immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Herausforderungen

  • A new vision for the Zurich metropolitan area

    A new vision for the Zurich metropolitan area

    The Metro-ROK 2050 initiative emphasises the need to use settlement areas sensibly and sustainably in order to improve the quality of life and maintain the ecological balance. By focussing on four central areas of action – urban landscape, transitional landscape, cultural landscape and natural landscape – the concept aims to promote balanced development. The protection of green spaces and high-quality internal development play a particularly important role. Environmentally friendly urban planning is to be realised by strictly limiting the expansion of settlements until 2040 and promoting transformation projects in existing buildings that take the circular economy principle into account.

    Innovative technologies and energy efficiency
    Another important aspect of the Metro-ROK 2050 is the integration of advanced technologies and ecological construction methods in order to improve the carbon footprint of the metropolitan area. The concept emphasises the importance of renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency in buildings in order to counteract the challenges of climate change. The avoidance of further soil sealing and the use of green spaces to combat heat in urban centres are also priority measures.

    Sustainable mobility as a key component
    The spatial planning concept also places a strong focus on promoting public transport and sustainable mobility solutions. The goal of increasing the share of public transport by 2050 and promoting environmentally friendly means of transport is crucial for reducing environmental pollution and increasing the quality of life in the region. Short journeys and low-emission means of transport should help to minimise the ecological footprint.

    Cooperation and future-oriented planning
    The Metro-ROK 2050 initiative reflects the commitment of the participating cantons and sets new standards in regional spatial planning. The updated concept, which was unanimously adopted by the Metropolitan Council on 3 November, serves as a trend-setting framework for the sustainable and future-proof development of the entire Zurich metropolitan area. By taking an integrated view of ecological, economic and social factors, the concept endeavours to shape the metropolitan area as a liveable and sustainable place.

  • Leading by example: circular building in the city of Zurich

    Leading by example: circular building in the city of Zurich

    The circular economy is an important lever for achieving the political net-zero targets. Like many other cities around the world, Zurich is also committed to the circular economy: in 2022, a strategy for the circular economy was adopted with “Circular Zurich”. in 2023, Zurich became the first Swiss city to sign the “Circular Cities Declaration”.

    The intelligent use of resources is particularly important in construction. With the “Charter for Circular Construction”, politicians and businesses set an example in 2023 and made a joint commitment to conserving primary resources and landfill space and reducing CO2 emissions from their own construction activities.

    Initial findings from two pilot projects
    But how do the political commitments affect specific construction projects? What challenges does circular construction pose? And how are the planning and construction processes changing? The City of Zurich’s Office for Buildings is gaining answers to these questions through two pilot projects.

    The city gained initial experience with the procurement, storage and processing of reused building components during the renovation of the Mööslistrasse 2023 kindergarten (Bischof Föhn Architekten, Zurich). Washbasins and toilets were dismantled, cleaned and refurbished on site. Plant troughs from the balconies were reused as outdoor space boundaries. Where possible, the built-in furniture was sourced from the city’s own stock. Thanks to component screening, steel beams, wooden pergolas, fire doors and kitchen elements from other buildings were identified, dismantled and reinstalled. So-called “component hunters” were deployed for everything that was not found in the city’s used parts warehouse.

    The second pilot project, the new “Juch-Areal” recycling centre, is much more comprehensive. The Office for Buildings launched an architectural competition with re-use requirements for the project in 2022. The competition participants were able to use a digital catalogue of components or use other available components from non-urban sources for their designs. The buildings also had to be designed in such a way that they could later be used as a component mine themselves (design for disassembly).

    The projects submitted show that it is possible: Yes, it is possible. The jury was particularly impressed by the high quality of the competition entries, which were created despite – or perhaps thanks to – the new specifications. The building material of the winning project by Graber Pulver Architekten AG (Zurich) dismantles the hall of the previous recycling centre and rebuilds it at the new location with only minor adjustments. Disposed books, magazines and clothes are used as insulation material. Sheets of recycled glass and aluminium, old kitchen covers, doors and table tops protect the façade from the weather. Discarded scaffolding is turned into storage shelves.

    It is in the nature of things that pilot projects precede a standardised introduction on a broad scale. This is also the case with circular construction. The realisation of the two projects in Zurich shows that many questions still need to be clarified: How can components be catalogued? How can availability be checked? Where will they be stored? Who assumes legal liability?

