Bostudenzelg is one of the last contiguous undeveloped building zones in the city of Thun. For the site, half of which is owned by the city and half by Frutiger AG and the Bernese Pension Fund (BPK), the owners have developed a joint vision for modern living. The innovative residential project creates urgently needed living space for all generations, realising the city’s development goals in an exemplary manner.
Unique “open space” as a vision
The basis of the site development is the indicative project, which is based on the winning “open space” project that emerged from the ideas competition (SIA 142). The centrepiece is a spacious park around which the buildings are arranged in a ring, which is intended to promote a communal feeling of living “in the countryside”. The residential project attaches great importance to careful integration into the neighbourhood as well as good networking and design of the outdoor spaces, which are freed from motorised traffic.
High-quality internal development
Great importance is attached to the interaction between the buildings and the open space as well as the economical use of the land. Different building heights will bring accents and dynamism to the neighbourhood design and highlight the entrances to the new area.
An attractive and lively residential quarter
The residential project focuses on versatile and socially mixed forms of housing for all needs. In addition, the project offers space for other possible uses such as a kindergarten or daycare centre, a retirement and nursing home as well as public spaces and a neighbourhood meeting point. Commercial space and non-profit housing are also part of the plans. This mix of uses will make the residential neighbourhood more attractive and revitalise it.
Mobility and traffic concept
Great attention is being paid to aspects of sustainability and future-oriented and environmentally friendly mobility. The new development regulations call for a mobility operating concept that offers solutions to reduce the volume of traffic and thus improve the quality of life in the neighbourhood.
Involvement of the public
The appropriate involvement of the neighbourhood population and other interest groups is a major concern for the planning partners throughout the entire process. To date, the public has had the opportunity to submit their opinions and suggestions on the new development plan as part of the public consultation process. At the same time, the focus is on early and close cooperation with potential non-profit building rights holders. Further participatory development formats for the site are planned in connection with the granting of building rights and based on the participation concept.
Further steps
Following the public consultation process and the preliminary review by the canton, the new development regulations will be published.the process for allocating the urban building plots under building rights has also been started. The next step is to prepare the architectural competitions. At the same time, Frutiger AG and the Bernese Pension Fund are pressing ahead with the development of their construction project. Implementation will take place in several stages.
Conclusion
This project in Thun is an example of how careful, partnership-based and integrated planning as well as future-oriented and innovative development of a residential construction site can bring concrete added value to the surrounding neighbourhoods by ensuring a high level of urban planning quality for the buildings and outdoor spaces and ensuring appropriate involvement of the population, interest groups and partners.
Tag: immobilien
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Future-orientated living in the Bostudenzelg
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A new force in the Swiss property fund market
The Admicasa Real Estate Fund, which specialises in high-quality properties in prime locations, aims to achieve attractive entry prices, appreciation potential and high cash flow yields. In the current market environment, the fund is thus positioning itself as a promising investment opportunity.
First successful acquisitions
Just one day after its launch, the fund management company, which is supervised by FINMA, succeeded in acquiring three properties in the centre of Yverdon VD for around CHF 25 million. These properties, located directly at Yverdon railway station, comprise almost 3,000 square metres of usable space, ten flats and commercial space with first-class tenants and generate rental income of almost CHF 1.1 million.Significance of the transaction and future plans
This transaction, which generates a gross yield of 4.3 per cent, underlines the strategic expertise of Admicasa Fund Management. CEO Peter Csoport emphasises the success in difficult market conditions and points to further attractive real estate properties already in the acquisition pipeline.Network and network effect
Serge Aerne, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Admicasa Group, emphasises the importance of the comprehensive network. This enables the fund to draw on the Admicasa Group’s interdisciplinary expertise and relationships in the areas of construction, capital and pensions, which benefits investors. -
sustainable “Neue Freistatt” housing project takes shape
The “Neue Freistatt” sustainable housing project, designed by Brügger Architekten and Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur, is taking shape in Thun. The aim of the project is to develop the town centre to provide affordable living space for a broad section of the population. The plans include 260 flats, a post office, a neighbourhood centre with a café, a kindergarten and a daycare centre. The city of Thun and the property developers, GBWG Freistatt and the Municipal Pension Fund, have jointly honed the project over the past year, and the indicative project is now available, which will serve as the basis for the actual construction project.
The Municipal Pension Fund of Thun and GBWG Freistatt have agreed on the division. The pension fund will take over the buildings on Länggasse up to the Mattenstrasse-Länggasse roundabout, while GBWG Freistatt will take over the buildings along Jägerweg and all buildings on Mattenstrasse and out of town from the roundabout. Both parties are working closely together on the infrastructure, outdoor areas and car parks.
The urban development concept is based on a garden city idea with a high proportion of greenery, optimised routing and high ecological standards. . The buildings along Jägerweg and Länggasse emphasise the structure of the site. Four- to seven-storey buildings are planned here, allowing for different types of housing. A public open space between the buildings and the Lindenplatz square with a community centre form the heart of the “Neue Freistatt”.
During further development, the focus was placed on issues such as volume staggering, roof design and shading, whereby the building heights and shadows were deemed acceptable. A revised traffic concept rounds off the project. The referendum is scheduled for spring – summer 2024 and the start of construction is planned for 2025. Realisation will take place in three successive stages, with the first flats expected to be ready for occupancy from 2027. Interested parties can be kept up to date via the neuefreistatt.ch website. -
Schneider Electric moves to Konnex Baden
SPGI has let a space on the third floor of the long building at Konnex Baden to Schneider Electric. The tenant fit-out will start at the beginning of 2024, according to a press release. Schneider Electric, a specialist in digitalisation and sustainability in the energy sector, has reached an important milestone on the way to achieving its sustainability goal by moving into Konnex. Previously, large areas had already been let to Aveniq and City Pop by SPGI in Konnex Baden.
