immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: immobilien

  • Studio DIA allowed to renovate the Swiss embassy in London

    Studio DIA allowed to renovate the Swiss embassy in London

    The Bernese architectural office Studio DIA has the right to renovate and restructure the Swiss embassy in central London. With its Wellington project, the company won the one-stage project competition in the open procedure of the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics in Bern, according to a press release .

    Accordingly, one of the most important requirements was "to meet the demands of the different users with their different areas of responsibility". In addition to the embassy, the ambassador's apartment and other apartments are located in the partly listed building complex in the district of Marylebone. Switzerland Tourism and other organizations also use the house. The embassy has been in operation for more than 50 years.

    According to the information, Wellington convinced with a clear separation of the various areas of use according to their functions. Above all, the outer facades are to be preserved, which means that the effort for the redesign is kept within limits and the necessary degree of sustainability is given.

    All entries to the competition can be seen from August 19 to 30, 2022 in an exhibition at Fellerstrasse 15a in Bern from Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Bümpliz.

  • Luxury hotel Mandarin Oriental Palace newly opened in Lucerne

    Luxury hotel Mandarin Oriental Palace newly opened in Lucerne

    The former Hotel Palace Luzern reopens as the Mandarin Oriental Palace on September 24 after extensive renovations. The international hotel group Mandarin Oriental Hotel from Hong Kong operates the building on the shore of Lake Lucerne as a luxurious 5-star hotel, according to a press release . It then has 136 rooms and suites.

    Accordingly, the company renovated the listed Belle Époque building together with the Lucerne architects Iwan Bühler Architekten and the London-based interior designers Jestico + Whiles .

    "The breathtaking overall result is also a homage to the Swiss entrepreneur Franz Josef Bucher, who realized his dream of a Mediterranean retreat by building the house in 1906," says the press release. Accordingly, the surrounding landscape and Mediterranean colors are reflected in the interior design.

    The hotel has two suites with panoramic roof terraces from which guests have a 360-degree view of the lake and the Alps. There is also a 133 square meter presidential suite and numerous guest rooms with a balcony or terrace.

    The guests are fed in one of four restaurants, for which the chef Giland Peled, who has been awarded a Michelin star, is responsible. Two of the restaurants will open a little later, in the first quarter of 2023.

    In addition to a spa area, the hotel also offers spacious rooms such as the Salon Alpine with original Belle Époque decor from 1906 and the Edelweiss ballroom with a view of the lake and garden for celebrations, conferences and other events.

  • Empa has a share in the German Civil Engineering Award 2022

    Empa has a share in the German Civil Engineering Award 2022

    Experts from Empa and its spin-off Carbo-Link AG have developed a global innovation that was used for the first time in the construction of a new network arch bridge in the Degerloch district of Stuttgart. The jury has now awarded it the German Engineering Prize 2022 . She justified her decision with the fact that "the network arch bridge with carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic cables with carbon hangers as an innovation is an extremely successful example of the art of engineering worldwide and provides formative answers to current questions in the construction industry".

    The well-known German State Prize, endowed with 30,000 euros, honors "outstanding innovative engineering structures" that "combine building culture, climate protection and sustainability". This year it goes to the international engineering office schlaich bergerman partner ( sbp ) with headquarters in Stuttgart. It implemented the "delicate light rail bridge" from the first draft to the finished structure – "with the active support of experts from Empa and the company Carbo-Link AG in Fehraltorf", according to an Empa statement .

    The idea of replacing the originally planned steel hangers with prestressed carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) hangers that had never been used before came from the sbp team. A team from Empa's Structural Engineering department headed by Masoud Motavalli began experiments with this new material for the Stuttgart bridge in 2016. Empa expert Urs Meier, a pioneer in CFRP research, and Peter Richner, today Empa's deputy director, handed her over to her in 2017 final report to Stuttgart. In 2018, the responsible approval authority gave the green light for the pioneering project.

  • Switzerland and Japan open architectural project

    Switzerland and Japan open architectural project

    The Gramazio Kohler research group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH ) and the Obuchi Lab – T_ADS at the University of Tokyo are exhibiting an installation as part of the Collaborative Constructions architectural project. The project in the municipal pottery of the Japanese city of Tokoname goes back to an initiative of the two universities and the Swiss embassy in Japan.

    It is the first project of Vitality.Swiss, the Swiss public diplomacy program on the way to Expo 2025 in Osaka . The exhibition will be held in several cities of Aichi Prefecture as part of the Aichi Triennial Art Festival. According to an embassy announcement, it was officially opened on the occasion of the national holiday on August 1st and can be visited until October 10th.

    Gramazio Kohler Research, led by Matthias Kohler and Fabio Gramazio, presents a three-story timber frame structure that revitalizes the long history of skilled timber construction in Japan through Swiss design and technology. It reinterprets carpentry in the age of robotics, without metal parts, nails, screws or fasteners. Her work has been exhibited at the Center Pompidou, the Venice Biennale and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, among others.

