Tag: Lausanne

Rental prices in Switzerland rise slightly again

The monthly rental index compiled by the digital property marketplace Homegate in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 128.1 points in November. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by 0.3 per cent, Homegate reported in a press release. This means that “the brief decline in October has levelled out again and the advertised rental prices are once again at the level of September 2024”. A year-on-year increase in advertised rents of 3.1 per cent was observed across Switzerland.

Within the cantons, Homegate’s experts only identified major changes compared to September in individual cases. The canton of Graubünden stands out the most with a 4.4 per cent decline in asking rents. However, “such outliers” are mostly short-term changes, according to the press release. Only the canton of Nidewalden reported an increase in rents of more than 2 per cent month-on-month at 2.1 per cent.

The experts attest that the eight Swiss cities included in the index are returning “to the expected normality”. They attribute this primarily to the 1.6 per cent growth in asking rents in Zurich and Lausanne. The other six cities analysed showed only marginal changes compared to September. In a year-on-year comparison, however, significant growth was observed in all eight cities. This was strongest in the city of Lucerne at 7 per cent.

Homegate is a division of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG. This combines the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.

January 2025
Binding Prize for Biodiversity 2023 awarded to eco-neighbourhood in Lausanne

The “Pra Roman” site development by the Codha cooperative and the “Sur le Pra” association won the Binding Prize for Biodiversity 2023 because the development takes on the ecological and social networking functions for the neighbourhood and the city in an extremely exemplary manner and the project was approached in a participatory manner from the very beginning. The 2023 prize was announced as part of the annual theme “groundbreaking site developments”.

Ecologically networked living spaces
The “Pra Roman” housing estate with twelve apartment buildings on an area of 22,000 square metres is located on the outskirts of Lausanne. The surrounding area was integrated into the planning and construction of the 2020 development in an exemplary manner. For example, the award-winner created alternating humid wildlife corridors with integrated small structures for amphibians and small mammals and to promote wild plants. This awareness of taking responsibility for ecological connectivity in a larger system is central to the promotion of biodiversity in the settlement area.

Involving residents in planning
Raising residents’ awareness of biodiversity promotion was an important part of the “Pra Roman” project from the very beginning. Codha, the developer and cooperative for non-profit housing, initiated the association “Sur le Pra” at the beginning of the planning phase and developed a participatory process. Future residents met early on for site tours or nature observations and, with a high degree of design freedom, designed their near-natural outdoor spaces in workshops, which they later realised independently. The building owner supported them financially.

Vegetable garden enables encounter and sensitisation
One of these green spaces is the community vegetable garden. Here people exchange ideas and get to know nature as a basis for life. The culture of sustainable living and land use runs like a thread through the entire “Pra Roman” project. The surrounding ecosystems are observed, imitated in their diversity and connected with the settlement area.

“We are convinced that this excellent example will encourage other real estate developers to think about biodiversity at an early stage and involve many people,” says Peter Lehmann, vice president of the jury for the award.

Recognition prize goes to the Areal Bach project in St. Gallen
In addition to the main prize, the Foundation also awards a recognition prize of 25,000 Swiss francs for smaller sites. The Areal Bach, an interim use near the St.Fiden railway station in St.Gallen, receives this prize because it impressively demonstrates the potential of the many fallow areas in the cities. With its perseverance and commitment, the Areal Bach association overcame resistance, seized the opportunity and, together with the population, ecologically upgraded the areas and revitalised them with creative ideas. It has managed to get many stakeholders on board to realise a jointly supported, multifaceted project. A temporary green oasis was created from a non-place, which can lay the foundations for biodiversity and quality of stay for the planning of a future area development.

June 2023
EPFL doctoral student calls for smaller apartments

The ecological footprint of living in Switzerland by 2050 can only be reduced through a joint effort by homeowners and tenants. According to a press release from the university in Lausanne, this demand for smaller living space per capita is raised in Margarita Agriantoni's doctoral thesis. She is a civil engineering student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ).

The work is based on computer simulations of various living scenarios for the next 30 years from 2020 to 2050. The result is therefore: If the energy consumption of apartments in Switzerland is to be significantly reduced, the entire industry must rethink its practices. This affects the way homes are planned and built, as well as the way they are used. Less living space is required per resident.