Following the total refurbishment, around 35,000 square metres of commercial space will be available at Konnex. More than 50 per cent of the space has already been let, according to the statement. The Konnex Baden has a sustainability concept with LEED Gold, Minergie certification, completely CO2-neutral energy procurement thanks to a photovoltaic system and district heating, according to the press release. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognised certification system for ecological construction.
An innovative city-within-a-city concept is to be realised in Konnex, with a range of services and amenities, including restaurants, shops for everyday needs, fitness, childcare and co-working. The Konnex building is located in the city centre, just a five-minute walk from Baden railway station.
SPGI, based in Zollikon, is a subsidiary of the Intercity Group, an independent property services provider with group companies in Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Basel, St.Gallen, Olten SO and Zug.
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Asking rents on the rise throughout Switzerland
The monthly rental index compiled by the digital property marketplace Homegate in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 123.8 points in October. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by 0.4 per cent overall, Homegate reported in a press release. A year-on-year increase of 4 per cent was observed across Switzerland.
In a year-on-year comparison, rents rose in all cantons, Homegate reports. At 7.5 per cent, they rose the most in Glarus. This was followed by Valais, the two (combined) cantons of Appenzell, Zurich, Schaffhausen and Schwyz with increases of between 6.9 and 5.3 per cent. The eight Swiss cities included in the index also recorded year-on-year increases in asking rents.
Compared to September, rents rose in most of the cantons and six of the eight cities included in the index. The experts from Immobilienmarktplatz and Kantonalbank only observed a slight decline in asking rents in the cantons of Obwalden, Nidwalden and Schwyz as well as in the cities of Geneva and St.Gallen. Within the cantons, rents rose the most in Glarus, Schaffhausen and Uri. In the cities, the highest increases were observed in Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Lugano.
Homegate is a division of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG. This combines the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.
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Rhenus Switzerland puts solar roof into operation in Schaffhausen
Rhenus Switzerland is putting a total of 2511 photovoltaic modules into operation on the roof of the logistics building in Schaffhausen, which has been fitted with a special film. This system is expected to generate around 1,100,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. According to a press release, this is roughly equivalent to the consumption of 220 households.
The building was renovated in just under four months. The solar power generated on 6700 square metres will be fed directly into the Rhenus grid. Rhenus intends to use this to operate three buildings with office, warehouse and rental space. This will ensure that the logistics areas with a total of 23 loading bays and over 15,000 pallet spaces as well as block storage and picking areas are supplied with energy.
“When it comes to sustainable logistics, we at the Rhenus Group prefer to be two steps ahead,” said Andreas Stöckli, CEO of Rhenus Alpina. “We are laying the foundations for more efficient and climate-friendly goods handling with the latest addition to our photovoltaic system in Schaffhausen and also at logistics centres in Basel and Spreitenbach. We need innovative solutions that not only benefit the environment and society, but also our customers.”
The German Rhenus Group is one of the world’s leading logistics service providers with 39,000 employees at 1120 sites and an annual turnover of EUR 8.6 billion. The company has 15 sites in Switzerland.
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Limehome comes to Switzerland
Munich-based hospitality tech company limehome is expanding into Switzerland. To enter the market, the provider of digitalised design flats has secured a project not far from Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich together with a Swiss investor group, limehome announced in a press release. Here, limehome flats are to be built on four floors in an existing building. The suites are expected to be available to book from mid-2024.
At the same time as entering the Swiss market, limehome is also expanding its presence to Italy and Greece. “We want to offer our exceptional guest experience throughout Europe in the long term,” limehome CEO Josef Vollmayr is quoted as saying in the press release. In addition to leisure tourism, the business location of Zurich is also of interest to the company as an attractive destination for business travellers.
In the long term, limehome wants to expand its offering to as many smaller cities as possible. To this end, the company is currently looking for new projects in over 500 locations across Europe, explains Ricky Bichel, Head of International Expansion at limehome. “We are already holding the first promising talks with partners in Switzerland, for example.”
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SSF presents ESG guidelines for property investments
SSF ‘s new publication provides guidance on how to integrate sustainability factors into direct property investments. According to a press release, the SSF Spotlight publication entitled Sustainable Real Estate Investments offers concrete instructions on how investment decisions can be harmonised with the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria for sustainable management. It is also intended to provide orientation in the diverse landscape of labels, benchmarking and monitoring tools. The publication was produced in collaboration with the ZHAW School of Management and Law at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences(ZHAW).
SSF points out that residential and commercial buildings are responsible for almost a quarter of Switzerland’s CO2 emissions. And it emphasises that incorporating sustainability into real estate brings numerous benefits: higher rental income, lower vacancy rates, improved operational efficiency of real estate investments and portfolios and attractive economic positioning.
“With Switzerland now legally committed to the net zero target, it is crucial for property investors to develop clear strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of their portfolio,” SSF CEO Sabine Döbeli is quoted as saying. In addition, the integration of ESG factors into risk analyses can reduce risks, increase resilience to environmental and market fluctuations and contribute to a more stable investment environment.
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Prices for condominiums on the rise
Prices for residential property developed differently in October, the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group reports in a press release on the current Swiss Real Estate Offer Index. The SMG Swiss Marketplace Group brings together the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.