    The Obuchi Lab – T_ADS around Yusuke Obuchi exhibits a gate-like structure with numerous pottery chains through which pottery is actually steamed, which also cools the air. They were created through human-machine interactions. Obuchi projects explore innovative, inclusive and collaborative construction methods. They are known worldwide for their creative use of technology.

  • Galileo cooperates with solar manufacturer Pagra from Poland

    Galileo cooperates with solar manufacturer Pagra from Poland

    Galileo and Pagra have signed a partnership agreement for the Polish market. According to a press release , the Zurich-based platform Galileo, which specializes in renewable energies, and the photovoltaic provider Pagra from Rogaszyce in Poland want to join forces to reduce the energy bills of companies in Poland.

    Galileo, which traded as Galileo Green Energy GmbH until mid-July, has acquired a 35 percent stake in Pagra as part of the partnership, with the option to further increase its stake after 24 months, according to the partnership announcement.

    “Pagra is a dynamic company that is at the forefront of the energy transition in Poland. It develops very effective power supply solutions for business customers in Poland,” Ingmar Wilhelm, CEO of Galileo, is quoted as saying. These customers are suffering from the sharp rise in wholesale prices, as price volatility is high and supply security is low, Wilhelm continued. Galileo will support Pagra in expanding its business across Poland and will complement its technical and energy competencies.

    Since 2020, Pagra has been offering photovoltaic roof systems in south-west and central Poland and is now expanding its activities throughout Poland. Business customers are offered the opportunity to save on investment costs by concluding a long-term electricity supply contract based on a photovoltaic system financed by the installer. This solution is called Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS).

    "We see a growing interest in this solution from both private companies and public institutions," Kornel Dybul, President of Pagra, is quoted as saying.

  • Housing is becoming noticeably more expensive for everyone

    Housing is becoming noticeably more expensive for everyone

    The increased interest burden has so far had no effect on the demand for one's own four walls. According to a press release on immoscout24.ch , those interested in buying their own homes are “still in a buying mood”. The data presented there is based on the Real Estate Offer Index . It is collected by the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in cooperation with the real estate consulting company IAZI . Immoscout24.ch is an SMG marketplace.

    According to this, the price expectations on the supplier side have not reduced despite the increase in the key interest rate by 0.5 percentage points. Detached houses cost 2 percent more, condominiums were advertised within a month at 0.7 percent higher prices. "With the increased interest burden and the general increase in costs for maintenance and investments, living in your own home is becoming noticeably more expensive," Martin Waeber is quoted as saying by SMG. Accordingly, a slowdown in price development is likely.

    Advertised rental prices also increased slightly last month by 0.3 percent. In addition, the significantly higher oil and gas prices would lead to "significantly higher expenses".

    Demand for investment properties could fall among institutional investors. This may result in reduced construction activity and thus a shortage in the supply of rental apartments. It remains to be seen how asking rents will develop in the long term.

  • Helvetia launches real estate platform Helvetia ImmoWorld

    Helvetia launches real estate platform Helvetia ImmoWorld

    The insurance group Helvetia , based in St.Gallen, has put a new website online for real estate owners. With Helvetia ImmoWorld , the company combines real estate services with its expertise in insurance and pension issues, according to a press release . To this end, it works together with the mortgage and real estate company MoneyPark , based in Pfäffikon SZ, and other partners.

    The real estate platform takes a holistic approach. It is intended to cover all phases of real estate ownership, from saving to searching and financing to securing, maintaining value and selling.

    Users can search for real estate via a search portal that combines properties from Helvetia and MoneyPark with offers from other portals. A calculator determines when a renovation makes sense. The value of a property can be tracked online in your own user account. In addition, registered users can monitor local construction projects and the prices that have been paid for properties in their area in recent years.

    In addition, Helvetia ImmoWorld provides access to verified prospective buyers and craftsmen as well as information and advice on all aspects of value retention, tax savings, liquidity requirements, pension provision and insurance cover.

    "We are convinced that it is worthwhile for our customers to take a holistic view of insurance, pension provision and property ownership," Ralph Jeitziner, Head of Sales Switzerland, is quoted as saying in the media release. With the new platform, Helvetia is strategically developing its Home ecosystem.

  • Implenia implements real estate projects in Geneva and Lausanne

    Implenia implements real estate projects in Geneva and Lausanne

    Implenia 's Buildings Division has been awarded two contracts in western Switzerland with a total volume of CHF 200 million, the Opfikon-based construction and real estate company said in a statement . Specifically, Implenia is to renovate the historic headquarters of an international organization in Geneva and build two new buildings for production and research in Chesaux-sur-Lausanne on behalf of Pulse , a company belonging to EPIC Suisse AG .

    In Geneva, Implenia will adapt the facades and security installations of the historic building to current standards, redesign the interior and modernize the equipment in the around 1,200 workplaces there. In Chesaux-sur-Lausanne, two four-storey buildings are being built, which are connected by two shared basements. Both projects are being implemented according to the principles of lean construction, explains Implenia. This approach to the planning and execution of construction projects focuses on avoiding waste and exceeding the needs of the client.