Around 58 percent of Swiss households rent their homes. The average living space of these apartments has risen steadily in recent years, as has the living space per capita – a key figure that directly correlates with a building's ecological footprint, according to the statement. Today, a 100 square meter apartment is built or heated in the same way, whether it is intended for two or four people. "The per capita area is the key figure that we have to reduce in the long term," the author Agriantoni is quoted as saying. "Reducing space by just a few square feet can have a real impact."

Agriantoni and her colleagues examined 11,000 apartments in buildings across Switzerland and interviewed 1,000 households.

September 2022
Younergy issues green bond for solar energy

According to a press release , Younergy Solar wants to democratize solar energy and is issuing a green bond worth CHF 5 million. Younergy’s business model is understood as democratization. The Lausanne-based company installs photovoltaic systems on the roofs of its customers and assumes the entire costs of installation, maintenance and monitoring. As a result, customers – from single-family homes to large companies – produce their own electricity without any upfront investment and instead only pay for the energy produced. When the amortization period has expired, the system becomes the property of the customer. This means that everyone can generate and use solar power regardless of their personal budget.

“We are the only ones in Switzerland that cover single-family homes as well as buildings with larger roofs. That was the key to our rapid growth,” Pedro Miranda, CEO and co-founder of Younergy, is quoted as saying. “The energy transition is mainly taking place at the local level. That’s why we want to expand this solution further,” Miranda continues. The sharp increase in energy prices and the uncertain energy supply in connection with the geopolitical situation required local supply. Electricity prices are likely to rise by more than 20 percent in Switzerland in 2023. With the Younergy solution, on the other hand, significantly lower prices are possible for private individuals and companies. The demand is therefore increasing sharply.

So far, the company, which was founded in 2015 by a group of solar energy experts at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ) and is funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ), already operates 480 such photovoltaic systems throughout Switzerland.

July 2022
Asking rents are developing differently

The rental index, which is collected monthly by the digital real estate marketplace Homegate in cooperation with the Zürcher Kantonalbank , closed in May at 117.6 points, Homegate informs in a press release . Compared to the previous month, advertised rents increased by an average of 0.2 percent across Switzerland. The analysts of the index have observed different developments within the individual cantons.

Rents have remained relatively stable in most cantons. In the canton of Geneva, asking rents in May were 1 percent lower than in April. In the cantons of Zug, Graubünden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, on the other hand, the analysts identified significant increases of between 1.1 and 4.1 percent. However, they mainly attribute the jump of 4.1 percent in the canton of Zug to a decline in the previous month.

In the eight cities examined in the index, the analysts identified an increase in asking rents of 0.7 percent in St.Gallen and a decrease of the same amount in Geneva and Lausanne. The two cities in western Switzerland are also the only ones where analysts have observed a drop in asking rents year-on-year.

When recording rental price changes for the rental index, the rental prices are corrected for different quality, location and size of the apartments, explains Homegate. This makes it possible to record the actual rental price development.

Homegate is a division of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG . This combines the digital marketplaces of TX Group , Ringier and Mobiliar .

June 2022
Zurich is the second best city in Europe for real estate investments

Zurich gained two places in the European Thematic Cities Index (TCI) compared to the previous year and is now in second place. London is in first place and Stockholm is in third place. According to a press release , this index from Swiss Life Asset Managers measures 135 European cities in 28 countries. He evaluates them on five core themes that shape a city’s real estate market: Change and Disruption, Climate and Environment, Communities and Clusters, Consumers and Lifestyle, and Connectivity. He wants to offer a comparability for real estate investments.

The six Swiss cities in the ranking are all in the top 50 of the TCI. Among them, Zurich remains “the most dynamic and healthy city with the best networks”. Despite the lack of an international airport, Bern’s 9th place is now “the third most accessible city in the entire ranking”. Basel gains one place compared to the previous year and is in 7th place, Lausanne in 15th place. Geneva has gained the most with 16 places and is listed in 31st place. Due to its “less environmentally friendly mix of sectors and above-average car use”, Lucerne lost nine places and ended up in 41st place.