Specifically, prices for condominiums rose by 0.7 per cent in October after a pause in September. The experts at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group have observed a year-on-year increase in prices of 2.1 per cent. By contrast, prices for single-family homes were 0.3 per cent lower in October than in September. In a year-on-year comparison, prices were 0.2 per cent lower.
“The continued growth in asking prices for condominiums is remarkable considering that the supply of available condominium units has increased significantly since the beginning of the year,” said Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, in the press release. “The housing market has also seen a slight increase in the supply of existing properties in recent months, which has contributed to the stabilisation of prices for single-family homes.”
Asking rents rose by 0.4 per cent in October compared to the previous month. A year-on-year increase of 2.7 per cent was observed. The experts at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group attribute the increase to the continuing shortage of supply in the centres.
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Memox acquires 2.8 million euros
Proptech company Memox has successfully closed a Series A financing round, raising €2.8 million in capital. According to a media release, the financing round was led by Swiss Prime Site and 41 Group as well as other key players from the real estate, technology and investment banking sectors. Zurich-based Memox intends to use the sum raised to expand its positions in the so-called DACH region.
Memox specialises in the design of meeting and conference rooms as well as the organisation of conferences in the business world. In doing so, experience as well as innovations after the Corona pandemic have been incorporated into Memox’s offers. Following the successful launch of 14 new rooms in the first half of 2023, Memox’s portfolio now comprises a total of 31 rooms in six locations in three cities. Memox is now active in Zurich, Basel and Frankfurt. The company’s operations currently generate annual revenues of €7 million, Memox announced in the statement.
“Memox is already preparing a second round of financing to fund further market entries in Germany and Switzerland,” Dirk Reiner, CEO at Memox, is quoted as saying in the release. “With the current trends in the working world and in the real estate environment, Memox is ideally positioned to conquer the market.”
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PriceHubble acquires WhenFresh
PriceHubble, according to its own information the European market leader for performance data solutions in the field of real estate and finance, has acquired London-based WhenFresh ltd. Acquired. According to a media release, the wholly owned merger of WhenFresh into PriceHubble’s portfolio will lead to the expansion of its leading market position.
WhenFresh previously provided data and decision systems to banks, insurers, the public sector and other Big Data users and is a leading specialist in residential property data in the UK. The company provides access to over 200 proprietary, private and public datasets. WhenFresh’s solutions and expertise now enable PriceHubble’s clientele to make faster, more informed and more cost-effective decisions around property risk.
“PriceHubble has quickly established itself as the leading B2B SaaS provider of real estate performance data solutions for banks, insurance companies and asset managers globally,” Dr Stefan Heitmann, founder and executive chairman of PriceHubble, was quoted as saying in the statement. “Seeing our sixth acquisition successfully completed and our unique capabilities extended into the largest banking and real estate market in Europe and beyond fills us with respect and joy in equal measure. We are exceptionally pleased to welcome the WhenFresh team.”
WhenFresh Ltd will become a wholly owned subsidiary of PriceHubble UK, led by Mark Cunningham, co-founder and director of WhenFresh. Alan Dean, Co-Founder and Technical Director of WhenFresh, will become Group Innovation Director of PriceHubble.
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Im Proptech-Bereich von PriceHubble erfolgreich übernommen
Die Übernahme ist bereits die zweite Akquisition von PriceHubble in Grossbritannien innerhalb eines Jahres, nach der Übernahme von Dataloft im März 2023. Durch die Integration der Produkt- und Datenstärke stärkt das Unternehmen seine Position als lokaler Marktführer und wird zum unangefochtenen globalen Spitzenreiter bei Performance-Datenlösungen, die einen Mehrwert für die Banken-, Versicherungs-, Vermögensverwaltungs- und Immobilienbranche weltweit bieten.
Im Jahr 2012 gegründet, bietet WhenFresh Zugang zu über 200 erstklassigen, proprietären, privaten und öffentlichen Datensätzen über eine einfache API-Integration an, einschliesslich wichtiger ESG-bezogener Informationen. Die Lösungen ermöglichen es Kunden, schnellere und fundiertere Entscheidungen im Zusammenhang mit Immobilienrisiken zu treffen.
Dr. Stefan Heitmann, Gründer und Vorstand, äusserte sich erfreut über die erfolgreiche Übernahme: «Wir haben uns als führender B2B SaaS-Anbieter von Performance-Datenlösungen im Immobilienbereich für Banken, Versicherungen und Vermögensverwalter weltweit etabliert. Die Vollendung unserer sechsten Übernahme und die Erweiterung unserer einzigartigen Fähigkeiten im grössten Banken- und Immobilienmarkt Europas und darüber hinaus erfüllen uns mit Stolz.»
Alexis Radjabi, Vertriebsvorstand Westeuropa, betonte die Bedeutung der Zusammenarbeit mit dem Team: «Durch die Verschmelzung unserer Lösungen mit dem Fachwissen im Bankwesen, bei Versicherungen, in Versorgungsunternehmen und im öffentlichen Sektor sowie der Expertise im Bereich Marktinformationen für Wohnimmobilien können wir einzigartige Performance-Datenlösungen entwickeln und unsere Position als europäischer Marktführer weiter stärken.»
