eventkit is available free of charge to all interested event organisers. “With Eventkit, we are creating the first Switzerland-wide standard with target values that motivate events to gradually strengthen their sustainability,” SVNE President Marianne Gehring is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • Decarbonisation will rely on heat pumps in the future

    Decarbonisation will rely on heat pumps in the future

    The National Sports Centre in Magglingen will not be heated with heat from deep underground in future. According to a statement, the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (BBL) is discontinuing the project. The subsoil proved to be too complex. Deep drilling would therefore incur higher costs than forecast.

    The FBL launched the geothermal project in 2018. Studies had identified potential for hot water at a depth of 1,500 to 2,000 metres in 2023. The intention was to exploit this potential as early as 2029.

    However, the BBL is sticking to its intention to decarbonise the sports centre’s heat supply. To this end, it plans to use geothermal energy closer to the surface and heat pumps. These are to replace natural gas and wood pellets as the main heat suppliers. However, this is not likely to be possible until 2031 at the earliest, according to the press release.

  • “Insieme” education centers in Sursee

    “Insieme” education centers in Sursee

    The project competition was announced as an open, single-stage and anonymous procedure for general planning teams, with eight teams submitting proposals on time. The jury assessed them according to functionality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, urban planning and architecture and awarded the contract to the “Insieme” project by Bob Gysin Partner from Zurich. The centerpiece is a new seven-storey building along the railroad line, which makes a clear contribution to urban densification and orients the campus more towards the station.

    Bright learning landscape
    In future, the new main entrances will be oriented more towards the railroad station, thus relieving the existing access through the adjacent residential area. All gymnasiums will be accessible via the newly defined entrance area, which will simplify routing and orientation. The arrangement of classrooms, group rooms, atriums and meeting zones creates a bright, flexible learning landscape that supports different forms of teaching and informal encounters in equal measure.

    Building sustainably, upgrading open spaces
    In terms of construction, “Insieme” relies on a combination of existing buildings and timber construction. With the exception of the basement, the existing building in Wing B is being dismantled and extended with a timber ribbed ceiling to create a six-storey building. The design of the open space responds to the climate heating by shading the existing staircase and enhancing it with additional planting and seating. The edge of the forest will have new recreational areas and loose tree planting, which will significantly increase the quality of the outdoor space.

    Next steps until commissioning
    In the first quarter of 2026, the jury’s comments will be reviewed and the competition project optimized if necessary. The extended facility is currently scheduled to open in 2035. Around CHF 97.4 million has been set aside in the cantonal financial planning for the expansion and partial renovation of the BBZG W in Sursee. An investment in future-proof vocational training and a strong educational location in the region.

  • Four axes that are reorganizing the real estate industry

    Four axes that are reorganizing the real estate industry

    Data & AI
    Industry reports see data-driven decisions and AI-based analytics as one of the strongest drivers. From predictive analytics for rents, vacancy rates and capex to automated valuations and AI-supported due diligence and document processing.

    Along the life cycle, this starts with land acquisition and project development (location scoring, risk and scenario models) and extends to operations and portfolio management (predictive maintenance, portfolio optimization, dynamic price and space management).

    Decarbonization and ESG
    Net-zero targets, taxonomy rules and ESG investing make green proptech a cluster in its own right. Smart building systems, IoT sensor technology and ESG data platforms measure emissions, energy and resources, automate reporting obligations and support refurbishment and investment decisions.

    This has a social impact through stricter regulation and investor pressure, and an economic impact through the growing difference in value between stranded assets and climate-friendly stocks. From carbon screening when purchasing land to decarbonization roadmaps for ongoing operations.

    User experience and flexibility
    Digital tenant experience, hybrid working models and flexible residential and commercial spaces are considered a core trend. Mobile access, self-service portals, real-time communication and dynamically bookable, usage-based spaces are required.

    Throughout the life cycle, this shifts the focus to user-centric concepts and mixed use right from the planning stage and requires platforms for booking, community building and personalized services during operation, which directly changes the value creation logic of properties.

    Platform ecosystems
    Many sources see a move away from isolated stand-alone solutions towards networked platforms in which data, processes and services from different players converge. Open interfaces and integrations are seen as the most important requirement on the part of developers and operators.

    Economically, this creates new platform operators, while socially, transparency, power and role models are shifting. From land purchase CRM and development tools to operating and ESG platforms that digitally connect the entire lifecycle.

  • Tour Invictus new face for Fribourg

    Tour Invictus new face for Fribourg

    The Tour Invictus marks a turning point in Fribourg’s urban development. It increases the density of living space upwards instead of continuing to grow outwards. The project is a response to scarce land, changing household structures and an ageing population.

    At the same time, the tower raises the question of identity. How much “high-rise” can a medium-sized Swiss city tolerate? The building will be visible from the city and from afar. It will thus become a symbol of a new phase of urban development that rebalances density, mobility and quality of life.

