
A platform for entrepreneurs in the Limmat Valley
Anyone investing in business locations in 2026 is looking for platforms, not square metres. Spaces with a diverse mix of tenants, event facilities, an active community and links to a high-performance hub. In the Limmat Valley, startup space has been fulfilling this role for ten years. Etoy will

A Building for the Almost Invisible
ETH Zurich isn’t just building a new physics building on the Hönggerberg. It’s constructing a controlled environment deep underground. The HPQ is designed to enable high-precision research in which even the slightest vibrations, magnetic fields, or temperature fluctuations can skew

568 million for a new educational universe
The Horw Campus is entering a decisive phase. With the submission of the building permit application and the founding of Immobilien Campus Luzern-Horw AG, a long-planned vision is becoming a concrete construction project. The new campus brings together technology, architecture, and education. With

10 Years of SVIT Young Zurich
Zurich, 2026 – SVIT Young Zurich celebrated its tenth anniversary on September 11. What began in 2015 as a workshop for apprentices and young employees has evolved into a well-established platform for fostering young talent, professional development, and networking within Zurich’s real estate

Rent control initiative threatens to bring more regulation rather than more housing
Bern formally approved the rent control initiative on 13 August 2026. The initiative aims to link rents more closely to costs and returns, and to have them reviewed on a regular basis. For landlords, property managers and developers, this means, above all, increased regulatory pressure, whilst the

Local authorities see finances as their biggest challenge
Swiss municipalities and towns cite finances as their greatest strategic concern. Spatial planning and staffing follow closely behind. For construction, development and municipal property, this means more conflicting priorities between investment, growth and limited scope for

A sector is reinventing itself
The Silbern site in Dietikon is a thriving business and shopping district in the heart of the Limmat Valley. For a long time, however, the site lacked coordinated dialogue between the various stakeholders. Whilst other business hubs in the region were catching up, Silbern was treading water. Now,

Schwyz removes key areas from its landscape plan
The canton of Schwyz is proceeding with its landscape strategy without the controversial key areas. This removes a sensitive point of contention from the forthcoming revision of the structure plan, although the strategy is still intended to apply to planning and construction projects as well as to

Schlieren does what others talk about
Innovation does not happen by chance. It requires space, proximity and a location that does more than simply set out good intentions. This is precisely where Schlieren comes in. Through the Innovation and Young Entrepreneurs Centre (IJZ), the town provides young firms and existing SMEs with

Belgrade Becomes a Stage for Switzerland
In 2027, Switzerland will not be traveling to Belgrade with a traditional exhibition. Instead, it aims to get people moving, facilitate encounters, and make the future a shared experience. The Swiss Pavilion is being designed by the Zurich-based creative agency JEFF in collaboration with Bellprat

Thun Nord doesn’t just build apartments
Thun Nord was set to evolve from an industrial and military area into a diverse neighborhood. Now, the federal government is setting a new guideline: the military base’s land will remain reserved for the army and national defense. The space that was expected to be used for civilian development

The electronics industry is meeting tomorrow
Tomorrow, Wednesday, ineltec 2026 opens its doors at Messe Zürich. For two days, it will serve as a compact gathering place for the Swiss electrical industry. 209 exhibitors will showcase how electrical engineering, energy, lighting, mobility, and digitalization are converging in buildings. The

Dietikon is testing what cities will need in the future
Cities are struggling with congested roads, noisy delivery vehicles and a transport system that is reaching its limits. In the Limmat Valley, four partners have decided they can’t wait any longer. They are transforming the urban area into a test bed.