    The planning and construction processes will change as a result of cycle-orientated construction, because the component mines must be known as early as possible, preferably at the beginning of the planning phase. Building Information Modelling (BIM) facilitates the reuse of components, the planning of their dismantlability and the development of future component mines.

    Significant savings in indirect greenhouse gas emissions in the pilot projects
    The pilot projects show that this approach is worthwhile. According to a subsequent calculation, the consistent reuse of building components saved a good 30% of greenhouse gas emissions during the renovation of the Mööslistrasse kindergarten. Current calculations even predict a 40% saving in greenhouse gas emissions for the Juch-Areal recycling centre compared to a conventional new building.

  • Housing shortage in the canton of Zurich: a current inventory

    Housing shortage in the canton of Zurich: a current inventory

    The vacancy rate for flats in the canton of Zurich has reached a new low. With a vacancy rate of just 0.53 per cent, availability has fallen further below the previous year’s already low figure of 0.61 per cent. Flats with up to three rooms are particularly scarce, while larger units tend to remain unoccupied. The greatest challenges exist in the urban centres of Zurich and Winterthur as well as in the Zurich Oberland.

    In the city of Zurich, almost no flats are unoccupied – the rate is a marginal 0.06 per cent. Even among new builds, of which 2,900 units were completed, only seven flats were not immediately occupied. Winterthur also recorded an all-time low vacancy rate of 0.19 per cent, despite the completion of around 400 flats in new development projects.

    The decline in the vacancy rate signals a discrepancy between the expansion of housing supply and rising demand. Although construction activity is continuing, it is not keeping pace with demand. Net housing production remains below the long-term average.

    The challenge of providing sufficient living space to meet demand remains in the canton of Zurich. The current figures emphasise the need to further intensify construction activity and find innovative solutions to create more living space.

    The situation on the housing market in the canton of Zurich requires continued and intensified efforts on the part of all stakeholders. Striking a balance between supply and demand remains a key task for the coming years in order to effectively tackle the housing shortage.

  • HSLU launches Master in Collaborative Spatial Development

    HSLU launches Master in Collaborative Spatial Development

    Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is offering a new Master’s degree course in Collaborative Spatial Development from this autumn semester. The programme is open to students from disciplines such as spatial planning, urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental sciences, economics and social sciences, the HSLU explains in a press release. “More than ever, the spatial development of the future needs interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams to find appropriate solutions to current challenges,” Tabea Michaelis is quoted as saying in the press release. She will lead the new Master’s degree programme together with her colleague Amelie-Theres Mayer.

    The programme aims to prepare its graduates for the complex challenges of future spatial transformation processes. The focus is on dealing with changing requirements and increasingly scarce resources. The teaching programme includes involving groups with different requirements in the planning process and mediating between them.

    “We don’t see spatial development as a product, but as a process,” explains Michaelis. According to the co-director of the degree programme, the aim of such processes is to create climate-friendly, open and adaptable spaces. “Planning these spaces requires a holistic understanding of building culture that starts from the existing building stock and keeps an eye on the political and legal framework as well as economic viability.” To this end, students are expected to work together with potential project clients in a practical manner.

  • Councils agree on CHF 646 million for location promotion

    Councils agree on CHF 646 million for location promotion

    In the years 2024 to 2027, a total of around CHF 646 million is to flow into the promotion of the location. The two chambers of parliament have agreed on this, the parliamentary services inform in a press release. Specifically, the Council of States withdrew its vote for an increase in funding for tourism promotion and the contribution to the Regional Development Fund. Both areas are to receive the same amount of funding for the coming years as for the expiring period.

    The Federal Council had already set out the goals for location promotion for the years 2024 to 2027 in January. According to these, the framework conditions for SMEs are to be improved, the regions strengthened and the opportunities of digitalisation exploited. Furthermore, location promotion should contribute to sustainable development and strengthen the attractiveness of business and tourism.

    The Swiss Tourism Association(STV) has mixed feelings about the agreement of the councils. On the one hand, the stakeholders of the tourism sector were relieved “that the proposals of the Federal Council regarding the financial means for the tourism promotion instruments could be maintained”, according to a corresponding statement of the STV. On the other hand, it is feared that planned commitment to sustainability and digitalisation in particular will fall victim to the red pencil. Due to high inflation in some source markets, the unchanged funding level also means “a substantial reduction in funds for foreign marketing”, the association writes.