    New forms of housing instead of classic perimeter blocks
    The mix of uses is clearly geared towards housing, but is finely graduated internally. On the lower floors, there will be apartments suitable for the elderly with assisted living facilities. On the upper floors are privately financed condominiums with expansive views and a high quality of living.

    This vertical mix replaces the classic perimeter block with separate buildings for different target groups. It brings people with different lifestyles together in the same building. For operators, owners and urban planners, this opens up new options for services, neighborhood connections and community building.

    Creating quality of stay
    A tower of this height always provokes the same question. Will density become a burden or a quality? The decisive factor is the design of the transitions. The street level, first floor and surroundings must maintain the scale for pedestrians. Green outdoor spaces, a clear address and legible entrances determine whether the tower is perceived as a foreign body or as a natural part of the neighborhood.

    What counts inside is the sense of spaciousness. Daylight, room heights, private outdoor spaces and views are the counterbalance to the large number of units. Where open spaces are deliberately moved indoors, for example with communal rooms, roof terraces or usable arcades, identification is created instead of anonymity.

    Opportunities for the city
    For the city of Fribourg, the Tour Invictus is both an opportunity and a test case. It shows how investors, planners and authorities deal with densification targets. The handling of traffic, development, shading and the neighborhood will be closely monitored. If the project is successful, it will strengthen the acceptance of further vertical densification.

    At the same time, the area of tension remains visible. A high-rise triggers discussions about the skyline, character and social mix. Managers in administration and the real estate industry are called upon to actively moderate this debate. Clear narratives are needed as to why density does not mean sacrifice, but rather enables new forms of urbanity.

  • New white paper: ‘’Cooling buildings efficiently’

    New white paper: ‘’Cooling buildings efficiently’

    Although the impact of climatic changes differs depending on the location and use of the building, in future almost every residential and office building will require cooling. Anyone planning a new build is well advised to carry out an analysis of exterior and interior comfort levels, define summer heat insulation requirements and maximum acceptable interior temperatures, and request proof of thermal comfort. For existing buildings that don’t meet current or future requirements in summer, there are other viable measures that can be implemented.

    With comfortable indoor temperatures increasingly considered a criterion for rentability, it makes sense for property owners to invest in climate control for their properties. Buildings with a high level of climate comfort are future-proof, their market value increases and they usually attract higher rental income.

    The new white paper, ‘Cooling buildings efficiently’ (23 pages), shows how we can build or renovate properties today to ensure they continue to offer a high level of comfort in the climate of the future.

    View Whitepaper
  • Urban change on the Wellis site

    Urban change on the Wellis site

    One of the region’s most exciting transformation areas is located between the railroad station and the old town. Halls, warehouses and work yards are being transformed into an urban quarter with its own character. The area thus plays a key role as the gateway to Willisau.

    The area is roughly the same size as the historic old town. The previously closed production site is being transformed into an open piece of town. Paths, squares and open spaces will connect the station, the old town and the district. The previous barrier will become an urban interface.

    Mixture instead of monofunction
    The development clearly focuses on a mixture of uses. Several hundred apartments of different sizes and typologies are planned, supplemented by areas for commerce, services and local amenities. Living, working, shopping and leisure are moving closer together.

    It creates frequency throughout the day, increases the utilization of the infrastructure and reduces dependency on a single type of use. At the same time, it opens up scope for new forms of work, small-scale service providers and local suppliers.

    Identity from the industrial past
    The Wellisareal remains recognizable as a place. Parts of the existing building fabric will be preserved and used for new purposes. The industrial character not only provides history, but also identity. It clearly distinguishes the district from green meadow developments on the outskirts of the town.

    New buildings complement the existing buildings without covering them up. A high point marks the area in the silhouette of Willisau. The decisive factor here is not the height alone, but the effect in the urban space. This creates an image that remains anchored in the perception of residents, visitors and investors.

    Open space as a location factor
    The project consistently combines density with open space. Generous green spaces, trees, squares and paths structure the quarter and ensure a quality of stay. Instead of the inner courtyard as a residual area, the open space is at the center of the concept.

    For future users, this is more than just a matter of comfort. Shaded recreational areas, well thought-out outdoor spaces and differentiated microclimates are becoming hard location factors. They influence rentability, image and long-term value development. A robust open space concept also supports the adaptability of the neighborhood over its life cycle.

    Rebalancing mobility
    The location directly next to the train station and close to the old town allows for a low-traffic approach. Priority is given to pedestrians and cyclists, with public transport services within walking distance. The project deliberately reduces the number of parking spaces and focuses on alternative forms of mobility.

    For local authorities and investors, this means less land consumption for cars, more space for value creation and quality of life. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to think of mobility as an integrated offer. From sharing solutions to logistics and neighborhood services.

  • Solar project combines own electricity and regional investment

    Solar project combines own electricity and regional investment

    According to a press release, the Schloss Turbenthal Foundation is enabling private individuals and companies to participate in its new solar power plant. This plant is being built on the roofs of the village for the deaf. With 150 solar modules, it is expected to generate 66,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Half of the electricity will be consumed by the foundation itself.