Die übernommene Firma wird eine hundertprozentige Tochtergesellschaft von PriceHubble UK unter der Leitung von Mark Cunningham, Mitgründer und Direktor. Cunningham äusserte sich begeistert: «Wir sind sehr aufgeregt, Teil der expandierenden Familie zu werden. Die Zusammenführung unseres umfangreichen Immobiliendatenbestands, unserer technologischen Exzellenz und unseres datenwissenschaftlichen Know-hows wird es uns ermöglichen, die Produkt- und Serviceentwicklung zu beschleunigen und unser Geschäft im grossen Massstab auszubauen.»
Alan Dean, Mitgründer und Technischer Direktor, wird Group Innovation Director und wird die Wachstumsagenda des Unternehmens in Grossbritannien und international weiter vorantreiben. Dean betonte: «Diese Übernahme eröffnet beiden Unternehmen die Möglichkeit, ihre Technologien zu teilen, um die Entwicklung neuer Produkte zu beschleunigen. Sie bietet eine enorme Chance, unseren Erfolg in Grossbritannien als Teil der Group auf den internationalen Markt zu bringen.»
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Ariv opens second location in Cham
Ariv has signed a contract with HIAG Immobilien AG to rent around 3550 square metres in the new CHAMA quarter in Cham. The coliving provider, which is part of Aquilas Company Builder AG, plans to operate 71 modern flats here from next spring. After one year of successful operation in Basel, Ariv has thus opened its second location, writes the company in a corresponding press release. No details are given there about the rental price.
“We are delighted to be working with Ariv and welcome them to Quartier CHAMA,” David Bendler, Head of Asset Management at HIAG, is quoted as saying in the statement. “The choice of Ariv underlines the attractiveness of our site and confirms our vision of establishing a modern and versatile quarter in Cham.”
Ariv’s concept envisages fully furnished residential units complemented by a communal area offering a range of activities. The target group is primarily companies and private individuals looking for accommodation for a limited period of time. “The market in the Zug region is very dynamic and developing rapidly,” explains Ariv CEO Eva White. “The numerous international companies that are based in the region and recruit internationally, among other things, represent an interesting target clientele.” After the successful start in Basel and the new location in Cham, the company is currently putting out feelers in other directions. In particular, it is looking for suitable properties in cities such as Zurich, Lausanne and Geneva.
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Steiner AG wants to build 13 residential buildings in Wollerau
Steiner AG has submitted the guideline project and the design plan for the Unter Erlen residential development. According to a statement by the real estate developer on LinkedIn, the project comprises 13 staggered buildings on a slope. All of the 62 Minergie-standard flats with 2.5 to 5.5 rooms planned in the terrace houses will have an unobstructed view of Lake Zurich.
Seraina Investment Foundation, the investment foundation of Steiner Investment Foundation, acquired the property in 2021. It was established in 2016 as an independent and self-managed investment foundation and renamed Seraina Invest at the end of 2022. It has a portfolio of over 45 projects and an investment volume of over 1.4 billion Swiss francs.
Together with Seraina Invest and the Meister family as neighbours in the development perimeter, Steiner AG invited tenders for a study. Finally, seven teams were invited to prepare their designs for this challenging area. The evaluation committee decided in favour of the vision of NUSUS Architekten and Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur.
The public plan submission for the Unter Erlen design plan has been running since 6 October 2023 in the municipality of Wollerau. Landowners, developers and planners hope to be able to start construction of the buildings and flats in 2028. The construction costs are estimated at around 50 million Swiss francs.
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Ina Invest receives seal of approval for sustainability
The real estate company Ina Invest has been named Sector Leader in the “Diversified” development portfolio class for the entire European region according to the GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) rating system, according to a media release. The rating is awarded once a year to real estate and infrastructure companies, funds and investments with special sustainability performance.
CEO Marc Pointet, quoted in the press release, sees the quality mark as proof of the sustainability strategy. “GRESB Sector Leaders embody the industry’s pioneers on the path to net zero energy consumption.” The success, he says, is due to Ina Invest’s “strong partners”. Implenia, in particular, has contributed to new benchmarks in sustainability with its “integrated real estate and construction services”. Ina Invest is a spin-off of Implenia.
According to the release, the GRESB ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) benchmark has grown to a gross value of more than $8.8 trillion in the current financial year and includes 2084 real estate companies, 687 infrastructure assets and 172 infrastructure funds.
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Schindler receives award for MetaCore platform
Schindler MetaCore receives the Award of Excellence 2023 from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The award is presented at the conference of the same name, where Schindler presents its new reprogrammable lift system. This year, the conference will be held in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur from 16 to 21 October. Schindler is a Platinum Sponsor of this event, titled Humanizing High Density – People, Nature & the Urban Realm, which is about socially responsible densification of urban housing.
MetaCore is an innovative solution for repurposing buildings. “When it comes to environmental compatibility, rapid market entry and investment costs, the conversion of existing buildings represents the most sustainable approach to urban development of the future,” Schindler explains in a media release. Architects, project developers and building owners can use the range of services, products and easily reprogrammable lift systems offered in this platform to develop solutions that seamlessly combine living, leisure and work in a single location, according to the statement.
By eliminating the need for demolition and new construction, it can also reduce the carbon footprint. “The biggest benefit is that we are taking the most sustainable approach to change by converting existing buildings,” Florian Trösch, Head of Transit Management & Digital Solutions at Schindler, is quoted as saying.
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Realiste adds five Swiss cities to its real estate platform
Dubai-based proptech company Realiste has integrated five Swiss cities into its global online platform. According to its media release, Realiste aims to digitise the real estate market of the most important cities on a global level. This is to facilitate analysis and transactions for investors.