  • Raegipark topping-out ceremony: work progressing according to plan

    Raegipark topping-out ceremony: work progressing according to plan

    After several years of planning and preparation and after obtaining the building permit, the demolition work of the existing “Revox building” could be carried out from May 2021. The shell construction with excavation started in August 2021. In the meantime, the finishing work is already well advanced. Reason enough to thank the approximately 150 assembled craftsmen and women as well as those involved in the project for their tireless efforts with a topping-out ceremony. For Christoph Keller of HRS Real, a “stage success on the way to the future” was achieved. He pointed out the impressive dimensions of the construction project: around 2,500 tonnes of steel and around 20,000m3 of concrete were used. “That corresponds to around 2 million watering cans,” he added with a wink in his speech. “Rägipark is also something we can be proud of in terms of aesthetic quality and sustainability.”

    Great demand thanks to successful marketing
    On the way to the goal, there were numerous obstacles to overcome, such as the Corona pandemic, the Ukraine war, delivery delays for building materials and construction materials, as well as general inflation, which made construction difficult, as the overall project manager of Allianz

    Suisse Immobilien AG, Kurt Hadorn, emphasised: “The fact that the client’s specifications regarding quality, deadlines and construction costs were largely met is not a matter of course,” the construction professional praised those involved in the project and the trades. “The result

    demand for the rental flats and commercial space is high

    great. I am pleased that Rägipark will soon be filled with life.” The work will be completed and handed over to the building owners in two stages at the end of November 2023 and the end of December 2023. The marketing of the flats is already well advanced

    advanced. Of a total of 204 flats, 200 have already been let. Marketing of the commercial and office space is also proceeding successfully, with leases already signed for around 70%. For Allianz Suisse, the project realised together with HRS as general contractor is one of the largest construction projects in the company’s history, with a total investment volume of around CHF 120 million.

  • Collaborative project delivery models (IPA, Design Build, etc.)

    Collaborative project delivery models (IPA, Design Build, etc.)

    SIA phase model
    Common project management in Switzerland is based on the SIA phase model (standard 102/112). This hierarchical process principle creates incentives for the client to distribute the concretisation of his planning over several planning phases. As a result, planning orders are considered in isolation in sub-phases, the know-how of the contractors is not collected until the “execution” phase, and risks are passed on to the last contractor in the chain. The concerns of later operations are often only taken into account in the form of benchmarks or written reports.

    Silo thinking vs. cooperation
    In the SIA phase model, the parties involved defend their interests against the client, architect or a general contractor. The goal of each commissioning party is to achieve the highest possible profit and to take as few risks as possible. The focus is therefore not on a joint solution to the problem and certainly not on the success of the project.

    Solution collaborative project delivery methodology
    The solution lies in a change of culture, in changed processes and in contract rule formation based on incentives and motivation.

    So-called collaborative or integrated project delivery methods (IPA) are based on a partnership approach to the project and on the early inclusion of know-how for all key trades. Teams from planning, engineering, execution and operation jointly develop solution approaches and search for the most suitable way to fulfil the objectives. At the same time, project risks are evaluated and actively managed. Work is carried out according to the “best for project” principle, and everyone participates in profit and loss. This increases certainty with regard to feasibility and profitability, and mutual trust is established. This trust, in turn, is the basis for creativity and mutual motivation.

    Final thoughts
    The cultural change described leads to a changed culture of dispute. It is no longer a matter of shifting risks onto others and asserting isolated party interests. Instead, there is an incentive-driven interest on the part of all parties to solve problems quickly and amicably. This also changes the role

    the role of the lawyers involved. Thoughtful and conflict-avoiding contracts are just as much in demand as forward-looking influence on the process and interest-based contributions to solutions. This leaves little room for costly and time-consuming court proceedings.

    Because in the end, only the success of the project and thus of the entire team counts. A failure within the project thus ultimately becomes the failure of all and not the last one to be bitten by the dog or the opposing lawyer.