Development Switzerland Calls for Five Reforms
According to Entwicklung Schweiz, housing construction in Switzerland has reached a historically low level. Meanwhile, the population—and thus the demand for housing—continues to grow. In its position paper titled “Ways Out of the Housing Crisis,” the industry association calls for fewer

Horw launches the 568-million project
The planning application for the new campus in Horw is now on public display. The canton is thus taking its largest educational construction project into the next phase. The plans include new buildings, refurbishments and a conversion to be carried out whilst the campus remains open, with a

The Zurich Metropolitan Area Is Growing Closer Politically
Dieter Egli is taking over as chair of the Zurich Metropolitan Conference, with Claudio Bernold joining him. The leadership change comes at a time when the organization—which coordinates spatial planning, transportation, and location issues across cantonal and municipal boundaries—has also

Bern pulls the emergency brake on unclaimed plots of land
The Bern cantonal government wishes to revise the rules governing ownerless land and plots. Land that cannot be cultivated, such as rocks and glaciers, is to belong to the local authorities. In the case of ownerless sections of road, arable land or industrial sites, the local authorities are to be

Architectural Culture as a Driver of Innovation
A campus is not a showcase. It is a hub for knowledge, research, and interaction. That is precisely why the new historic preservation designation for the first construction phase of the EPFL in Lausanne is noteworthy. It not only protects the concrete, the grid layout, and the spaces, but also

Stability Is a Matter of Location Policy
The global economy is navigating turbulent waters. Trade conflicts, military escalations, and fragile supply chains are putting pressure on companies. Yet in the canton of Zurich, the economy remains remarkably stable. The reason lies deep within the region’s profile and is particularly evident

Bern Requires Residential Buildings to Have Charging Stations
The federal government is taking direct action regarding apartment buildings. A proposal released on June 19, 2026, aims to require landlords and condominium owners to install the basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations when necessary. This is precisely what is sparking massive

The railway that nobody wanted but everyone needs
Too expensive, took too long to build, not enough demand. Three years on, Line 20 between Zurich Altstetten and Killwangen has silenced the critics. For what looked like an expensive experiment at the time is now the backbone of transport in one of Switzerland’s fastest-growing

Safenwil Creates Room for Growth
In Safenwil, every available classroom is becoming a scarce resource. Today, a home economics room serves as a classroom, and music lessons are spread across several school buildings. The new “Ufm Känzeli” building is intended to relieve pressure on the existing facilities and ensure that

Frauenfeld’s development plan sparks opposition
In Frauenfeld, the dispute over the new municipal development plan is entering a critical phase. Business associations and a town centre association are rallying against the provisions on traffic, parking and procedures. They fear more restrictions, reduced accessibility and greater interference

Basel’s Building Inspectorate loses its head
Basel-Stadt is pulling the plug on the Building and Hospitality Inspectorate. Following criticism of lengthy procedures and the management, the head of the inspectorate is taking early retirement at the start of 2027. For building owners, the main concern now is whether the change in leadership

Scorching summer puts the Minergie pledge to the test
Over 60,000 certified buildings are synonymous with efficiency and comfort. Yet it is precisely during heatwaves that Minergie homes are coming under increasing pressure. The association is responding with stricter requirements for summer heat protection and is placing greater emphasis on cooling,

Baden Regio sets out its next planning strategy
23 local authorities in the Baden region are refining their joint development strategy. A new Regional Development Strategy (RES) is due to be finalised by the end of 2026. For urban development, housing, transport and open spaces, this is more than just a piece of paper, as the association brings

The mailbox makes the rounds through the neighborhood
Sometimes, just a few extra words in a piece of legislation are enough to overturn the status quo. That’s exactly what’s happening now at Swiss Post, where a minor revision to the Postal Act could have a major impact. The very idea of having your own mailbox on your front doorstep is suddenly

Winterthur puts the Schützi expansion to a public vote
On 27 September 2026, Winterthur will vote on a proposal to allocate 35.13 million Swiss francs for new end-stand stands and an operations building at the Schützenwiese. The development is intended to modernise the outdated infrastructure by 2029, increase capacity and ensure that matches can

Bern secures loans for affordable housing
The National Council and the Council of States have secured the key federal instruments for social housing construction until the early 2030s. CHF 150 million has been approved for the Fonds de Roulement, along with guarantees totalling CHF 1.92 billion for EGW
