immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Metropole

  • A balancing act between aesthetics and functionality – façade greening

    A balancing act between aesthetics and functionality – façade greening

    The greening of buildings has been an integral part of architectural design since ancient times, from the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis to the green façades of modern metropolises. Today, green façades are not only used for aesthetic enhancement, but also for practical benefits: They improve the microclimate, provide protection against heat, filter fine dust, promote biodiversity and have a sound-absorbing effect. They also protect the building from the weather and potentially increase the property value.

    Challenges and solutions
    Despite the obvious benefits, there are legitimate concerns about potential damage to the building fabric caused by plant roots or moisture. However, modern greening systems, such as wall-mounted and ground-mounted techniques, offer solutions that minimise the risk. Wall-mounted systems, including linear, modular and flat designs, allow precise control over growth and water supply and are particularly suitable for new buildings. The choice of plants depends on the local conditions and the chosen system, with self-climbers and scaffold climbers being popular options.

    Future prospects
    Careful planning is essential for the successful integration of façade greening into the urban environment. In addition to the aesthetic component, functional aspects such as fire protection and maintenance must also be taken into account. Cooperation between architects, urban planners and building owners plays a decisive role in sustainably utilising the many benefits of façade greening and designing urban living spaces for the future.

  • The path to sustainable metropolises

    The path to sustainable metropolises

    The discussion paper by ULI and BNP Paribas REIM presents outstanding international examples of urban transformations that have been implemented in metropolises such as Hamburg, Paris, Copenhagen and Bogotá. These cities have developed innovative concepts for transport networks, sustainable urban development and city networks to make their urban spaces more sustainable. The paper emphasises how these approaches contribute to greater urban resilience by integrating environmental, social and economic aspects.

    Strategies to promote urban resilience
    The ten paths to a resilient city described in the discussion paper offer concrete recommendations for action for public and private stakeholders. These range from the formulation of adaptation strategies and building awareness of crises to the integration of urban risk management into urban planning. Particular importance is attached to the creation of sufficient housing and social infrastructure in order to provide inclusive and sustainable social services that enable the broad participation of urban society.

    The role of the public and private sector
    The discussion paper emphasises that the transformation to resilient cities is a joint task that is not the sole responsibility of the public sector. Isabella Chacón Troidl and Honoré Achille Simo explain that property investors also play a decisive role in the development of resilient urban spaces. They help to integrate social, ecological and economic aspects into urban development and thus promote a comprehensive renewal of the housing sector.

    Conclusion and outlook
    The discussion paper “Urban transformation versus urban resilience” serves as a catalyst for a new era of urban planning. It calls on decision-makers and stakeholders to take innovative and sustainable measures that not only strengthen the resilience of cities, but also improve their quality of life. Sabine Georgi emphasises that the future development of urban spaces is a social issue that requires active and joint action in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

  • Holcim co-founds Circularity Task Force at COP28

    Holcim co-founds Circularity Task Force at COP28

    Building materials producer Holcim has joined the London Sustainable Markets Initiative ‘s Circularity Task Force, according to a press release. The task force, which was founded at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, aims to accelerate the global transition to a circular economy in the construction industry in order to promote climate protection, conserve natural resources and respect planetary boundaries.

    The founding members are Holcim Dubai Airports, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Gemini Corporation, Investcorp and LGT Group. According to a statement from the Sustainable Markets Initiative, the Circularity Task Force will be coordinated by Gemini Corporation and its CEO Kunaal Patawari. The task force is guided by the principles of Terra Carta, an association founded in 2021 by King Charles of England, which proposes a series of measures for sustainable global value creation by 2030.

    “In view of the growing world population and urbanisation, we need to build better with fewer resources,” Holcim’s President and CEO Jan Jenisch is quoted as saying in the company’s own press release. “At Holcim, we are driving circular construction in all the metropolises where we operate to build cities out of cities by recycling demolition materials for new construction solutions.”

    Holcim already processes almost 7 million tonnes of demolition material per year, or around 1,000 truckloads per day, into new construction solutions. By 2030, the company wants to expand its ECOCycle recycling technology to 150 sites in Europe and then recycle more than 20 million tonnes of construction waste every year.

  • Immigration influences rents in metropolitan areas

    Immigration influences rents in metropolitan areas

    "The gap in apartment rental prices in the Swiss metropolises is widening," Comparis introduces a statement on a study on rental price developments over the past five years. The online comparison service evaluated more than 683,000 advertisements from 2017 to 2021 for them. According to the results, the average rents in the ten largest Swiss cities developed in opposite directions. "The main reason for the development is the migration away from the smaller towns to the large centers," Comparis real estate expert Leo Hug is quoted as saying in the press release.

    In major cities such as Geneva, Zurich and Lucerne, rental prices rose sharply over the reporting period. With an increase in the median price from CHF 3,360 to CHF 3,500, Geneva recorded the highest growth for 4.5-room apartments. The average rental price for 3.5-room apartments also increased the most in Geneva, from CHF 2,410 to CHF 2,640. The prices for 2-room apartments rose the most in Lucerne in the reporting period, by 4.8 percent to CHF 1,300. Currently, however, you have to dig the deepest into your pocket in Zurich at CHF 1,650 for a 2-room apartment.

    The Comparis analysts observed the most significant declines in median rents in Lugano. Here, the average rental price for large apartments fell from 1,900 to 1,700 francs, for medium-sized apartments from 1,650 to 1,450 francs and for small apartments from 1,295 to 1,150 francs. At CHF 985, a 2-room apartment is currently the cheapest to rent in Biel.

    The analysts give the median as the mean rent. In contrast to the calculated average, the median represents the mean value across all rental prices.