“We have just added Tel Aviv and five new cities in Switzerland to our platform,” CEO and founder Alex Galtin is quoted as saying. His company has thus reached “the big milestone of 100 cities”. Realiste’s “Global real estate price index” lists Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne and Zurich.
The artificial intelligence company, which specialises in real estate solutions, says it has grown exponentially in the past ten months, from just ten cities at the beginning of the year to over 100 by the end of the year. Now, users can view data on residential properties around the world on the Realiste platform. Realiste is expanding especially in real estate strongholds and established markets.
So far, only flats in Dubai and Bali can be booked directly via the platform. However, the company is optimistic about further development. After all, it has set itself the goal of creating the first complete online real estate experience.
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Relocatees are looking for a long-term home
Extending a family is the most common reason for moving in Switzerland, explains the Zurich University of Applied Sciences(ZHAW) in a press release. It has investigated the relocation behaviour of the Swiss population in a study conducted jointly with the Federal Office of Housing, the Fédération Romande Immobilière, the Swiss Homeowners’ Association and Raiffeisen Switzerland. According to the results, around 45 percent of 1094 respondents in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland are currently considering a move.
“In general, housing satisfaction is high among the Swiss population,” co-project leader Holger Hohgardt of the Institute of Wealth and Asset Management at ZHAW is quoted as saying in the statement. According to the study’s findings, people are kept at their place of residence in particular by their spatial and social environment. “People in Switzerland move on average 5 to 6 times in their lifetime and want a long-term home,” Hohgardt explains.
An increase in living space or a change from renting to owning their own home were most frequently cited as reasons for a change by respondents who were willing to move. Behind the desire for more living space is often starting a family or expanding. Conversely, the departure of children or retirement are rarely associated with a move. Only a minority is prepared to give up home ownership. According to co-project leader Selina Lehner from the ZHAW School of Management and Law, the respondents probably find it difficult “to part with what they already have, even though they recognise that their housing needs have changed”.
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Study on the role of spatial planning in rising housing costs
The study “Causes of rising housing costs in Switzerland with a focus on spatial planning” makes it clear that spatial planning plays a moderating role in the real estate market: it has an impact on construction activity and thus influences housing costs. The increase in demand for housing, on the other hand, is a driving factor in rising housing costs. Among other things, the downsizing of households, population growth and rising individual housing consumption play a role here.
Spatial planning can have an influence here. It limits the availability of building land and zoning capacities. In this way, it controls how flexibly the supply of housing can adapt to changing demand. If spatial planning is too strict, the supply can react less flexibly to the strong increase in demand. This can lead to higher housing costs in the long run.
Internal development as a solution
However, one of the tasks of spatial planning is to limit urban sprawl and protect the landscape. The study identifies inner development as an instrument that allows both the protection of the landscape and an increase in the supply of housing. The study also shows that rezonings have a price-dampening effect in areas where the utilisation of building zones is already high. Upzoning is defined as the expansion of possible uses within a building zone. This is therefore an effective means and, if used in a targeted manner, can have an optimal effect. The study results also suggest a connection between high housing costs and high planning and process costs. Lengthy approval and objection procedures also contribute to increased costs.
Conference on housing and spatial development
As part of the Swiss Housing Days 2023, which will take place from 3 to 7 November 2023 in Biel, a panel of experts will discuss on 6 November how internal development can be shaped so that more affordable housing is created in the process. More details and registration at www.bwo.admin.ch.
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New, diverse urban quarter in Wetzikon
SISKA Immobilien plans to replace the existing property with a building with public-oriented uses on the ground floors and flats above. The next step will be to adopt the urban development model this autumn. Based on this, a private partial design plan will be drawn up as a basis for the project planning of the centre superstructure over two plots. Completion of the residential and commercial building at the western gateway to the city centre is planned for around 2029.
The Unterwetzikon district of Wetzikon is undergoing a dynamic transformation and growth phase and is developing into an attractive location for housing, utilities, commerce and services.
Wetzikon is an attractive place to live thanks to its good S-Bahn connections to Zurich and Rapperswil and the surrounding unique recreational area of the Zurich Oberland. The planned development will further enhance the attractiveness of the neighbourhood around Wetzikon railway station and become part of a new, diverse urban district with a high quality of life.
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Admicasa establishes fund management company and launches its own real estate fund
The management plans to launch another real estate fund by the beginning of 2024. This is aimed at municipalities that are involved in the construction of public facilities such as schools, hospitals and homes and aim to build affordable housing.
With this step, the Admicasa Group is broadening its horizons: Admicasa develops, realises and manages real estate, with the management segment targeting institutional investors in particular. With the fund management segment, Admicasa is now also targeting a wider circle of investors.
Beat Langenbach will take over as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Admicasa Fondsleitung AG. The accomplished entrepreneur is the founder of a successful brokerage company and former Chairman of the Admicasa Group.
Beat Langenbach will be assisted by three high-calibre members of the Board of Directors: Professor Michael Trübestein is head of the Real Estate Management course at the University of Lucerne and holds various directorships in the real estate industry. Thomas Bergmann has many years of experience as an entrepreneur in the real estate industry
In the real estate industry. And Walter Keller brings two decades of experience in the fund industry, including as Head of Custodian Bank at BNP Paribas.
With Peter Csoport, Admicasa was able to gain a proven investment and real estate specialist who will lead the operational business of the fund management as CEO.