  • Increased costs reduce Forbo's profitability

    Increased costs reduce Forbo's profitability

    According to a statement from Forbo , the internationally active manufacturer of floor coverings, construction adhesives, as well as drive and light conveyor technology from Baar, generated sales totaling CHF 667.3 million in the first half of 2022. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 7.1 percent. The company attributes the increase primarily to the increase in sales prices. Forbo writes that the demand from many customer segments has now “leveled out at a pre-pandemic level”.

    The company suffered declines in operating and net income. "Negative currency effects, significant increases in the cost of raw materials, transport and energy, as well as increased personnel and other costs have significantly reduced operating profitability," the statement said. At CHF 78.6 million, the operating result at EBIT level was 4.3 percent lower than in the previous year, and the corresponding margin fell by 1.4 percentage points to 11.8 percent. At CHF 60.3 million, consolidated profit was 5.0 percent below the previous year's figure.

    Due to volatile markets and "a difficult geopolitical and financial situation", Forbo does not make any estimates regarding sales and earnings for the year as a whole. However, the company sees itself well prepared for the upcoming challenges.

  • Andermatt Swiss Alps Invests CHF 350 million

    Andermatt Swiss Alps Invests CHF 350 million

    The CHF 149 million investment by Vail Resorts consists of two parts: CHF 110 million for Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG to improve the guest experience, for example in the area of lifts, snow-making systems, gastronomy, leisure activities and other infrastructure on the mountain .

    ASA will invest the proceeds of CHF 39 million in the further development of its core business in hotels, infrastructure and the expansion of Andermatt Reuss over the next three to five years, in addition to the CHF 350 million already earmarked. The investments are shared between Andermatt and Sedrun.

    Following shareholder and regulatory approval, Vail Resorts now owns 55 percent of the shares in Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG. ASA continues to hold 40 percent of the shares, the remaining 5 percent are in free float. The aim of the partnership between Vail Resorts and ASA is the expansion of Andermatt and Sedrun into the common vision of "The Prime Alpine Destination".

    Effective August 4, management of the company will be the responsibility of Vail Resorts. Mike Goar is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG. There will be no changes to the ongoing operations of Andermatt-Sedrun, in particular the SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun.

    "I'm looking forward to working with the incredible team at Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, our passionate partners and the committed authorities – and learning from them," says Mike Goar. “I can't wait to move forward with these important investments in the destination as together we are working to make Andermatt-Sedrun one of the leading Alpine destinations in Europe. We are proud of this special

    ski area in the Vail Resorts network, and I personally vouch for operational excellence and a good working relationship." Raphael Krucker, CEO of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG and member of the Board of Directors of Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, says: "Vail Resorts is the ideal partner to achieve our goal. Together we will develop Andermatt and Sedrun into Prime Alpine Destinations. I am really looking forward to a successful cooperation and the additional experience and skills that Vail Resorts will bring to the destination of Andermatt and Sedrun."

  • Sika and PERI invest in Zurich construction robots

    Sika and PERI invest in Zurich construction robots

    The Zug-based building materials manufacturer Sika and the German company PERI , which specializes in formwork and scaffolding technology, are investing in Mesh AG . The start-up is behind a new robotic technology for the construction industry. This can be used to produce steel grids for different concrete shapes based on a computer model. This makes it possible to construct buildings with unusual shapes efficiently and cost-effectively. Until now, such special lattice structures had to be manufactured by hand. According to a statement from PERI, Mesh technology is the first of its kind in the world.

    The method is based on many years of research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ( ETH ), from which Mesh was spun off. In 2018, the Zurich researchers also successfully realized a curved concrete wall in NEST, the modular research and innovation building of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Research and Testing ( Empa ) in Dübendorf ZH. In cooperation with PERI and Sika, the technology has been transferred to an industrial construction process since 2019. Mesh AG was founded only recently.

    "Through our cooperation with Mesh AG and PERI, a new type of construction method is being established on the market that enables the production of complex geometries and is more cost-effective than conventional methods," said Philippe Jost, Head Construction Sika, in the press release. The entire construction industry benefits from this.

  • Real estate price slowdown

    Real estate price slowdown

    In mid-June, the Swiss National Bank increased its key interest rate by 0.5 percentage points for the first time since 2007. As a result, rising mortgage costs are likely to dampen home demand. In July, the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index, which is compiled by the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group in cooperation with the real estate consulting firm IAZI, shows that the price expectations on the part of providers have not reduced so far. 0.2% more was asked for single-family houses than in the previous month. Condominiums were even advertised at 0.7% higher prices within a month.

    Among other things, positive net immigration throughout Switzerland ensures stable demand. Nevertheless, a slowdown in price development is likely. "With the increased interest burden and the general increase in costs for maintenance and investments, living in your own home is becoming noticeably more expensive," says Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate, SMG Swiss Marketplace Group. Accordingly, the purchase of single-family houses or condominiums could become less attractive.