According to the TCI, all six Swiss cities promise little growth potential despite their stability and attractiveness. According to this analysis, they are all among the eleven worst European cities in terms of this criterion. And as in the TCI 2021, this year’s analysis rates health as the weakest issue in Swiss cities.

June 2022
Exhibition hall becomes a laboratory of innovation

Beaulieu Circulaire has a premiere on May 9th. With the SHIFT Switzerland , the first major event will take place in the rededicated hall 18 of the old exhibition center in the north of Lausanne. In the coming years, Beaulieu Circulaire should not only become a meeting place, but also a place of work. On an area of 3000 square meters there is space for technological and social innovation.

Beaulieu Circulaire sees itself as a kind of laboratory village: actors from different subject areas find space here for their own activities as well as space for cooperation with others. Laboratories are planned for individual crafts, for work on new materials and for digital innovation, but also for the production of food. 500 square meters are earmarked for co-working spaces.

The conversion of the hall was carried out to a large extent with recycled materials. Shipping containers offer office space. Old theater curtains, damaged panes and insulating material made from old textiles were also used.

Beaulieu Circulaire was launched by Impact Hub Lausanne together with Mentor Energy and Atelier l’Eveil . The Impact Hub is moving to Hall 18 itself with its co-working spaces. Supporters of Beaulieu Circulaire also include the MAVA Foundation and Circular Economy Switzerland .

May 2022
Demand for condominiums is highly dependent on region and price

The latest edition of the Online Home Market Analysis from the real estate portal Homegate and the Swiss Real Estate Institute (SwissREI) examines the advertisement data for condominiums for 2020 and 2021. The evaluated advertisements come from the four largest Swiss Internet portals and thus comprise around 85 percent of all online advertisements during the period under review. Detailed reports on the study for all regions can be found here in the online media release .

For Martin Waeber, Managing Director Real Estate, SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, the latest online home market analysis shows how heterogeneous the Swiss condominium market is: “Overall, the demand for condominiums throughout Switzerland developed somewhat less dynamically last year due to the corona. However, certain market segments have seen lively demand over the past year, particularly in cities.” On average, the duration of advertisements in the low price segment has increased significantly in the cities examined, while it has remained practically unchanged in the higher price segment, although the number of advertisements has increased. “Similar to the rental apartment market, preferences in the condominium market have shifted away from smaller and cheaper to larger and more expensive properties during the Covid19 pandemic,” said Waeber, summarizing the study results.

Longer advertisement duration despite smaller offer
The significant increase in the average tendering period for condominiums from 61 to 84 days in 2020 compared to 2019 due to the Covid19 pandemic was confirmed at a high level in 2021 with 85 days. In comparison, the length of listings for single-family homes has fallen from just over 61 days in 2019 to pre-pandemic levels.

On the other hand, around 20 percent fewer condominiums were offered online across Switzerland in 2021 than in the previous year. With such a severe shortage of offers, one would expect that the average duration of advertisements would also be correspondingly shorter. However, the fact that this has not shortened, but actually lengthened slightly, is evidence of a declining demand for condominiums across Switzerland for 2021.

Prof. Dr. Peter Ilg, head of the SwissREI institute, sees several reasons for the weaker demand for condominiums: “Condominium prices in Switzerland rose by more than 8 percent on average in 2021. This is the strongest price increase in ten years. Such a significant increase in prices is likely to have had a dampening effect on demand in general. Increasing demand can only be seen in selected regions and in individual upper price segments, in which the buyers were probably able to increasingly resort to advance inheritances». This can be deduced, for example, from the distribution of taxable assets and homebuyers by age group. In the canton of Zurich, for example, the over-54s have more than half of the taxable assets, while across Switzerland the majority of home buyers are under the age of 55, Ilg continues.

Regional differences in the duration of advertisements are increasing
From a regional perspective, the differences in the duration of advertisements in the eight major regions examined in 2021 have become more pronounced. In the Zurich region, where sellers have to advertise a condominium for the shortest time in Switzerland, the duration of the advertisement was reduced significantly by around a quarter to just 43 days (minus 14 days). In the two regions with the longest average duration of advertisements for a condominium, on the other hand, they continued to rise significantly, each at around 22 percent; the Vaud/Valais region recorded an increase of 18 to 98 days, Ticino by 25 to 139 days.