The Swiss financial centre now has 53 licensed fund management companies. A majority of these are large banks and insurance companies. The new Admicasa Fondsleitung AG belongs to the exclusive group of medium-sized and independent fund management companies. “Now a broad range of investors can participate in the added value we create in the real estate industry with creative solutions,” says Serge Aerne, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Admicasa Group. “We want to shake up the market.”
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Who is a PropTech?
Who is a PropTech? Levent Künzi and I don’t see eye to eye. Whereas Levent is promoting his company everywhere as a PropTech, I reject this classification. Properti is a broker who uses digital tools. I am probably the only one in the scene who sees it that way. But sometimes you have to swim against the tide.
The word from inside Properti is that they have another, larger capital requirement. At one point, the core business, the sale of real estate, is said to be far from great. I went to the Properti, Betterhomes and RE/MAX websites to try and find out the number of properties advertised. Properti is way behind in sales with 452 properties (Betterhomes = 1,186, RE/MAX = 1,586). Properti is also behind Betterhomes with 571 properties to rent (RE/MAX = 126).
According to its own information, Properti employs 160 experts. If they were to earn, say, 4,000 francs a month, Properti would need over 600,000 francs for wages alone. And this per month. Would the commissions from the sales be enough? More than 70 % of the properties advertised are between 0 and 1,000,000. Properti is also sporty about commission, which according to his own website is 2 % (although this is supposed to include extras).
Properti is just as aggressive when it comes to management. It is also reported from an internal source that Properti has struck especially with condominium owners. However, the necessary staff is lacking to be able to handle all mandates professionally. It seems that Properti is in a difficult spiral.
Properti has a top-class board of directors and well-known names on its advisory board. So the broker does not seem to lack know-how. Looking at the board of directors, Christoph Tonini stands out. He is CEO of the Swiss Marketplace Group SMG. The real estate industry is already dissatisfied with SMG. This personal connection does not make things any better. As a precaution, the portrait does not mention Tonini’s current job. One doesn’t want to be too transparent.
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Despite all headwinds: demand for single-family homes remains robust
The volume of advertisements for single-family homes, which declined by 17 per cent in the previous period (Q3 2021 – Q2 2022), recovered in the current period (Q3 2022 – Q2 2023) with eleven per cent growth. At the same time, the average tendering time also increased from 60 to 66 days to the same extent. Despite the strongest increase in mortgage interest rates in the last 30 years, demand for single-family homes proved to be quite robust in the reporting period. This is shown by the current online home market analysis of the real estate portals Homegate and ImmoScout24 in cooperation with the Swiss Homeowners’ Association and the Swiss Real Estate Institute based on the evaluated advertisements of several well-known real estate portals.
For Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, the results of the current study once again show how robust the single-family home market in Switzerland is overall, despite the significant rise in mortgage rates. “The increased supply and the longer listing period are giving searchers more choice and more time to think, as well as a better overall chance of finding the right property,” says Waeber. However, the best offer is of little use if the question of financing becomes increasingly challenging, Waeber comments on the new analysis.
Listing duration up in many places, demand down
The biggest changes in listing duration were seen in the eight regions of northwestern Switzerland (plus 51 per cent) and central Switzerland (plus 48 per cent). And even in the “hotspots” of Zurich and central Switzerland, sellers with a listing period need more patience than before to sell a single-family home. In French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, on the other hand, the listing period remained at practically the same level as in the previous period. Nevertheless, in Ticino, with a new average of 136 days, it takes more than three times as long to find a buyer as in the Zurich region with a new average of 42 days.The combination of the change in the duration of the advertisements and the number of advertisements allows conclusions to be drawn about the development of demand. Although demand in Switzerland as a whole has remained robust, there are considerable differences between the eight regions analysed. The regions of eastern and northwestern Switzerland in particular suffered the greatest slumps in demand. In the region of eastern Switzerland, for example, sellers had to advertise their single-family homes 9 days longer than before (plus 21 per cent). At the same time, almost the same number of single-family homes were advertised as in the previous period (minus 1 per cent).
Rising demand primarily in high-income municipalities
A closer look at the different types of municipalities also shows that demand for owner-occupied homes is rising in six out of eight regions in the high-income municipalities, while it is declining in the majority of suburban municipalities. This majority decline could be related, among other things, to a comparatively higher share of debt financing in these municipalities. Therefore, a rise in interest rates hits these municipalities harder than the high-income municipalities, where, for example, less debt capital is required for the purchase of a home thanks to advance inheritance and thus also less debt-financed funds.Peter Ilg, head of the Swiss Real Estate Institute, which analysed the data, draws the following conclusion: “Perhaps the risk of a real estate bubble was simply overestimated in the past. While in comparable countries such as Sweden home prices have already corrected noticeably due to the interest rate hikes, in Switzerland there is still no sign of a weakening in the demand for single-family homes. And this despite the fact that the mortgage debt of Swiss households is among the highest in the world, at 140 percent of total economic output in 2020, Ilg concludes.
About the Online Home Market Analysis
The Online Home Market Analysis is a semi-annual analysis that looks at the market for condominiums and single-family homes on an alternating basis. With the eight major regions analysed, it covers the whole of Switzerland and at the same time provides information on the development of supply and demand for owner-occupied homes, differentiated by region and broken down by market segment.Homegate and ImmoScout24 as well as the Swiss Homeowners Association publish the analysis in collaboration with the Swiss Real Estate Institute of the HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich. The latest edition analyses single-family home listings for the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, which originate from several well-known real estate portals and thus comprise the majority of all online listings during the study period in Switzerland.