    Rents remain stable in July
     Advertised rental prices also increased slightly last month by 0.3%. For the time being, the rental costs are only a slightly higher burden on the wallets of the tenants than in the previous month. However, this is likely to change soon: Depending on the energy source, the ancillary cost bills will result in significantly higher expenses due to the rising oil and gas prices. The situation for institutional investors is also changing with rising interest rates. In addition to real estate, they now have other investment options. The falling demand for investment properties could lead to reduced construction activity and thus to a shortage in the supply of rental apartments. It remains to be seen how asking rents will develop in the long term

  • Swiss Life invests in development of JFK Airport

    Swiss Life invests in development of JFK Airport

    The Zurich-based life insurer Swiss Life is investing in a development project at JFK Airport in New York through its Swiss Life Asset Managers division. According to a media release , Swiss Life Asset Managers has committed itself to a minority stake in the new construction of Terminal One. Together with JLC Infrastructure and other consortium partners, a sum of 9.5 billion dollars will be provided.

    An approximately 223,000 square meter "ultramodern" terminal is to be built. It represents an "infrastructure investment with attractive long-term growth potential and fits very well with our fund's investment strategy," said Sinisha Ponzio, Head of Value Add Infrastructure at Swiss Life Asset Managers.

    The new investment represents the third investment in the aviation sector for Swiss Life Asset Managers. The insurer sees this as "a vote of confidence in the future of modern aviation". Swiss Life Asset Managers does not expect the aviation industry to slow down. In this context, the airlines' improved capacity utilization, new aircraft orders, technological progress and the construction of modern airport facilities are highlighted.

  • Biochar makes the Swiss more sustainable

    Biochar makes the Swiss more sustainable

    The Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival ( ESAF ), which is held every three years, will take place in Pratteln from August 26th to 28th this year. Subsequently, Industrielle Werke Basel ( IWB ) will process the 245 cubic meters of sawdust used for the sawdust rings and the wood chips from other areas of the festival site into around 8 tons of biochar, IWB informed in a statement . Around 20 tons of CO2 are stored long-term in this biochar. The project is part of the federal government's sustainability strategy.

    Sawdust is in itself a climate-friendly material because it is CO2-neutral, explains IWB. However, the conversion into biochar further improves the CO2 balance. Because the biochar obtained in the pyrolysis process in the absence of oxygen and at temperatures of 600 degrees Celsius removes the CO2 from the atmosphere over the long term. As a "welcome by-product", the pyrolysis also produces waste heat, which IWB feeds into the district heating network.

  • Oracle adds new analytics capabilities to Smart Construction Platform

    Oracle adds new analytics capabilities to Smart Construction Platform

    In construction, it's difficult to leverage data across applications to effectively diagnose problems, predict risk, and plan future actions. To address this challenge, Oracle today announced Oracle Construction Intelligence Cloud Analytics. The new solution combines data from Oracle Smart Construction Platform applications to give builders and contractors a comprehensive understanding of performance throughout their operations. With these insights, organizations can quickly identify and resolve issues and find ways to continually improve project planning, construction, and facility operations.

    "You can't manage what you can't measure," said Roz Buick, senior vice president of product, strategy and marketing at Oracle Construction and Engineering. “The new Oracle Construction Intelligence Cloud Analytics offering combined with the Smart Construction Platform's predictive intelligence engine and shared data environment gives our customers a deeper, holistic understanding of their performance. Now they can create unique data strategies that drive competitive differentiation. In this way, the construction industry will achieve Six Sigma accuracy, which is already found in other parts of the industry and in manufacturing today.”

    The Smart Construction Platform brings together capabilities from Oracle Construction and Engineering applications and third-party solutions in a common data environment with an enhanced user experience. The platform makes it easier for builders and contractors to collaborate to improve decision-making across organizations. Oracle is introducing the new analytics solution and other platform updates today at the Oracle Industry Lab in Deerfield, Illinois.

    “We are increasingly focused on finding new and better ways to use our data so we can gain further insights into project performance and risk,” said Brian Neal, project manager at Rudolph Libbe Inc. “The connection and the combining of data for analysis will provide the most comprehensive insight into our operations and help us understand trends in our business. It also allows us to find ways to streamline the delivery of projects to our customers.”

    Smart Construction Platform: people, processes and data in harmony
     The Smart Construction Platform brings together the core applications, processes and data building owners and contractors need to collaborate across project and asset lifecycles. This includes portfolio planning, bidding/tendering processes, contracts, schedules, project documents, as well as Building Information Model (BIM) collaboration, on-site activities, costs and payments. With the new unified experience, shared data environment, and cross-application interoperability, users can easily switch between applications and datasets while working on a single project. By synchronizing activities, resources, and data throughout each project and asset, the platform helps teams from different disciplines work towards the same goal with the same information.

    For example, the planning and project management capabilities sync design and site teams against a master plan, providing insight into both a unified schedule and the task data needed to get the right work done in the right place at the right time. So, should the date of an HVAC installation change due to an issue in the supply chain, the project manager will automatically receive the updated schedule information and can coordinate any necessary adjustments for the affected teams.

    In addition, the platform provides investment planners with accurate, timely data on project forecasts so they can coordinate with managers on budget requirements and adjust them as strategic priorities change. For example, inflation doubles the cost of the materials needed for a project. The project manager can pass these new actual amounts and forecasts to the planner, who can then make timely changes to the portfolio.

