immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Städte

  • For the first time, some of Switzerland’s largest cities are meeting for a dialog

    For the first time, some of Switzerland’s largest cities are meeting for a dialog

    Since 2019, Swiss cities, municipalities, companies and organizations have been sending out a clear signal for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals every autumn. Raising the SDG flag stands for the commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the will to tackle global challenges together. In Lugano, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis opened the event with a video message and emphasized Switzerland’s key role in sustainable development at national and global level. A special feature of this year, the SDG Flag Day was used as a platform for metropolitan exchange, from administration to innovation promotion

    Exchange, practical examples and youth visions
    The dialog revolved around the status of the 2030 Agenda in cities, best practices and the role of international networks for urban transformation. The delegations discussed challenges ranging from climate change to biodiversity, but also opportunities arising from cooperation between science, business, politics and civil society. The presentations by high school students from Lugano, who presented their visions for urban development in 2030 in the “Laboratori di cultura urbana – Mediazione Giovani”, were particularly impressive. Their “Summer Islands” project was implemented together with the city and the Institute of Architecture and stands for youth engagement and participatory urban development

    Framework and principles of the 2030 Agenda
    With its 17 SDGs, the 2030 Agenda, which was adopted by the UN member states in 2015, defines the international framework for action to tackle challenges such as climate change, resource consumption and social inequality. Their aim is to reconcile prosperity and the planet through partnership, peace and progress and to create sustainable living realities worldwide. Flag Day is part of the UN Global Compact and is used in Switzerland and internationally as a symbol of commitment and exchange

    The SDG Flag Day in Lugano was the starting signal for more intensive and networked cooperation between cities in the area of sustainable development. The lived practice of dialog, exchange and participation at several levels makes it clear. The implementation of the SDGs is not a competition, but a joint project for the future of society throughout Switzerland and beyond its borders.

  • How nonsensical regulations are slowing down residential construction

    How nonsensical regulations are slowing down residential construction

    In Swiss cities, rental flats are scarce and expensive, and there are many reasons for this. One decisive factor is the increasingly long waiting time between planning application and building permit. The number of waiting days has increased by around 12 per cent on average across Switzerland in the last ten years. Whereas a decade ago, building applications still took an average of 118 days to be approved, today the figure is already 133 days.

    The cantons of Geneva, Fribourg and Basel-Stadt are particularly affected, where it takes up to 188 days to review a planning application. The waiting time in the canton of Zurich is also considerable at 152 days. These delays are a symptom of more far-reaching problems in the Swiss construction industry.

    Nonsensical regulations act as a brake
    Architects and experts see nonsensical building regulations as a key obstacle to the rapid construction of new rental flats in urban centres. Peter Sturzenegger, owner of the architectural firm Isler Architekten AG in Winterthur, cites the multiple length allowance (MLZ) as an example. This regulation stipulates that the boundary distance must be increased for buildings over 14 metres in length, which has made many construction projects impossible. In Winterthur, it is planned to abolish this regulation by the end of 2025, but in other cities such as Zurich, the future of this rule remains uncertain.

    Outdated laws and their consequences
    Another example of outdated building regulations is the orientation of living spaces in the canton of Zurich. The Planning and Building Act requires that the majority of living spaces must not face north-east or north-west in order to maximise daylight and prevent mould growth. However, Pascal Müller from Müller Sigrist Architekten AG argues that this regulation is no longer appropriate in the context of today’s urban conditions, such as noise pollution and climate change.

    In addition to the legal hurdles, Müller also criticises the role of the courts. The large number of court rulings and judgements creates uncertainty for building owners, as they constantly change the regulations and significantly restrict the scope for planners.

    Monument protection and energy-efficient refurbishment
    Aargau architect Daniel Huber emphasises the restrictive requirements for monument protection and the complex requirements for energy-efficient refurbishment as further obstacles. For him, the inconsistent implementation of building regulations, which depends heavily on the interpretation of the responsible authorities, is particularly problematic.

    The mass of regulations as a central problem
    The Swiss Federation of Master Builders sees the growing number and complexity of building regulations as the biggest challenge. Jacqueline Theiler, Head of Communications at the association, explains that the increasing density of regulations and the associated appeal procedures considerably lengthen the building permit process. The over-interpretation of existing noise regulations by the Federal Supreme Court is particularly problematic.

    The association is now pinning its hopes on swift changes to the law by parliament in order to get the faltering housing construction back on track and realise the urgently needed flats in Switzerland.

  • New Master’s programme for urban change

    New Master’s programme for urban change

    From the start of the 2025 autumn semester, the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering(ENAC) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL) will be offering a Master’s degree in the challenges of urban change. A Master’s degree in Urban Systems will enable ENAC students to become specialists in adapting cities and surrounding areas to climate change, according to a press release from EPFL.

    In view of climate change, Switzerland needs to equip itself with experts in urban management in the broadest sense, according to the EPFL. The new Master’s degree programme has been developed in collaboration with practitioners. It offers graduates of the ENAC Bachelor’s degree programmes in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering the opportunity to specialise in the sustainable transformation of cities and surrounding areas. The Master’s programme is also open to other related disciplines, including architecture, provided they submit an application.

    The programme has three specialisations: Mobility and Transport in a Changing Climate, Sustainable Transitions in Urban Systems and Health and Wellbeing in the Urban Environment.

    At the end of the programme, students receive an EPFL Master of Science MSc in Urban Systems. This diploma entitles them to use the title EPF qualified engineer.

  • Green cities as trailblazers for global climate impact

    Green cities as trailblazers for global climate impact

    The MCC study, published in the journal Nature Cities, highlights four key methods of CO2 removal in urban environments that could sequester one gigatonne of CO2 annually by the middle of the century. The methods analysed include adding biochar to cement, increasing the use of wood in construction, enriching urban soils with biochar and installing CO2 filters in commercial buildings. Together, these approaches could make a significant contribution to achieving net-zero urban emissions.