Here you can find the complete media release on the current Online Home Market Analysis, including further graphics and detailed reports on the individual regions. -
Digital building starts in the mind
L’edilizia digitale – soprattutto con l’aiuto del Building Information Modelling (BIM) – sta sfidando molti processi collaudati nel settore edile. La costruzione digitale avviene innanzitutto nella mente e sul computer, dove viene creato un modello virtuale del progetto.
Sulla base di questa immagine 3D molto dettagliata del futuro edificio, si possono già prendere molte decisioni ed eliminare potenziali problemi. I sostenitori di questo nuovo tipo di costruzione, supportato digitalmente, promettono guadagni di efficienza e di qualità, una riduzione degli errori di costruzione e una logistica di costruzione molto semplificata.
Edilizia digitale: un piano in 6 punti semplifica il ripensamento
Tuttavia, il passaggio dall’edilizia analogica a quella digitale è tutt’altro che semplice. Il docente di BFH Adrian Wildenauer lo sa per esperienza personale. Come ingegnere civile, conosce tutti gli aspetti dell’industria edile, dall’acciaio per armature alla modellazione BIM.
Per le FFS, ha sviluppato un piano in 6 punti per tutto il settore, che intende servire come base per ripensare le operazioni di costruzione da analogiche a digitali. A suo avviso, è fondamentale che tutti gli attori coinvolti nell’edilizia siano coinvolti e facciano progredire il settore insieme.
Chiarire l’obiettivo e la tabella di marcia
Nell’edilizia digitale, le basi, le tabelle di marcia, i modelli e l’immagine target sono disponibili a tutti i partecipanti fin dall’inizio. Ciò consente alle imprese di costruzione, ai fornitori, agli architetti e ai clienti di coordinarsi molto prima della cerimonia di posa del terreno e di eliminare i possibili conflitti e le fonti di errore in una fase iniziale. “Dobbiamo coinvolgere tutti i partecipanti alla catena del valore il più presto possibile”, sottolinea Adrian Wildenauer.
Comunicare con il linguaggio
I progetti di costruzione digitale richiedono che tutti parlino la stessa lingua. L’industria ottiene questo risultato lavorando ancora di più con standard validi. A partire dai termini rilevanti dell’edilizia digitale e del Building Information Modelling, agli standard della Società Svizzera degli Ingegneri e degli Architetti (sia) o del Centro di Competenza per gli Standard nell’Industria Edile e Immobiliare (crb), fino allo scambio con le associazioni e le società del settore: soprattutto all’inizio, è importante che tutti i soggetti coinvolti si capiscano. Il Glossario nazionale sviluppato congiuntamente, in cui i termini sono stati definiti congiuntamente, aiuta anche in questo caso.
Comunicare con il modello di dati
Non solo le persone coinvolte dipendono da una comunicazione funzionante, ma anche i sistemi coinvolti. Poiché un modello virtuale del progetto edilizio è centrale per l’edilizia digitale, non c’è modo di evitare lo sviluppo congiunto di un modello di dati consolidato per gli edifici. In questo modo è possibile scambiare facilmente informazioni dal progettista al capomastro. “Trattare i dati è il nostro nuovo linguaggio comune”, spiega Adrian Wildenauer, “dobbiamo impararlo”
Riutilizzare i componenti
Un vantaggio dell’edilizia digitale è che non si deve necessariamente reinventare la ruota – o addirittura il progetto edilizio – per ogni progetto. Dopo tutto, molti elementi di una costruzione tornano in uso con ogni progetto. Invece di progettarli, dimensionarli e testarli da zero con ogni progetto, come in precedenza, è sufficiente utilizzare oggetti edili standardizzati. Ad esempio, prima di progettare una porta, ne costruisce un’immagine digitale standardizzata. Questa contiene tutti gli attributi necessari, dalla scelta del materiale alle dimensioni del cilindro, dalle larghezze e altezze delle ante alle strisce di tenuta. Grazie agli oggetti di costruzione standardizzati, le aziende risparmiano tempo nella progettazione di tali oggetti ed evitano errori. Affinché questo funzioni, le aziende devono avere un facile accesso a una raccolta di tali componenti digitali.
Raccogliere l’esperienza
La conoscenza nel settore edile è spesso ancora trasmessa in modo molto tradizionale, dal maestro artigiano esperto direttamente agli apprendisti sul cantiere. Nell’edilizia digitale, questa conoscenza, che oggi non è tangibile o documentata, può essere raccolta sistematicamente in cantiere e utilizzata per la formazione. Ma anche le esperienze con l’edilizia digitale stessa possono essere registrate e gli strumenti e i processi digitali possono essere testati per la loro idoneità. Se la gestione digitale dell’edilizia porta a un migliore trasferimento delle conoscenze, il settore è sulla strada giusta, ne è convinto Adrian Wildenauer: “Solo se condividiamo le conoscenze possiamo avere successo insieme”
Comunicare le basi dell’ordine
Molti processi nell’edilizia digitale culminano in un ordine, che si tratti della prenotazione di un servizio o dell’acquisto di materiali. Un grande vantaggio della costruzione digitale è che i dati necessari per gli ordini vengono registrati il prima possibile nel modello virtuale del progetto. Tuttavia, affinché qualcosa accada in cantiere, tutti coloro che sono coinvolti nel progetto devono sapere come ottenere e utilizzare i dati degli ordini dal sistema. La formazione e la documentazione adeguate per i dipendenti sono quindi obbligatorie.
