The further development of existing buildings offers clear advantages. It saves resources, reduces CO2 emissions and reduces the volume of construction waste. In contrast to demolition, the appearance of the neighborhood is preserved and new rentals are often lower, which ensures affordable living space. The local building culture also benefits, as established structures and identity-forming elements are preserved, which strengthens the sense of community.
High hurdles hamper conversions Outdated regulations, complex procedures and a lack of legal certainty are currently hampering numerous extension projects. Older buildings in particular do not comply with the latest regulations, so many owners shy away from the effort involved and prefer to build new ones.
Revision of the law brings simplifications The new proposal from the Building Department provides for targeted simplifications. At its heart is the simplification provision, Section 220a E-PBG: it allows owners to deviate from certain regulations, for example with regard to boundary distances, façade height and the number of full storeys. The aim is to better integrate the further developed building into the existing building regulations, create more scope for conversion and at the same time offer legal certainty.
Densification and better utilization It will be easier to create additional residential units, particularly in residential buildings. The regulation encourages properties to exploit their full potential in accordance with the municipal zoning regulations without losing the existing building stock. This is an important step towards more densification and smart land use in urban and rural areas.
Further simplifications and updates The revision also addresses the demands of the Cantonal Council. For example, procedures for solar installations and stair lifts have been simplified. Outdated regulations on fire protection and minimum heights are to be removed. This will make it easier to convert office buildings into apartments and provide impetus for innovative construction projects.
Opportunity for Zurich The planned simplifications for the conversion and extension of existing buildings will enable sustainable urban development, ecologically, socially and culturally. The revision of the law creates clarity and motivates owners to use the potential of existing buildings instead of building new ones.
In the canton of Zurich, traffic construction lines secure the space for infrastructure. Buildings that protrude into this area are only permitted under certain conditions. However, due to legal amendments in the past, uncertainties have arisen, particularly in the case of projecting building parts such as balconies and bay windows.
With the planned revision of the Planning and Building Act, the cantonal government wants to eliminate these uncertainties. “We only want to restrict balconies and bay windows to the extent necessary for land protection and urban design,” explains Carmen Walker Späh, Director of Economic Affairs.
In addition, the construction of easily removable small buildings such as bicycle shelters, solar panels or container boxes is to be made easier. While such buildings can already be authorised in the building line area today, this should also be possible in the road clearance area in future.
Simplified adjustment of building lines Another key element of the revised law concerns the adjustment of building lines that were established as part of a neighbourhood plan procedure. In future, these changes should be possible in the ordinary procedure, thereby avoiding time-consuming neighbourhood plan revisions.
Positive consultation and next step The proposed changes met with broad approval in the consultation. The majority of the 70 or so participants supported the amendments, although some of the submissions led to the draft being made more precise.
The revised bill has now been submitted to the Cantonal Council for further consultation and to the relevant committee for examination. The aim is to create greater planning and legal certainty through clear legal regulations.
Reorganisation of building and planning One of the core issues, agenda item 5 (RG 147/2023), concerns the revision of the Planning and Building Act and the Cantonal Building Ordinance. The need for amendments arose from various proposed changes and questions raised, which necessitated a re-examination by the Environment, Building and Economic Commission (UMBAWIKO). After intensive discussion, the UMBAWIKO submitted new proposals, which were only partially approved by the Government Council.
Reform of building insurance Another important project, agenda item 45 (RG 225/2023), includes the first amendment to the cantonal constitution, a comprehensive revision of the law on building insurance and an adjustment to the tariff of fees. After the Buildings Insurance Act has basically functioned well since its introduction in 1972, current developments make a complete revision necessary. The Justice, Environment and Culture Commission (JUKO) has carefully examined the bill and submitted proposals for amendments, which are supported by both the Government Council and the Finance Commission (FIKO). As a constitutional amendment is on the agenda, two readings are planned in the Cantonal Council.
This agenda illustrates the Canton of Solothurn’s commitment to meeting the challenges of the times through targeted legislative amendments and at the same time setting the course for sustainable development.