    Urban strategies for the climate and more
    Quirina Rodriguez Mendez, PhD student at the MCC and lead author of the study, emphasises that these techniques are of great benefit not only in terms of climate protection, but also for environmental quality and well-being in cities. For example, the use of special colour pigments and surface materials to improve the reflectivity of urban surfaces could significantly lower the temperature in cities and reduce the energy required for air conditioning systems.

    Local actions with a global impact
    The study emphasises the role of cities as “test laboratories” for climate protection, where local measures can be implemented quickly and potentially scaled up globally. Felix Creutzig, head of the MCC working group and co-author of the study, emphasises that local climate solutions, although often underestimated, can have an impressive impact and improve quality of life. The research findings offer important insights and recommendations for policymakers shaping urban infrastructure and policies.

  • 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.

  • Realiste adds five Swiss cities to its real estate platform

    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.

  • Digital twins bring construction projects to life

    Digital twins bring construction projects to life

    For building projects of municipalities and cities to meet with acceptance among the population, clear communication and tangible visualisations are needed.

    The municipality of Fällanden also wanted to better present the spatial planning of a public area by means of visuals. For some time, those responsible had been planning the renovation of the town hall as well as a new meeting place in the centre that would give public life a little more space in the open air.

    For this purpose, the municipality of Fällanden engaged the planning and architectural firm Suter von Känel Wild AG (SKW), which in turn engaged the Zurich software developer Nomoko to visualise the construction projects in Fällanden.

    5200high-resolution images of Fällanden
    After Nomoko had been instructed by the architecture firm and provided with flight permission and the best possible launch positions for their drones by the municipality, their crew started their rotors at the beginning of June 2022 and flew over an area of almost three square kilometres with the WingtraOne drone, shooting around 5200 high-resolution images from a bird’s eye view.

    With the data, they returned to their offices in Zurich Altstetten, where the 3D designers converted the photos into a so-called digital twin of the municipality. A digital twin is a digitally accessible 3D model of a specific area. SKW also created models of the planned buildings and renovations, and Nomoko implemented them in the digital Fällanden of today.

    Digital twins simulate building projects
    On the deadline date, the community leaders together with SKW presented the centre planning at a public workshop. The participants were mainly residents of the municipality. The high-resolution, photo-realistic 3D model and the possibility of simulating different light irradiations and weather situations in particular met with positive feedback.

    Reusable and digitally accessible
    However, the full value of the digital twin will only be revealed in the future. Whereas in the past a new, physical 3D model had to be built for every single construction project, in future every other project can be illustrated on the same digital twin.

    Working with digital twins has various advantages:

    • Digital twins simplify communication between clients, architects, construction companies and residents, and lead to a uniform perception of the project at an early stage. This facilitates negotiations and speeds up discussions.
    • Compared to physical models, digital twins are reusable and can be adapted as required. They require little memory and take up no storage space.
    • Web-based tools make it possible to access and view digital twins easily on the internet without special skills or programmes.

    Digital twin of Switzerland for the real estate industry
    In addition to customised services for individual construction projects, Nomoko provides a platform that combines a digital twin of the whole of Switzerland with a smart search engine for real estate. This makes it possible, for example, to search cities by address or district, to display properties within the radius of a set point or to filter properties according to project criteria. Details on location, legal status, market performance and development potential are listed for each property.

    Personal details
    Lukas Nussbaumer joined Nomoko AG in 2021 as Sales & Key Account Manager. He is responsible for the expansion of 3D services and the Nomoko platform in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. Before joining Nomoko AG, Lukas Nussbaumer was responsible for customer acquisition and the management of various strategic projects at the Emch+Berger Group in the Telecommunications Network Planning department.

  • SVSM Award 2022: projects are nominated

    SVSM Award 2022: projects are nominated

    The Swiss Association for Location Management SVSM has been presenting the SVSM Awards annually since 2007. These are awards for particularly innovative projects in the areas of location marketing, location development and business promotion. 14 applications were received for this year's awards – from municipalities, cities and organizations from Lake Constance to Upper Valais. A jury evaluated these based on defined criteria and nominated the following six projects for the 2022 awards:

    • “Big Air Chur” city event – submitted by the city of Chur's business contact point

    • Conversion of the old spinning mill in Lichtensteig – submitted by the Stadtufer cooperative

    • "valais4you" project to promote the immigration of skilled workers –

    submitted by the regional and economic center of Upper Valais

    • Joint project "BIGNIK" to strengthen identification –

    submitted by REGIO Appenzell AR-St.Gallen-Bodensee

    • “Werkstadt Zürisee” to develop the Rütihof workplace area –

    submitted by the city of Wädenswil

    • Launch of the integrated location promotion for the Zurich Oberland –

    Submitted by the Zurich Oberland Promotion Association

    With the nomination, however, the applicants are not yet guaranteed an award: At the end of August, all nominees have the opportunity to present their projects to the jury. The jury consists of the following experts: Katharina Hopp, jury president and board member SVSM; ambassador dr Eric Jakob, Head of the Directorate for Business Promotion SECO; Pascal Jenny, President of Arosa Tourism; Karin Jung, Head of Office for Economy and Labor Canton of St.Gallen; Prof. Dr. Markus Schmidiger, Head of the Real Estate Competence Center

    University of Lucerne; Sonja Wollkopf-Walt, CEO Greater Zurich Area.

    The awards will be presented on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, as part of the hybrid conference "SVSM Dialogue Economic Promotion" in the Capitol cinema in Olten. Incidentally, the location manager of the year is also honored at this event.

  • 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.