    The platform continuously learns and gets smarter using machine learning, so it considers past actions to highlight potential risks and support more informed decision-making. Oracle offers its customers a variety of networked functions. This includes:

    • Provide project managers with up-to-date schedule data so teams can align with planned delivery dates and other schedule requirements.

    • Joint planning (CPM schedule) with site teams (task plan) to minimize wasted time and resources.

    • Capital planning and project execution teams can share budget and actual cost data so both teams can confidently adapt to different situations as the project progresses.

    • Automatically store completed bid/request packages, as well as approved invoices and other payment materials, in company document registries.

    • Transparency for all stakeholders to jointly track progress, identify and mitigate risks, and efficiently manage changes throughout the supply chain.

    "Thanks to Oracle, we are improving coordination, transparency and control during project development," said Weronika Nowak, document control and IT manager at Mayflower Wind. “The ability to further connect our teams, processes and data across applications and all project phases increases efficiency. It also provides our staff with the information they need to easily manage change as we work to deploy critical energy assets.”

  • Implenia wins complex real estate projects in western Switzerland

    Implenia wins complex real estate projects in western Switzerland

    Alternatives beyond the results of last year's strategy review should be considered, particularly given the changed economic and market environment. The goal of the review is to create a more focused, agile group with a significantly lower absolute cost base that can deliver sustainable returns to all stakeholders and provide superior service to clients.

    Renovation of the headquarters of an international organization in Geneva
     Implenia has had the privilege of completely renovating the historic headquarters in Geneva for an important international organisation. The project will last about two and a half years. The work includes, among other things, the adaptation of the facades and the security installations to the current standards, a complete redesign of the general rooms and the 1,200 workplaces and the modernization of the technical equipment and installations.

    Implenia won the project as general contractor in a competition based on a previous mandate as overall planner and a new building that had already been built for this international organization. The aim of the project is to preserve the historical heritage while maintaining high architectural quality. The refurbished building is designed to meet strict sustainability requirements and was planned using BIM. The execution is done with Lean Construction.

    PULSE – two new buildings for production and research in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne
     As total contractor, Implenia is constructing two new four-storey buildings for production and research in bio-pharmaceuticals, life sciences and other sectors in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne for the client, which belongs to the EPIC Suisse AG group. The two buildings are connected by two shared basements. They are being built as a shell and the areas will be partially fitted out according to the wishes of the future tenants. The new buildings will be built to the Minergie standard and BREEAM-good certification is being sought. The project was planned with BIM and executed with Lean Construction. The work, which will start in the summer of 2022, will take around two and a half years. You can find more information about the project at discover.pulse.swiss.

  • Zurich Investment Foundation increases real estate funds

    Zurich Investment Foundation increases real estate funds

    Zurich Investment Foundation has completed a capital increase for its Immobilien Wohnen Schweiz investment group with new capital of CHF 250 million, which was launched in mid-July, Zurich Invest AG announced in a press release. The subsidiary of the Zurich Insurance Group is responsible for the management of the investment foundation. The new funds are to be used to purchase a property in Zurich where a construction project has already started and six fully rented residential buildings in Lucerne.

    In the project in Zurich, three residential buildings with a total of 269 apartments are being built on Austrasse. According to the statement, the buildings should meet the requirements of the gold level of the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard. According to her, the six newly built apartment buildings with a total of 61 apartments in the canton of Lucerne are also sustainable development.

    Residential properties throughout Switzerland with a value of almost 3 billion Swiss francs are pooled in the investment group Immobilien Wohnen Schweiz, Zurich Invest explains. The portfolio is "well diversified in terms of size, age structure and geographic distribution".

  • Smartconext moves into Suurstoffi Innovation Park

    Smartconext moves into Suurstoffi Innovation Park

    According to a press release , the smartconext Group has decided to relocate its company location from Baar to the Suurstoffi area in Rotkreuz. From August 1st, the Swiss marketplace for construction and real estate information will operate from the Switzerland Innovation Park Central .

    Numerous national and international companies, institutions and start-ups are based in the former industrial area. The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts also has a campus there. The proximity to well-known tenants from various sectors and the climate-neutral orientation offer plenty of development potential for a built environment worth living in.

    Smartconext expects the relocation of the headquarters to provide impetus and synergies for future tasks in the building and energy sector. The company, which specializes in intelligent, user-friendly and value-added digital products, accepts an offer from Switzerland Innovation to rent space on the campus, which, in accordance with the "Open Innovation" philosophy, focuses on a mix of different industry representatives and groups. With its core competencies in the construction industry, the new tenant can contribute to the goal of solution-oriented innovations. "The smartconext Group stands for digitization and transformation in the construction industry," says Dr. Maximilian Richter, Innovation Manager of the Switzerland Innovation Park Central, quoted.