    A large battery with a capacity of 100 kilowatts will allow electricity to be stored on days when there is plenty of sun and little demand. This electricity can then be accessed later by both the foundation and the grid company Swissgrid as balancing energy.

    Private individuals and companies can participate in the plant via the solarify.ch platform. They receive quarterly payments on their investment. “With this project, we are making a concrete contribution to sustainability and enabling the participation of the population from the region,” Marc Basler, general manager of the Schloss Turbenthal Foundation, is quoted in the press release.

    Solarify GmbH, based in Bern, is also responsible for project management, operation, insurance and maintenance of the plant, as well as electricity marketing.

  • Research develops climate-friendly alternative to cement

    Research develops climate-friendly alternative to cement

    The production of cement as a binding agent for concrete accounts for 8 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Researchers from various European universities and institutes are working under the leadership of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany to develop alternatives to cement. According to a press release, the Zug-based building materials manufacturer Holcim is involved in this research work as part of the European C-SINK project.

    The research focuses on magnesium-containing silicates, which react with CO₂ to form magnesium carbonate in a targeted, accelerated mineralisation process. This additive could be the new binder for concrete, replacing Portland cement clinker. The material is currently being tested in the KIT laboratories with the participation of all parties involved. This involves close integration of simulation, experimental research and large-scale, realistic testing at the Materials Testing Institute in Karlsruhe. “We can use simulations and machine learning to predict which concrete formulations will work,” says Frank Dehn, head of the Institute for Solid Construction and Building Materials Technology and the Karlsruhe Materials Testing and Research Institute at KIT, quoted in the press release. “We then use experiments in a targeted manner to verify these predictions. In this way, we want to develop reliable parameters that show that concrete with the new binder is climate-friendly and meets the requirements for load-bearing capacity, durability and safety.”

    The project is funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) as part of the Pathfinder programme “Towards cement and concrete as a carbon sink”. In addition to KIT and the coordinating PAEBBL AB (Sweden), the Technical University of Delft (Netherlands), the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), the Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and PREFABRICADOS TECNYCONTA S.L. (both Spain) are also involved, with support from Holcim Technology. The project is funded with 4 million euros over a period of four years.

  • New technology extends the service life of old bridges

    New technology extends the service life of old bridges

    The bridges, which were built in the 1980s, are showing increasing signs of fatigue and need to be repaired. Researchers and engineers from the Structural Engineering Department at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in Dübendorf are working on new methods for renovating these bridges. For their experiments, they are using a bridge deck made of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) reinforced with shape memory steel, according to a press release. This steel is an iron-based steel made from an alloy containing manganese, silicon and chromium, among other elements. The fibre-reinforced concrete is bonded to this steel. When heated, the steel contracts and closes any cracks that have appeared in the concrete.

    The researchers led by Angela Sequeira Lemos and Christoph Czaderski carried out corresponding experiments in Empa’s construction hall. Five concrete slabs, each five metres long, simulate bridge elements. One of these remained unreinforced, while the others were reinforced with conventional reinforcing steel or shape memory steel. For the test, cracks were made in the slabs to simulate real-life wear conditions. The results showed that the combination of fibre-reinforced concrete and shape memory steel was more effective. It was able to close cracks and lift sagging bridge sections. “We were able to show that our system not only works, but can actually revive existing bridges,” Angela Sequeira Lemos is quoted as saying in the press release.

    The research project was funded by Innosuisse and supported by OST– University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland, re-fer, a spin-off of Empa in Seewen, and the Swiss Cement Industry Association cemsuisse. A practical test on a real bridge could spark interest from industry. “And with increasing demand, material costs are also likely to fall – then this technology could bring about lasting change in bridge renovation,” Sequeira Lemos is convinced.

  • Cooperation aims to secure landfill capacity in the long term

    Cooperation aims to secure landfill capacity in the long term

    The cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau and Schaffhausen are working together to plan new landfills for slag from waste incineration plants, according to a statement from the Department of Construction and Environmentof the Canton of St. Gallen. Over the next two years, the waste management authorities of the three cantons will develop a coordinated plan that identifies the need for landfill volume and landfill sites. The aim is to ensure secure waste disposal for the next 30 years and to exploit economic and ecological advantages.

    The starting point for the collaboration is the foreseeable shortage of suitable landfill volume. The incineration of waste in waste incineration plants produces waste incineration plant slag that cannot be further recycled and must be stored in specially secured type D landfills. Such facilities are in short supply both in the participating cantons and throughout Switzerland. Without additional capacity, there is a risk of bottlenecks in waste disposal in the medium term.

    Coordinated planning aims to optimise existing cantonal waste streams, exploit economic and ecological advantages and enable the rational use of individual sites. In this way, the three cantons want to offer long-term planning and disposal security for waste producers as well as waste incineration plants and landfills.

    With this project, the cantons are fulfilling their legal mandate for waste planning. This includes determining future landfill requirements and identifying suitable locations. The jointly developed planning basis will then serve as the foundation for cantonal planning instruments such as structure plans and other procedures.