In pratica, diventa chiaro che l’edilizia digitale richiede una cooperazione digitale comune. I sistemi e l’infrastruttura IT sono importanti, ma solo se gli architetti, gli ingegneri civili e le aziende partner sono disposti a lavorare insieme in tutte le aree di competenza. La costruzione digitale non inizia sullo schermo, ma nella mente degli esperti.
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Halter realises residential development in Rothenburg
A project team led by Schlierer Halter AG will construct two identical buildings in Rothenburg, according to a media release. There will be 16 flats with 3.5 rooms, eight flats with 4.5 rooms and six flats with 2.5 rooms. The flats with 2.5 rooms will be rented out as retirement flats. The complex will also have adjoining rooms and cellars as well as a parking garage with 31 parking spaces.
Following the recent ground-breaking ceremony, Halter AG is aiming to complete work on the building shell in the first half of 2024. The flats should then be ready for occupancy at the beginning of 2025. The developer is Lucerne-based Caranto AG.
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Geilinger acquisisce la divisione facciate da Ernst Schweizer
Ernst Schweizer AG, con sede a Hedingen, sta vendendo la sua divisione facciate a Geilinger AG con effetto dal 1° gennaio 2024. Secondo l’azienda, Geilinger continuerà a gestire i reparti di vendita, tecnologia, installazione e assistenza come filiale nell’attuale sede di Hedingen. In cambio, assumerà 40 dipendenti di Ernst Schweizer. In futuro, le facciate stesse saranno prodotte presso la sede di Geilinger a Winterthur. “Il core business di Geilinger sono i progetti di facciate”, afferma Harry Bienz, amministratore delegato di Geilinger AG, nella dichiarazione. “Soprattutto nel settore delle facciate solari, Geilinger vuole partecipare alla comprovata esperienza di Ernst Schweizer AG”
Ernst Schweizer parteciperà quindi a Geilinger come azionista di minoranza in futuro. Samuel Schweizer vede la vendita della business unit come un passo importante per la sua azienda. “L’attività di progetto, estremamente complessa in termini di processi e procedure, troverà una nuova casa in Geilinger, garantendo così la continuità per i clienti e i dipendenti”, ha dichiarato il CEO di Ernst Schweizer AG.
In futuro, Ernst Schweizer si concentrerà sul business dei prodotti e dei fornitori, in forte crescita. Questo è composto da quattro unità di business. Ernst Schweizer continuerà ad operare come fornitore di sistemi per finestre in legno/metallo e pareti pieghevoli e scorrevoli, come fornitore di cassette per le lettere e per i pacchi e come fornitore di sistemi solari in Europa. L’azienda continuerà a dare lavoro a più di 450 persone.
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EPFL and uHoo want to improve indoor environmental quality
EPFL is working on better indoor environmental quality (IEQ) standards as part of the EU INPERSO project. The aim is to develop a new approach to IEQ assessment that can then be used across Europe. This should help in particular with the refurbishment of residential and educational buildings.
Sarah Crosby, EPFL researcher and leader of the project, and her team have evaluated several solution providers who could supply the necessary environmental data for the project. According to a media release, they have now chosen the company uHoo from Singapore as their partner. The company can measure 13 indoor parameters with various sensors and display the data on a digital platform.
Dustin Jefferson Onghanseng, CEO and co-founder of uHoo, welcomes the collaboration with EPFL. “Our solution is designed to make a significant impact on the built environment by raising awareness for a healthier, greener and more conscious approach to indoor spaces,” he explains.
According to the company, uHoo’s environmental platform is used by private and public organisations worldwide for commercial, residential, industrial, healthcare and airport buildings. In addition to its headquarters in Singapore, the company also has locations in Hong Kong and the USA.
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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.
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Zurich is developing into a circular city
Holcim, one of the world’s largest producers and recyclers of building materials, and Bloomberg Media see Zurich in a good position in their second Circular Cities Barometer. Among the 30 largest cities in the world, the city is making the transition from a linear to a circular economy at the fifth fastest pace. London leads the 2023 ranking, followed by Seattle, Copenhagen, Paris and Zurich.
“This barometer aims to drive the circular economy by providing unique insights into the world’s most innovative circular cities,” Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch is quoted as saying in a Holcim media release. And it aims to “inspire city leaders around the world”.
The barometer rates cities based on a proprietary algorithm according to the circularity of their buildings, systems, lifestyles and leadership. Broken down by indicators, Zurich tops the barometer for circular living. Montreal and Seattle are the top performers for circular systems. London leads the two categories of circular economy and circular buildings.
Among the key findings of this year’s Barometer is that cities in the Global South such as Bogotá, Buenos Aires and Quezon City are increasingly joining city organisations to participate in the international discussion. And when financial incentives are available, such as from the World Bank, cities are more willing to participate in circular initiatives and partnerships.
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Ecopark Tivoli opens roof garden
KIRKBI AG, based in Baar ZG, provides both office and commercial space with Ecopark Tivoli. The building in Spreitenbach has been planned sustainably from the very beginning. District heating and solar energy, for example, ensure the CO2-neutral operation of the building. And now the roof garden has also been opened on an area of 2500 square metres, according to a media release.
The tenants can use the roof garden for recreation. In addition to numerous seating areas, there is also a barbecue area and a sports field. But beyond that, the roof garden is also intended to be “our contribution against species loss and insect mortality in Switzerland”, according to the real estate company. Wild bees and butterflies have already been attracted. And for the coming year, those involved hope for the use of a nesting box by a pair of kestrels.