  • “Sustainable and smart city with a high quality of life”

    “Sustainable and smart city with a high quality of life”

    Ms Furrer, what is the task of urban development?
    We deal with the four topics of economy, housing, smart city and social urban development. We contribute our topics to various development processes. In doing so, we rely on trend and potential analyses and data, among other things. We provide information, advice and support projects and services related to these core topics.

    What tasks do you take on with regard to location development?
    We deal with this topic holistically and proactively. Housing and the economy, for example, cannot be considered individually, they influence each other. Location development is a joint task.

    Currently, we are primarily concerned with the business location, including the following two aspects: The first point is the profiling of workplace areas. To this end, we are pursuing the approach of innovation ecosystems and are developing the corresponding foundations. Here we still have some development work ahead of us. Secondly, the companies that are already here, but also other actors, should be able to bring in their concerns and interests and develop further. In this regard, we are in the process of setting up a so-called business service desk.

    What are the concrete goals of Winterthur’s urban development?
    Winterthur should be a sustainable and smart city with a high quality of life, characterised by respectful coexistence and good conditions for business. The population participates in social development, new technologies are promoted. Winterthur continues to develop its good reputation as a liveable city – not least thanks to a diverse range of housing for a wide variety of needs. In the future, however, we also want to position ourselves as a location for technology and innovation. The city should also see itself as a real laboratory (WinLab) for the promotion of innovations and use the competences gained from this. Another goal is data monitoring for our core topics. And we would like to promote Open Government Data.

    What are the biggest challenges for Winterthur at the moment?
    As everywhere, the big issues in Winterthur are the net zero target or digitalisation. And Winterthur is growing. We need more space for housing, jobs, schools, sports and other needs. At the same time, land is in short supply.

    With the “Spatial Development Perspective Winterthur 2040”, the city shows where the greatest potential for densification lies and how it wants to use it: it is about areas with a variety of uses and about workplace areas. Investors and private landowners are showing great interest. This opens up opportunities for the business location, but also challenges us.

    What are the most popular locations for companies?
    That depends entirely on the needs of the companies. Depending on the needs of the company, the accessibility, the zoning, the development potential, the surroundings or the land and rental prices play a greater or lesser role. I would venture to say that demand is generally increasing in the direction of central and well-supplied locations. Of course, there are also companies that prefer a peripheral location because of land consumption or noise emissions. In general, it is important to preserve industrial and commercial zones for the future.

    How doesWinterthur score as a location for companies?
    Firstly, Winterthur is excellently connected: Zurich Airport can be reached in a few minutes, the train connections to Zurich and Eastern Switzerland are optimal. And with the planned Brüttener Tunnel and the expansion of the A1 motorway, transport access will be even better in the future. Secondly, we can score points with successful technology companies that are well equipped for the future. These include large, partly listed companies such as Rieter, Sulzer, Burckhardt Compression and Kistler, as well as a large number of innovative start-ups. The latter are specifically promoted, for example by Technopark Winterthur, the Home of Innovation and the Entrepreneur Club Winterthur. A third plus point is the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). Through its research and development, it ensures the transfer of knowledge, contributes to local innovation and, as a university, produces valuable specialists. In addition, the ETH and the University of Zurich are also not far away.

    What makes Winterthur attractive as a place to live?
    The already mentioned high quality of life and its own charm. The large number of gardens, an intact, historic old town and the wide range of cultural activities contribute to this. In my opinion, there is another, underestimated quality: From almost anywhere in the city, you can reach the countryside in about ten minutes. Last but not least, the moderate prices compared to nearby Zurich and the good transport connections to eastern Switzerland make Winterthur a very attractive place to live.
    What is the situation with free housing in Winterthur?
    Free housing has been rare in growing Winterthur for some time: the vacancy rate last year was 0.37 per cent, which corresponds to just 212 flats. There is a lot of building going on, now and in the near future, as far as we can estimate today. We are concerned with the topic of housing, but we are not alone in this: affordable housing is generally a big issue in Swiss cities.

    Personal details
    Bettina Furrer has been Head of the Office for Urban Development of the City of Winterthur since December 2020. She studied environmental sciences at ETH Zurich and received her doctorate in 2010. From 2004 to 2018 she worked for the ZHAW School of Engineering, first as a lecturer and later as a professor and head of the Institute for Sustainable Development. Bettina Furrer grew up in Winterthur and still lives in the city with her family.