  • Holcim continues to grow

    Holcim continues to grow

    According to a press release, building materials producer Holcim increased sales in all segments by 16.9 percent to CHF 14.681 billion in the first half of the year. The roofing and insulation business in particular ended with above-average growth. Holcim expects further growth impetus in the division. In addition to sales, the record result includes recurring EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of CHF 2.173 billion, an increase of 9.6 percent in Swiss francs, and earnings per share, which increased by 39.7 percent to CHF 1.90.

    In order to continue the company's success, according to the announcement, the focus is on the company's decarbonization. Based on the good half-year figures, Holcim feels well positioned to implement Strategy 2025 “Accelerating Green Growth”. This envisages world market leadership for innovative and sustainable construction solutions and net zero by 2050.

    For the 2022 financial year, CEO Jan Jenisch, who was quoted in the announcement, estimates pro-forma sales of CHF 3.5 billion and expects “sales growth of at least 10 percent on a comparable basis”.

  • Bauwerk Parquet receives FloorScore certification

    Bauwerk Parquet receives FloorScore certification

    According to a press release, Bauwerk Parquet receives FloorScore certification for its entire parquet range. FloorScore is a seal of approval for low-emission floor coverings. It is the highest recognized indoor air quality (IAQ) certification standard in the United States, the release said. Regular audits of the production facilities are therefore also part of the certification.

    At Bauwerk Parquet, all parquet floors, including 2-layer, 3-layer and solid parquet, are now awarded FloorScore. The certification program is beneficial when building classification programs such as LEED are required, the media release said. Products certified with this label qualified for many sustainable building concepts, including LEED and BREEAM. LEED is an abbreviation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a classification system for energy-saving construction. BREEAM is a global program for environmental assessments of buildings.

    By its own account, Bauwerk Parquet has long been a leader in the field of healthy living and underlines this through systematic checks by independent third parties, such as the eco-INSTITUT, the Sentinel Haus Institute and now also the SCS Global Services in California, which issue the FloorScore certification, confirm .

    According to the company, more than 60 percent of the Bauwerk parquet products are manufactured in St.Margrethen. The parent company, the Bauwerk Group, operates two additional plants in Lithuania and Croatia, as well as two production facilities in the US states of Kentucky and Tennessee in the USA. In 2021, the Bauwerk Group sold around 9.3 million square meters of parquet.

  • Jarowa convinces investors

    Jarowa convinces investors

    The Zug start-up Jarowa has secured 12.4 million francs in a Series A financing round, according to a press release . The round was led by London-based venture capital firm Eos Venture Partners. In addition, moyreal holding AG from Sarnen, Helvetic Trust AG from Zurich and a Zurich family office have invested.

    Jarowa operates a platform with services for claims management. This is primarily aimed at insurance companies, real estate managers and leasing companies. The services listed cover the areas of mobility, buildings and trades, healthcare and legal advice. In the event of a claim, insurance coverage is automatically checked and a suitable service provider selected. The damage repair is processed digitally for all parties involved.

    Jarowa intends to use the financing to expand its presence in Europe, explains CEO Andreas Akeret in the press release. The start-up's platform is currently accessible to companies from Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Great Britain.

  • Peach Property records record number of new leases

    Peach Property records record number of new leases

    According to a media release , the Peach Property Group has reached a new high in new lettings in Germany. The letting success has reduced the number of vacancies, while at the same time rental income has increased. For example, more than 15 percent growth was recorded for newly rented apartments compared to the average price per square meter for the group at the end of 2021. According to the announcement, the Peach Property Group's rent for existing properties continues to be below the average market rent. The continuation of the restructuring program also contributed to the group's solid financial structure. Around 1,400 units have been modernized, 15 percent of which have been brought up to date in terms of energy.

    The positive half-year balance reflects "the efficiency and scalability of the group's digital rental platform" and underlines "the potential for rent increases in the portfolio". "We have never renovated and rented out so many apartments," says Dr. Thomas Wolfensberger, CEO of Peach Property Group AG, quoted.

    Peach Property describes the sale of twelve of the planned 56 residential units in the new Peninsula development in Wädenswil on Lake Zurich as a strong signal for the Swiss portfolio. In addition to the portfolio optimization, the financing structure is developing positively as a result of successful capital management. A bond maturing in February 2023 was bought back early at a price of 94 percent.

    For the second half of the year, the group expects net rental income of CHF 113 to 118 million and an operating result of CHF 18 to 21 million.

  • Silvio Denz and Peter Spuhler acquire the Hotel Florhof

    Silvio Denz and Peter Spuhler acquire the Hotel Florhof

    In a press release , the Lalique Group has informed about the purchase of the Hotel Florhof by shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Directors Silvio Denz and the entrepreneur and CEO ad interim of Stadler Rail , Peter Spuhler . The new owners want to continue the historic building as the Lalique Hotel-Restaurant under the name Villa Florhof.

    After several months of renovation, 15 suites and hotel rooms are planned on the upper floors, a restaurant on the first floor and a bar with terrace, lounge and smoking room as a central meeting place on the ground floor. The historic vaulted wine cellar is also to be continued as the foundation of the Florhof. The name of the villa evokes memories of silk production and silk trading, which flourished in the area in the 16th century.