Luucy AG, based in Lucerne, was founded in 2019 by the architect and entrepreneur Mark Imhof. He describes himself as a visionary who has been dealing with the complex issues of the internal development of villages and cities for a long time. It struck him that he was repeatedly reaching limits with the usual methods and procedures. Imhof decided to develop a solution that strengthens and simplifies communication and cooperation between all parties involved: “Luucy combines the relevant data for the spatial and real estate development of all Swiss municipalities in one central location. The planning platform also provides intelligent tools for development and supports the exchange with all stakeholders through the understandable 3D visualization, ”explains Mark Imhof, CEO of Luucy AG.
Data and information from all stakeholders could be easily found, further developed and made available via the comprehensive platform. To make this possible, Luucy was constructed as a digital twin of built Switzerland. Imhof: “The topography of the Swiss landscape with all existing buildings is available in 3D as a basis. Thanks to the web solution, no software needs to be installed to use it. Initial building volumes and variant studies can be modeled directly in Luucy and compared with one another. Additional apps from third-party providers, for example for calculating investment costs, provide valuable additional information for decision-making. “
The official survey data, maps and access to the building laws can also be called up directly on the platform. “Luucy enables all interested third-party providers to connect additional solutions and thus offers space for new business models and value chains,” says Imhof. The solution met with great interest in the real estate industry: “Having all the relevant data and tools for room and real estate development available online in one place increases efficiency considerably,” explains Imhof.
Make feasibility studies much easier Luucy isn’t the only platform that makes data accessible in a digital twin. «The specialty of our solution is the platform concept. We don’t work out everything ourselves – we integrate and work with the best. As a result, the platform is growing steadily, ”says Imhof, explaining the advantages. The interactive platform also differs from other solutions, because it acts as an intermediary builder of bridges between the authorities, which often do not know enough about the needs of the private sector, and the private sector, which the overarching goals of spatial development in the sense of a sustainable and holistically functioning organism Too little consideration of “living space”.
“Today, for example, many steps in different systems are necessary to create a feasibility study. The analysis of the legal basis in the building laws of the 2172 municipalities in Switzerland and their interpretation is often a challenge. A lot of time is lost here, ”says Imhof. Luucy has all of these basics ready in a single system. The platform would primarily be used by specialists from architecture or site development. In this way, they can check meaningful development scenarios in just a few hours. “Authorities and spatial planning offices can also use our solution to display local planning revisions and potential spatial developments over a large area. Investors can easily make their own initial potential assessments of properties and areas,” explains Imhof.
The modeling of own building volumes and the quick calculation of the corresponding rough costs are currently most in demand. “Here, the entire settlement context is taken into account, and the influence on neighboring buildings in terms of shadows and views can be quickly checked. In addition, Luucy is often used for digital competitions in which the different project ideas are simply evaluated and compared with one another, ”says Imhof.
In 10 years the most used planning and coordination platform for the space and real estate industry The main focus of Luucy AG is initially on Switzerland. “But it is quite conceivable that the solution will also be offered in the DACH region and Europe in the next few years,” says Imhof. The basic costs for the platform are CHF 3,000 per year. This means that three administrators can create any number of projects, and unlimited users can work in these projects.
In the coming months, the start-up plans to continuously expand its offerings: “In five years, Luucy will be so extensive that all room-relevant data and functions can be accessed via the platform. Simulations, for example on noise, mobility and climate, can be displayed », says Imhof. And he is convinced: “In ten years, our solution will be the planning and coordination platform for the space and real estate industry. And with Luucy, cooperation with the private sector will also be greatly simplified for the authorities. Planning applications can then be published in 3D format. “
In addition to a further developed geometer system, Luucy will one day ensure that an up-to-date digital twin is available to all planners on a daily basis. The spatial strategies and the associated development of the infrastructure of the cities and municipalities should be available. The solution is disruptive and is likely to play a key role in replacing complicated and less dynamic processes in the construction industry, as Imhof explains.
Mark Imhof, CEO Luucy.
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