  • The Swiss Bitcoin expert with a top international reputation in the Moneycast

    The Swiss Bitcoin expert with a top international reputation in the Moneycast

    It is a highly political question what our monetary system will look like, says Fabian Schär. The professor of financial market infrastructure is one of the most sought-after experts internationally when it comes to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. He has even been invited to speak at the G-20 meetings, most recently at the invitation of the Indian Ministry of Economic Affairs.

    Bitcoin as a “store of value”
    For him, it was a tremendous experience, says Schär. “The atmosphere at such a meeting is very impressive This is also because the most powerful of the powerful come together there: The G-20 is a loose association of the most important economic nations in the world. At these meetings, international regulations are regularly discussed in advance, often behind closed doors.

    Currently a hot topic is Schär’s area of expertise: “FinTech”. This means everything that has to do with financial market infrastructure. For example, the question of how payments are processed. Cryptocurrencies are important drivers of innovation here: for example, payments with Bitcoin no longer need a central counterparty – the money can be sent directly from the buyer to the seller. This is not the case with standard bank transfers: in most cases, payments go through a third party, often a bank.

    So will Bitcoin become established as a new currency? Schär is very cautious about making predictions. He says: “If everything develops the way the original idea was, then Bitcoin can possibly become a store of value in the future.” Bitcoin, on the other hand, is unlikely to establish itself as a means of payment.

    “I was extremely sceptical”
    Nevertheless, Schär says he finds the innovations of cryptocurrencies extremely exciting. One reason for this lies in the hobby of his youth: back then, he spent a lot of time playing video games and thus developed an interest in computer science. Later, when he was studying economics, he began to look into cryptocurrencies.

    “At first I was extremely sceptical,” says Schär, “but the more I looked into it, the more it fascinated me.” Bitcoin is highly exciting, he says today, a fantastic innovation. “The system is incredibly well thought out.” But Schär also warns of the risks: “The high fluctuations in value are a problem.” One should be careful when investing in cryptocurrencies, he says. He recommends rather investing in one’s own education and in a better understanding of cryptocurrencies.

    What will banks do in the future?
    Schär does the same in his role as a professor for cryptocurrencies. What he likes most about his job is the versatility. As a professor, he can exchange ideas with many exciting people from politics and the private sector and pass on input from his research. This also involves the financial infrastructure of the future and the role of intermediaries such as banks. Much is still unclear, says Schär, but one thing can already be said: “The roles will change

    Source: www.swissinfo.ch

  • Yes to preserving the climate, building culture and biodiversity

    Yes to preserving the climate, building culture and biodiversity

    Swiss Heritage Protection says “YES” to the Climate Protection Act. This is because the bill contains concrete measures that create incentives for the replacement of heating systems and the energy-efficient upgrading of buildings. The renovation of existing buildings to improve energy efficiency is promoted.

    Careful renovations as well as high-quality and resource-saving new buildings contribute to a high building culture. This is the basis for diverse public spaces, intact landscapes and a climate-neutral, liveable living space that promotes social exchange and community spirit and contributes to general well-being.

    Prioritise resource conservation
    New buildings produce more greenhouse gases during construction or demolition than during their entire useful life. This is due to the large amount of grey energy and emissions involved in extracting, transporting, demolishing and disposing of a building’s construction materials.

    Thus, it is obvious that a moderate use of material resources and a better preservation of our built heritage is the first step towards climate-friendly construction and achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

  • Insight into the climate strategy of the Canton of Lucerne

    Insight into the climate strategy of the Canton of Lucerne

    Climate change is a global challenge. The Canton of Lucerne also expects drier summers, more hot days, more heavy precipitation and winters with less snow in the future.

    Lucerne pursues a dual strategy
    In its climate policy, the Canton of Lucerne aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the canton to net zero by 2050, in line with the objectives of the federal government and the Paris Climate Agreement. Net zero means that although greenhouse gas emissions will continue to be produced in certain areas, they will be removed from the atmosphere to at least the same extent.

    Since the effects of climate change will continue to increase in the coming years – even with climate protection measures – the Canton of Lucerne intends to implement additional measures to adapt to climate change.

    The Lucerne cantonal government has set out this dual strategy and corresponding measures in its planning report “Climate and Energy Policy 2021 of the Canton of Lucerne”. in 2022, in its “Measures and Implementation Planning for Climate and Energy 2022-2026”, it showed specifically how which measures are to be implemented in the coming years.