    For the Spuhler quoted in the media release, the purchase is an affair of the heart. The property is predestined for the design of a unique hotel environment that "combines tradition and future and meets all the requirements of upscale hospitality". Denz emphasizes the great potential of the Villa Florhof, which has been used as a hotel since 1908, as a "hotel-restaurant for the people of Zurich and visitors from all over the world".

    The owners, who have owned the house for almost 100 years, have announced that operations will end at the end of July 2022. Lalique Group SA will be the new tenant and will be responsible for ongoing operations.

  • CBRE Switzerland Office Take Up Index

    CBRE Switzerland Office Take Up Index

    CBRE Switzerland publishes its CBRE Switzerland Office Take-Up Index for the first time. The index is based on the advertisements switched off on the real estate online marketplaces and traces the quarterly volume of space let on the Swiss office market. It is a highly up-to-date indicator of office demand and is presented for the whole of Switzerland and for three geographic sub-markets (see figures below).

    All sub-indices have shown record activity in office lettings since the fourth quarter of 2021 and especially since the beginning of 2022. Although the economic recovery is currently being hampered by new global uncertainties, overcoming the Covid-19 crisis has prompted companies to restart their often-paused real estate projects. In the suburbs of the largest Swiss cities, too, rental activity has recently picked up again (see Figure 3). The only slight increase in the movement of space turnover in the cities themselves (see Figure 2) can be explained by the fact that the average availability rate here is a low 3.1%. As a result, large-scale rentals of space are now rare or “off-market” away from the measurable online channels. By contrast, take-up in the rest of Switzerland outside of the metropolitan areas of the major cities is already declining slightly (see Figure 4).

    The pronounced desire for centrality with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a further decline in office vacancy rates in the inner cities, which is why take-up is now also shifting to the well-developed suburban areas.

    David Schoch, Research & Consulting CBRE Switzerland
    Figure 1: Office space take-up throughout Switzerland
    Figure 2: Take-up of office space in the cities of Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne
    Figure 3: Take-up of office space in the suburbs of Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne
    Illustration
    Figure 4: Office space take-up in the rest of Switzerland (Switzerland excluding the cities of Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne and their suburbs)

    Methodology description:
    The quarterly calculation of the take-up is based on the advertisements on real estate online marketplaces and is shown as a centered average of three quarters. If advertisements are removed from the network and not re-activated within a certain period of time, they are included in the take-up. Direct rentals, ie the rental of space that was not advertised on the online marketplaces, are not taken into account here, which has a negative impact on the amount of the take-up. For example, in the case of larger properties, the pre-letting of project developments or owner-occupied new buildings, not all or no areas are advertised. At the same time, for various reasons, areas are always completely or temporarily taken off the network without a successful letting taking place, which in turn has a positive effect on the amount of the take-up. Lease renewals are not part of the take-up. The index is based on the first quarter of 2009 (= 100) and thus falls at a time that was characterized by temporarily negative economic development and the beginning of the low interest rate phase that has persisted to this day.

  • Implenia wins two large and complex real estate projects in western Switzerland

    Implenia wins two large and complex real estate projects in western Switzerland

    New Kyoto office building in the Green Village in Geneva

    The Swiss Life Investment Foundation has commissioned Implenia as general contractor to construct the Kyoto office building in the new Green Village district on the grounds of the World Council of Churches in Geneva. The project has a total volume of more than CHF 60 million and will be around
    take two years. Implenia's Real Estate Division has been commissioned to develop the Green Village district, and Implenia's Buildings Division has already realized the Montreal residential building. The Kyoto office building has ten floors, including the ground floor, which will be partially converted at the request of the future tenant. Sustainability plays into the development of the Green
    Village plays a central role, so the new building is aiming for SNBS certification. The project was planned with BIM and executed with Lean Construction.

    New residential and commercial building on Alleestrasse in Biel

    As the general contractor, Implenia is constructing two new replacement buildings with five full floors in the Brühlstrasse Süd area in Biel for the client Meili Unternehmungen AG. A total of 105 rental apartments and service areas on the ground floor facing the street are planned to a high architectural standard. The project resulted from a study commissioned by Meili Unternehmungen AG and won by the architects Bart & Buchhofer AG. The solid construction with a rear-ventilated wooden facade is created with geothermal probes, a heat pump and a large-scale photovoltaic system. The project has a total volume of CHF 42 million and will last around two and a half years.

  • Houzy doubles the number of users

    Houzy doubles the number of users

    Houzy is growing rapidly. Recently the 100’000. Apartment owners are registered on the platform of the same name from the young PropTech company from Zurich, writes Houzy in a statement . Just a year ago, the start-up founded in 2017 reported that its users had increased to 50,000. The number of houses and apartments digitally recorded on the platform increased from 70,000 to 144,000 in the same period.

    Data is intelligently linked on the Houzy platform and recommendations for homeowners are derived from it. For example, it can be calculated there when the heating system should be renovated and how much money should be put aside for it. Houzy also offers a real estate appraisal. Free advice is also available to registered users.

