Despite the rent register, the debate on expropriation and the electoral risk, major rental housing projects are continuing to get under way in Berlin. The reason is straightforward, yet risky for developers. Demand remains high, but political uncertainty and rents exceeding 20 euros per square

The greater Basel area is on the cusp of a boom in the construction of high-rise residential buildings, which will visibly transform the region within a decade. What was previously just three residential high-rises over 60 metres tall is set to become a dense network of new projects between the

Where vacant premises now dominate and shop windows are hidden behind masking tape, a vibrant urban neighbourhood is set to emerge by 2033. Baloise has given the go-ahead for four new buildings on the Dreispitz site in Dietikon. An 80-metre-high tower block will mark the start of this new chapter.

While Zurich trembles in anticipation of the referendum on its own high-rise ambitions, towers elsewhere continue to soar skyward. Basel and Dübendorf are engaged in a quiet competition for Switzerland’s most spectacular skyline. One city is banking on pharmaceutical capital and star architects,

Cranes are once again a common sight on Swiss construction sites. Last year, the number of new apartments approved was the highest it has been in eight years. Anyone hoping for lower rents is likely to be disappointed. The construction boom is simply not enough to meet the pent-up

Anyone who digs a tunnel ends up producing millions of metric tons of soil and rock, most of which has, until now, ended up unused in landfills. A new research project at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences aims to change exactly that and use this excavated material to produce a

A planning application has been submitted for 24 barrier-free flats for people aged 60 and over on Landstrasse in Lengnau. The project, led by the Mühlihalde co-operative, aims to bridge the gap between living at home and moving into a care home at a later stage; however, the start date for

Following the ‘yes’ vote at the ballot box, the development plan for the Metalli site in Zug has come through the public consultation period without any objections. This means that development of the site can now proceed. The next concrete step will be an architectural competition for the

Construction of a mixed-use residential and commercial building is set to begin in early August on the site of the former EPA car park in Grenchen. The plans include a new bank branch on the ground floor, 28 rental flats on the upper floors, and occupancy is expected around two years after

On Lägernstrasse in Dietikon, postwar buildings that have long outlived their usefulness are being demolished. In their place, a new urban neighborhood is taking shape—one that not only provides housing but also showcases what urban densification can look like in the Limmat Valley. It features

In the Tscharnergut neighbourhood of Bern and in other residential areas, heritage conservation and housing regeneration are at loggerheads. Whilst property owners and housing cooperatives are pushing for replacement buildings, objections are dragging proceedings out for years, thereby exacerbating

At the Messeplatz in Basel, the start of construction on the Rosentalturm has been postponed once again. Demolition of the existing exhibition centre car park is now set to begin only after the Autumn Fair and the Baloise Session, whilst the building permit from the Canton of Basel-Stadt is still

Arrive, transfer, leave. For decades, the Dietikon train station was a place for people to pass through quickly. Now, SBB and the city are joining forces to tackle a project that’s long been overdue. A sprawling transit hub is being transformed into an urban gateway to the city, featuring a new

Construction investment in Switzerland rose by 3.5 per cent in 2025. According to provisional figures, the bulk of the increase was attributable to additional construction activity. The public sector, in particular, increased its spending significantly, thereby boosting both building construction

In Bern’s Viererfeld neighborhood, the cost of purchasing a cooperative apartment is rising significantly. Following the decision on June 1, 2026, the minimum equity contribution will rise to 2,000 francs, plus share certificates totaling approximately 40,000 francs, depending on the size of the

Between the second quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, building permits for industrial and logistics space totaling 4.4 billion Swiss francs were issued in Switzerland. Demand remains high, even though available space is scarce and permitting procedures are slowing down new

In Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg, the public participation process for the development plan for the Isleren area has been completed. The plan calls for 17 apartment buildings with approximately 300 units for about 660 residents. The next step in the process—the public review period—is still

At Seetalplatz in Emmenbrücke, the first phase of the Metropool project is set to begin after years of delays. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2026; the first buildings are expected to be ready for occupancy in 2030 and will eventually bring together approximately 350 banking

Since 1969, a massive concrete cube has dominated the cityscape of Dietikon. Anyone walking past the Limmattal Education Center might at first glance see only postwar architecture. But the Canton of Zurich is spending 42 million francs to renovate this historic building and transform it into a

After years of planning and multiple delays, things are finally taking shape. Construction of the Rüüssegg neighborhood—one of the largest residential development projects in northern Lucerne—will begin in the fall of 2026 at Seetalplatz in Emmen. By the end of 2029, 344 apartments and

A building permit has been granted for the new administration and security center in Kaltbach. The 139-million-franc project is thus moving closer to the start of construction in the fall of 2026, even though the decision is not yet

In Lenzburg, Hitachi Energy broke ground on a new six-story building. Approximately 200 additional jobs, new logistics space, and more room for manufacturing demonstrate the extent to which the site is being expanded as a Swiss semiconductor

On the Josef site in Zurich-West, the city is sticking to its plan for 140 to 170 new affordable housing units following an additional round of planning. Together with 135 senior housing units, this would total up to 305 units—significantly fewer than what politicians and planners had called

In major German cities, asking rents have been rising significantly faster than real wages since 2023. At the same time, housing construction fell to 206,600 completions in 2025. This is increasing the pressure on project developers, investors, and cities to provide affordable

In Sugiez, the Canton of Fribourg has begun construction of the new central prison. The 70.8 million Swiss franc project brings together pretrial detention, open-prison facilities, and ancillary infrastructure at a single location, marking a new chapter in the prison system both in terms of

Same apartment, same square meters, completely different price. A housing cooperative in Lucerne is turning the traditional rental system on its head and rewarding large households instead of those with small budgets. The idea sounds simple, but it strikes a chord that’s resonating throughout the

By approving 1.36 million Swiss francs for Gersagstrasse, Emmen is directly linking transport infrastructure improvements with site development. The short section near Gersag railway station remains a bottleneck, yet it is also essential for providing access to the planned ‘Sonne’

With 76.6 per cent of the public voting in favour and a construction loan of 44.3 million Swiss francs, the city is building a completely new care home. On the site of the former, outdated Sandbühl, a building is to be constructed by 2028 that combines housing, care and city life. It is a project

In Rapperswil-Jona, the redevelopment of the vacant centre on Untere Bahnhofstrasse is set to deliver not only 77 flats and new retail space. The project will also alter the street layout, make a tricky bend safer and promote low-car living in its letting

Zephyr West marks the start of the final major construction phase of the industrial transformation at the company’s main site in Zug. The new headquarters brings together development, training and administration, and signals the transition from the vertical factory to the next phase of the tech