    Measures from spatial development to education
    An overview of measures shows a total of 134 measures for climate protection and adaptation in various areas such as spatial development, buildings, mobility and transport, dealing with natural hazards, energy, waste disposal and recycling, water management, forestry, agriculture, health, industry and education.

    As concrete measures for climate protection, the Canton of Lucerne wants, for example, to adapt energy regulations for new buildings, promote environmentally friendly building materials, launch programmes for the efficient use of resources in agriculture or examine innovative approaches to waste avoidance in trade and industry.

    In order to adapt to climate change, the Canton of Lucerne is planning spatial planning measures for flood protection, raising the awareness of vulnerable population groups in the event of heat waves, promoting reforestation or legal foundations for climate-adapted settlement development.

    All measures are described in detail in the measures and implementation planning of the Canton of Lucerne.

  • “The central location is a big plus”

    “The central location is a big plus”

    Mr. Zettel, what are the goals of the Lucerne Economic Development Agency?

    We pursue three main goals. The first is exciting and good jobs for our population. The second is to generate tax revenue for the services provided by the canton and municipalities. And the third is the positive perception of Lucerne as a business location, both internally and externally.

    What are your responsibilities as Head of Corporate Development?

    As Head of Corporate Development, my main focus is on the existing companies of the Canton of Lucerne. We have just over 30,000 companies and support them in developing positively. Most of our projects with companies revolve around their location. For example, when a company grows, its needs change. In this context, questions about expansions or a change of location may arise. What are currently the biggest challenges facing companies? Issues around limited resources such as building land and commercial space often pose challenges to businesses. Another major issue is currently the shortage of skilled workers and labour. There are currently major uncertainties, such as the Ukraine war or inflation. This also includes issues such as energy prices and supply bottlenecks. These challenges show us once again how dependent we are on what happens outside Switzerland.

    What are currently the most important construction projects in the canton of Lucerne?

    The entire canton of Lucerne has a high level of construction dynamism. A lot is currently going on in the two development focal points of Lucerne North and Lucerne South. The new central cantonal administration is being built in the Smart City Lucerne North. In Lucerne South, many projects are already underway, such as the Nidfeld site or the Pilatus Arena with the Pilatus Tower, Lucerne’s tallest skyscraper. The Horw campus of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts will be expanded and renovated by the end of this decade.

    What makes Canton Lucerne an attractive place to live?

    In Canton Lucerne there is something for everyone. We have great places to live and very different regions and landscapes. We have a great city with a wonderful cultural offer. We have lakes, mountains and a tourist offer that is also available to the population. All this makes Lucerne an attractive overall package. Moreover, Lucerne is a manageable place in terms of size. You can integrate well here, we have many clubs and great events. Overall, the quality of life in Lucerne is outstanding.

    What about free and affordable housing in the
    Canton of Lucerne?

    Housing is also an issue in Lucerne. We have a vacancy rate of just under one percent. That is an average value: some communities have practically no vacant flats, in others there are definitely offers. It’s the same with prices: while housing in the city of Lucerne, for example, is relatively expensive, there are also municipalities where there are cheaper offers. At the same time, a lot is being built. That is also the most important thing at the moment: that construction projects are realised and new flats come onto the market quickly.

    Besides the city of Lucerne, which municipalities are particularly popular with companies?

    We have 80 great municipalities in the canton of Lucerne, and each municipality has its own strengths. In terms of the number of companies, the large municipalities in the agglomeration such as Emmen, Kriens, Horw and Ebikon are important locations in addition to the city of Lucerne. Sursee, the second centre of the canton, is also attractive for companies due to its location. But there are also many great companies in regions such as Willisau or Hochdorf, especially in industry. This broad and diverse economic structure is one of Lucerne’s strengths.

    Why should a company come to Lucerne instead of Zurich, Bern or Basel?

    The central location in the middle of Switzerland is a big plus. You can get to Basel or Zurich quickly, but also to Italy or Germany. In addition, we have very attractive corporate taxes, a broad educational landscape and a good skilled workforce.

    Where does Canton Lucerne stand in terms of digitalisation?