    In the past few weeks, the company has revised its platform and integrated new digital tools, explains Houzy. In concrete terms, homeowners can now check the demand for their property, optimize the corresponding sales price and calculate the real estate gains tax for all Swiss cantons. Houzy emphasizes the platform’s new property search function as the most important innovation. All major real estate platforms would be searched here and the advertisements would be supplemented with “valuable additional information”. As examples of such additional information, a neutral market value estimate as well as energy efficiency, energy saving and solar potential and the need for refurbishment of the property are given in the notification.

  • The foundation stone for the Gupfengarten housing estate is laid

    The foundation stone for the Gupfengarten housing estate is laid

    According to a press release , real estate service provider Steiner celebrated the laying of the foundation stone for the Gupfengarten residential area. With the official starting signal, the construction project for a “family-friendly development in the Zurich Unterland” will be initiated. Steiner took over development, consulting and sales. The general contractor Eiffage Suisse AG , headquartered in Glattbrugg ZH, the architects Graf Biscioni based in Winterthur and the client Evostate Immobilien AG from Zurich are involved in the implementation.

    By the end of 2023, 36 terraced single-family houses and three multi-family houses with 21 condominiums are to be built on the Gupfengarten site south of the center of Niederweningen. The housing estate meets a contemporary living and development standard and covers the strong demand for high-quality living space.

    The planning meets the criteria for sustainable construction. The heat is generated almost entirely by means of a heat pump, geothermal probes and photovoltaic system. An energy management system enables “efficient and intelligent” use of energy. According to the announcement, the wooden building envelope has optimal thermal insulation.

  • Asking rents continue to rise

    Asking rents continue to rise

    The Homegate rental index now stands at 117.9 points. This means that asking rents increased again by 0.3 percent in June, and by 1.3 percent since the beginning of the year. According to a media release from the real estate marketplace, this is “in stark contrast to the rental price development before the COVID 19 pandemic, when rising vacancies in the Swiss rental apartment market caused nervousness among investors”.

    Because the net rents have also become more expensive, the increased energy costs alone cannot be held responsible. In fact, building applications have been declining for the last two years. At the same time, there is brisk demand for rental apartments. “So just a few years ago there was concern about an oversupply of rental apartments, but these are again extremely scarce in sought-after locations.”

    Homegate describes the half-year increases in the cantons of Zug (5.4 percent) and Graubünden as well as in Appenzell (4.3 percent each) as remarkable. The increases were lowest in the cantons of Basel-Landschaft (0.6 percent) and Ticino (0.5 percent).

    In the cities, demand has increased again since the infrastructure started up again after the first phases of the pandemic, particularly in Zurich (4.8 percent). Lausanne (2.5 percent) and Lugano (1.8 percent) were also above the national average. Only in St.Gallen were rents slightly down (minus 0.2 percent).

  • Privately used residential property is becoming more expensive

    Privately used residential property is becoming more expensive

    According to a media release from Raiffeisen Switzerland on the quarterly transaction price index, owner-occupied homes have to dig deeper into their pockets than in the first quarter and also compared to the previous year. Accordingly, the purchase of a condominium increased in price by 3.5 percent in the second quarter. Compared to the same period last year, there was a price increase of 7.7 percent. A single-family house costs 1.3 percent more than in the previous quarter. Year-on-year, prices for this type of property have risen by 8.7 percent.

    According to the Raiffeisen chief economist Martin Neff, who was quoted in the media release, the price dynamic is due to the shortage of supply in the home ownership market. Neither the interest rate hike nor the heightened uncertainties in the reporting period would have changed that.

    In the case of condominiums, the highest increase in prices compared to the previous year was in the Zurich region, where prices rose by 11 percent. In contrast, the Bern region has the lowest rate compared to 2021 at 3.5 percent. 10.6 percent more has to be paid for a condominium in tourist areas.

    The price spiral is also driving up the costs for single-family homes. In the Western Switzerland region, the segment has increased in price by 12.8 percent, in the Northwestern Switzerland region the value is 10.4 percent.

    Broken down by place of residence, there is a pronounced desire for private home ownership in the countryside, where the prices for a single-family house have soared by 12 percent. In city centers, house prices are 8.7 percent higher than last year.

  • Projekt Interim is looking for interim users in Chur

    Projekt Interim is looking for interim users in Chur

    The business model of Projekt Interim is the rental of temporarily vacant rooms at favorable conditions to artists and young companies. A new property is available in Chur, Projekt Interim informed in a statement. Specifically, interim users are being sought for offices, studios, storage rooms and a communal kitchen at Loëstrasse 37. Chur train station is a five-minute walk from the property. The premises can be used until July 15, 2023.

    “We at Projekt Interim are happy that with this beautiful project in Chur we can now provide the most affordable spaces for innovative people with big ideas throughout Switzerland,” Corinne Walker is quoted as saying in the statement. “The project on Loëstrasse with the beautiful and large rooms with parquet is my favorite from now on,” says the project manager. Interested parties can contact Walker by email .

    On July 7, Projekt Interim also invites you to a public tour of the building at Loëstrasse 37. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Projekt Interim provides further information and photos on the internet .