Wädenswil is increasing its density without displacing residents
On Neudorfstrasse in Wädenswil, a housing estate is set to expand from 103 to around 160 flats, without the existing tenants having to move out. The plans include extensions, refurbishments whilst the building remains occupied, and construction is due to start in the second half of 2027 at the earliest.
The housing estate at Neudorfstrasse 32 to 60 in Wädenswil will not be demolished and rebuilt, but will be extended. The seven blocks of flats, built in 1982, are to be comprehensively refurbished and extended with new annexes and additional floor space. In this way, the owner aims to increase the number of flats from the current 103 to around 160 whilst continuing the existing tenancies.
The plan has now been finalised. In 2025, several options were examined and the team led by Halter AG was selected as the winner of the design competition. Project planning has been underway since early 2026, with the planning application scheduled as the next step in the process. According to the project website, construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027 at the earliest.
More flats without demolition
The winning project focuses on ‘extending’ rather than building a replacement. The existing building fabric will be preserved, whilst extensions and additions are set to create around 60 additional flats. As the extent of the work is limited, the renovation is planned to take place whilst the buildings remain occupied. On this basis, the owner has stated that all tenants will be able to continue living in the estate.
For the property sector, this is more than just a local construction project. In the Zurich area, evictions due to property vacancies have been a pressing issue for years. In 2024, Zürcher Kantonalbank described them as a dilemma between building renewal, densification and social acceptability. Its analysis also shows that, across Switzerland, evictions due to property vacancies are heavily concentrated in large cities and tourist centres, with the city of Zurich standing out particularly strongly between 2018 and 2022.
Renovation with a social focus
An alternative approach is now being trialled in Wädenswil. Plans include refurbishing building components, upgrading outdoor spaces, creating new communal areas and installing additional lift access for some of the existing flats. The project thus combines energy-efficiency and functional refurbishment with densification, without first clearing the existing stock.
However, one key issue remains unresolved. The extent to which rents will rise following the refurbishment has not yet been disclosed. It is precisely this that will determine whether the model ultimately proves convincing only from a structural point of view or whether it is also socially viable.