    I look at the topic primarily from the perspective of the economic structure. For example, we have many IT service providers who specialise in digitalisation. For most companies, the topic has been around for a long time. But digitisation doesn’t stop there. The transformation into a digital business model is ongoing, and new topics are constantly being added. We also take up these topics. Last year, for example, we co-founded a hub for artificial intelligence. This makes the topic of AI visible and helps companies in its application. We also support companies in networking with suitable partners for digitalisation projects.

    As an economic developer, you have a relatively young profession. What distinguishes this profession for you?

    I come into contact with an incredible number of interesting people – be it from companies, from politics or from the administration. In addition, we are at the source of new ideas and projects. Professionally, this job also has many facets: from business administration to spatial planning and real estate to politics and communication. For me, it is a privilege to be able to do this work.

  • The industry is hungry for change

    The industry is hungry for change

    The Branch was founded in 2020. What exactly is the association and what does it do?
    W.S. Seidel: The Branch is a non-profit association that develops new processes and solutions for the further development and increased productivity of the construction and real estate industry and thus promotes the transformation of the industry. The association is broadly based: on the one hand, among its members – organisations from the entire sector, private and public building owners, entrepreneurs, planners, logistics experts and IT specialists. On the other hand, at the level of federal policy: The Branch aims to contribute to the implementation of the goals set by the Federal Council in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in its 2050 Energy Strategy.

    What are the goals of The Branch?
    Y.Körber: The Branch is committed to process-related and integrated cooperation within the construction industry. The industry today is very discipline-based, sometimes almost with blinkers. People think mainly in phases, and there is a conspicuous separation between planning and execution. However, cross-disciplinary cooperation would be enormously important. By this we mean, for example, that the different players work together much more closely from the beginning, and that the execution is already taken into account much earlier in the planning. We are working intensively to establish integrated models in the market and to develop basic principles, solutions and answers. Ultimately, this should also lead to more productivity and innovation as well as better results.

    St. Zanetti: We want to use concrete projects to show that new models work. We want to build up a rich inventory of tried and tested instruments. In addition, we organise events where we discuss practice-related questions with the participants.

    How does the cooperation within the association work?
    St. Zanetti: The association is currently organised in eight working groups, which are composed dynamically and deal with different assignments in different subject areas. One of the working groups, for example, deals with the question of how to improve the handling of data in construction projects. We are currently in the process of creating templates, for example for the legally compliant exchange of data. Such templates can save a lot of effort because not every company has to reinvent the wheel.

    How will the success of The Branch be measured in the long term?
    Y. Körber: In the changes that take place in the construction industry.Körber: By the changes we can create in the industry: more innovation, more sustainability, a very concrete change in culture. We can also see that our idea is well received from the growth of the association – in the first three years we have gained over 500 members in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland and our board of directors comprises almost 20 people. This also shows that the industry is hungry for change.

    The topic of grey energy and the circular economy is currently very present. What role does it play at The Branch?
    W.S. Seidel: This is one of our core topics. Finding a better way of dealing with grey energy and making building projects more sustainable is only possible through innovation. And innovation needs collective know-how – and thus the cooperation of different disciplines at an early stage.

    St. Zanetti: In the end, you will only be able to achieve a sustainable real estate industry if you think in integrated cycles. Because only then will we know what has happened, what has been built and what emissions are produced. The sustainability goals of the Federal Council can also only be achieved with an integrated view.

    What significance does digitalisation have for The Branch?
    St. Zanetti: Only when we are on the move in an integrated way can we as an industry optimally use and exploit technologies. Digitalisation then in turn supports integrated cooperation. When using technologies, the compatibility of different software and technologies is central. For example, we are dealing with the question of how the interfaces of the systems of different players and in different phases look and how companies must select their software so that data continuity is guaranteed. We also want to set standards for the industry in this area.
    The criticism of proptech companies is often that they do not know the needs of the industry and only provide individual pieces of the puzzle.

    Y. Körber: One of the big challenges for young proptech companies is precisely this fragmented and non-integrated process view in the construction industry. This makes it difficult for start-ups to develop scalable solutions. They develop a solution for one project – and everything is supposed to look different again for the next one. The work of The Branch will also lead to standardisation in this area and make it easier for young companies to develop suitable solutions.

    One question in conclusion: Why are you personally on the board?
    St.Zanetti: I find it exciting to advance topics in a pragmatic format with people from the most diverse companies using very concrete practical examples.