In absolute terms, the greatest reduction in the length of advertisements was seen in the Central Switzerland region. After a decline of 19 days (minus 27 percent) for 2021 with 51 days, this region now has the second shortest advertisement duration of all eight regions surveyed, right after the Zurich region. The Geneva region, on the other hand, which still had the shortest advertisement duration in Switzerland at 52 days in 2020, fell back to third place in 2021 after an increase of 12 percent (plus 6 days).

Increasing demand only in three out of eight regions examined
The combination of the change in the duration of advertisements and the change in the number of advertisements allows conclusions to be drawn about the change in demand in the regions examined. In the three regions of Ticino, Vaud/Valais and Geneva, for the year 2021, despite a shortage of supply (i.e. a declining number of advertisements), there has been a significant increase in the duration of advertisements in some cases and thus a shrinking demand for condominiums. For the three regions of Central Switzerland, Northwestern Switzerland and Zurich, on the other hand, increasing demand (larger percentage decline in the length of advertisements than in the number of advertisements) can be observed. The other two regions (Eastern Switzerland and Espace Mittelland) show constant demand for 2021.

Growth in demand for city apartments, especially in the upper price segment
In addition to the eight regions, the Online Home Market Analysis also examines eight Swiss cities. When analyzing the demand for condominiums, a closer look at the price segment shows that demand in Basel, Lausanne, Geneva and Lugano in particular has increased. Both in the high price segment (CHF 1.5 million – CHF 3.0 million) and in the low price segment (CHF 0.3 million – CHF 0.5 million). In the high price segment, demand increased overall in six of the eight cities surveyed – in addition to Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, also in St. Gallen and Lucerne – while in the low price segment, the remaining four cities recorded constant or falling demand. This increased demand in the high price segment is now taking very different forms; While in Basel the declining length of advertisements in particular led to higher demand, in Geneva a much higher increase in the number of properties on offer compared to the length of advertisements indicated this conclusion.

May 2022
Forest dominates land use in cities

The current study on the use of land in Swiss cities is astonishing, writes the Swiss Association of Cities in a statement on the ” Statistics of Swiss Cities 2022 ” drawn up jointly with the Federal Statistical Office . According to the analysts’ surveys, in 2018 settlement areas accounted for just 23.5 percent or 95,000 hectares of the total area of the 170 Swiss cities surveyed. Most of the urban soil, specifically 32.3 percent, was covered with forest at the end of the study period from 1985 to 2018. At 30.9 percent, the proportion of agricultural land in 2018 was also significantly larger than the settlement area.

In the six largest cities in Switzerland (Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Winterthur and Zurich), the proportion of settlement area in 2018, at 54.2 percent, was significantly higher than in the overall calculation, the statement explains further. Forest and agricultural land accounted for 29.6 and 14.3 percent, respectively.

The analysts observed growth in the reporting period, above all in residential areas. Between 1985 and 2018 it increased by almost 10,000 hectares to 35,000 hectares. The areas used for traffic and built up with recreational and green areas also grew in the reporting period. In contrast, the area used by industry in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants fell by 26 percent between 1985 and 2018.

April 2022
Implenia is building five buildings for SBB

As a general contractor, Implenia is building five buildings on the former Malley industrial site west of Lausanne, one of which has 19 floors and a second one with 24 floors. As the company reports , the order volume is CHF 200 million. It includes the construction of residential and commercial buildings for the first phase of construction called Central Malley . An area of 42,200 square meters is to be developed. 23,700 square meters are planned as office space, 3800 square meters for commercial units and 14,700 square meters for around 200 apartments.

The Central Malley construction project is the first step in the revitalization of the Malley industrial area. According to the information, the area is to be converted into a sustainable urban quarter with apartments, offices and commercial units. The concept for the development is based on ecological building, future ways of life and the Minergie P-Eco standard. The development of the new district fits into the spatial development plan for the Lausanne metropolitan area, which envisages several “ambitious architectural designs”. In this way, Implenia is making a contribution to the design of “promising future living and working environments,” says Jens Vollmar, Head of the Buildings Division, quoted in the press release.