    Y.Körber: I am fascinated by the fact that The Branch shapes innovation and makes it accessible to everyone. The real estate industry is an important pillar of the Swiss economy – our approach therefore serves not only at industry level, but also at national level. That’s what I like to be involved in.

    W.S.Seidel: I am on the board in order to further develop the conflict-laden situation between the various players in the construction industry, as a result of which a lot of added value is lost, into a proactive production and cooperation-promoting culture in the long term, from which everyone benefits.

    Wolf S. Seidel is a lawyer and a proven expert in construction, planning and real estate law. The practical, legal design of integrated project development models is a focus of his current studies and work. He is involved in various committees and organisations that make collaborative and process-optimised forms of realisation available in practice, particularly for Swiss building owners – both public and private.

    Yvette Körber is co-founder of several companies, including Amberg Loglay AG. She has been working successfully in the construction industry for several years and helps the industry to become more efficient with smart and digital construction logistics. She is involved in “The Branch” with the Design Build and Ordering Competence groups.

    Stefan Zanetti has spun off several spin-offs from ETH Zurich; most recently Allthings Technologies AG, an integration and orchestration platform for the real estate industry that seamlessly links numerous systems. He is involved in various committees for a permeable and seamlessly networkable software landscape in the real estate industry in Switzerland and Europe, and is also a regular lecturer on various CAS and MAS training courses.

  • Daiwa House Modular Europe names four trends that will be essential for the real estate industry in 2022

    Daiwa House Modular Europe names four trends that will be essential for the real estate industry in 2022

    Global scarcity of resources
    The prices of many building materials are currently skyrocketing. This will not change this year either – insulating materials, steel, everything will become more expensive and scarce. Construction prices are rising accordingly and threaten to make many projects unprofitable. In addition, the emerging countries in particular are currently asking for a lot of material and are buying the market empty. So the situation will continue to worsen. In the long term, only improved project planning with a greater focus on reusability can help, because circular economy and resource protection already begin in the planning phase. If entire buildings, parts of buildings and building materials can be recycled or found a subsequent use, this not only reduces the material requirement, but also contributes to greater sustainability at the same time. It is important to think big about Cradle to Cradle in the future.

    Sustainability not only through energy savings in the usage phase
    The German construction industry in particular has an urgent need to catch up when it comes to sustainability. In the Netherlands there is already a CO 2 cap per square meter of new construction. With the new government with green participation, it is quite conceivable that such a cap will also become the new guideline in Germany. In addition, disposal costs will remain a major issue and will increase proportionately. Due to the still immature framework conditions for recycling processes and the low landfill capacities, waste is becoming a further driver of construction costs. This shows how important it will be in the future to use building materials and building parts for a long time and to reuse them later – as is already possible in modular construction by refurbishing reused modules. The circular economy should therefore be the focus of the project early on in the planning.

    Digitization and AI also in construction
    In order to increase sustainability across the entire industry and to counteract the scarcity of resources, both planning and production must be optimized. Both must become more intelligent overall and network. The use of “artificial intelligence” is ideal for this. It supports construction projects, for example, through generative design, proactive problem detection and the avoidance of delays and cost overruns. But it also has to be used in production. An example: Digitizing the cut leads to less offcuts and waste. Thanks to good advance planning and the use of an AI, the remaining material from a cut can be used for further use in other future projects. This not only saves material, but also additional work steps and thus increases the efficiency of the entire production process. After all, residual materials are also resources.

    Industrialized manufacturing as in the automotive industry
    The advance of digitization within the construction industry also enables the use of semi- or fully automated processes. They reduce sources of error and make production more efficient. Affordable living space can be optimally realized with robot-supported construction processes in connection with the necessary digital management of the construction data – from planning to construction site. In view of the acute shortage of skilled workers, which will not be solved in the next few years, this development is the logical consequence. Daiwa House Modular Europe will also rely on automated processes in the already planned German gigafactory.

    These four trends should encourage the construction industry to rethink. In addition, there are a number of other changes such as a generational change in the ranks of managers as well as political and social change. Builders are now open to standardized building solutions. Modularly planned and built buildings offer a short construction time and high quality thanks to around 90 percent prefabrication in the factory. In the residential, care, hotel and education segments in particular, there are similar needs despite the different locations – so not every building has to be a prototype.