The project was preceded by two architecture competitions. The designs are implemented by the offices of Aeby Perneger & Associés SA and Pont 12 Architectes SA .

November 2021
Lausanne bans combustion engines from 2030

The city of Lausanne presented its climate plan for 2050 on Thursday. Its motto is “0% CO2, 100% solidarity”. The climate goals are to be flanked by strong social measures, for example for tenants and users of public transport. As stated in a communication from the city administration, they want to lead “a real debate” on the most important goals and measures with “broad-based consultations and participatory processes”.

From 2030, Lausanne will ban all vehicles with internal combustion engines from the urban area. In the course of this, the city administration is proposing a significant reduction in local public transport tariffs as well as an expansion of the pedestrian zone in the center and main bicycle routes from every point of the compass into the city center.

In addition, the annual renovation rate for old buildings is to be increased from 1 to 3.3 percent. Gas and oil heating systems are to be replaced gradually. In order to achieve CO2 neutrality of buildings by 2050, investments of 1 billion Swiss francs are necessary. At the same time, studies would be carried out, for example to analyze the effects of a building renovation policy on rents. Strong social measures must ensure that climate policy is supported by the entire population.

The area of the leaves of trees is expected to grow by 50 percent by 2040. "The resilient city of the 21st century will then be lavishly landscaped," says the message. Overall, direct greenhouse gas emissions are expected to fall by 49 percent by 2030 and by 71 percent by 2040. The goal of zero emissions is to be achieved in 2050.

The implementation of this policy will change the city radically, so the city leaders. In order to be successful, it must become a collective project and should not leave out any population groups.

January 2021
CBRE STRENGTHENS POSITION IN WESTERN SWITZERLAND

Real estate consultancy CBRE today announced the opening of its new office in Lausanne. The new office is located in the heart of Lausanne on Rue Saint-Martin and will be a strategic location to strengthen CBRE's proven presence in the real estate market in French-speaking Switzerland.
In autumn 2019, CBRE announced the acquisition of i Consulting SA, a renowned provider of valuations, market analyzes and consulting services for real estate. Around 20 employees will now work together in the new office in Lausanne. This physical merger of the two teams is an important step in the already successful integration. The new office in Lausanne relies on a modern room concept 'New Ways of Working', which enables flexible working.
Headed by Vincent Leroux, the Lausanne office advises investors, property users and developers on all property issues. In connection with the close proximity to the market and detailed knowledge of the structures within the region, ideal on-site consulting services can be offered. CBRE currently employs more than 120 people in Switzerland with headquarters in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne.
The managing director of CBRE Switzerland, Florian Kuprecht, comments on the opening: "Understanding the market and customer needs is crucial for our business. The opening of the new office in Lausanne enables us to advise customers in this important market area with even greater local expertise . The continued expansion and diversification of CBRE in Switzerland reflects our claim to tailor our range of services more and more to the needs of our customers. "

August 2020
Alpiq benefits from long-term contracts

According to the key figures of the Alpiq Group , the Lausanne-based energy group generated net sales of 1.83 billion francs in the first half of 2020. Compared to the previous semester, this corresponds to a decrease of 18.3 percent. The operating result (EBIT) reported a loss of 70 million francs, compared to a loss of 206 million francs in the first half of 2019. The net result improved from a loss of 206 million to a loss of 84 million francs.

The operating result at the EBITDA level before special items increased from 55 million to 116 million francs year-on-year, said Alpiq in a statement on the half-year results. All three Alpiq divisions contributed to the positive operational development.

Specifically, a result of 37 million francs was achieved in Swiss electricity production, compared to a loss of 56 million francs in the previous semester. International energy trading increased its result year-on-year from CHF 53 million to CHF 58 million. In international electricity production, after 60 million francs in the previous year, a positive result of 24 million francs was achieved “despite the coal phase-out”, writes Alpiq.

The coronavirus pandemic caused electricity prices to fall sharply, especially in April and May, Alpiq said in the press release. The Lausanne group was well protected against this development due to the safeguarding of electricity production for two to three years.

August 2020