Aarau is attempting to break the deadlock in the protracted dispute over school premises. Ahead of the local council meeting on 16 November 2026, the town council is entering into a contractual agreement linking the Zelgli site to Telli, thereby making new building projects possible at both

China is radically tightening the rules on property sales. Since 28 August 2026, pre-sales may only commence once the structural work has been completed, and buyers’ funds and mortgages must remain in escrow accounts. This increases the pressure on private developers and shifts risks further into

In the canton of Zurich, advertised rents have fallen by 3.3 per cent over the past year to 2,340 francs. This offers little relief, as the vacancy rate remains at just 0.48 per cent and, of all places, Geroldswil now tops the cantonal rent rankings due to expensive new-build

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

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

Basel has paved the way for one of its most striking urban development projects. The Grand Council approved the zoning change and development plan for Dreispitz Nord by a vote of 83 to 3, with four abstentions. The current commercial and parking lot area is set to be transformed into a development

In Zurich’s 6th district, a pending case before the Federal Supreme Court is holding up a project for 42 social housing flats. The case touches on a sensitive issue in urban development, as affordable housing, mature trees and stricter tree protection measures clash directly on the same

Winter has long shaped the construction industry. Now, the summer heat is putting architecture and the real estate sector to a new test. Even sustainable wood-frame buildings require a precise interplay of location, materials, thermal mass, shading, ventilation, and

Heat pumps are considered key to the energy transition. But starting in 2027, a system’s sustainability will depend on more than just its efficiency. Refrigerants are also taking center stage. New Swiss regulations are further restricting climate-impacting substances, thereby changing planning,

The Swiss construction industry gained momentum in the first half of 2026. Building construction is growing strongly, driven by residential construction and public projects. But behind the positive figures lies a structural problem. Contracts are in place, but planning, permits, objections, and

Development of a large residential estate on the Van Baerle site in Münchenstein is getting back on track. Five years after the referendum result – a ‘no’ vote by a margin of just ten votes – the site has been redeveloped, but a new neighbourhood plan is only just getting off the ground

In the new administrative building on Seetalplatz in Emmenbrücke, 12 out of 17 flats remain unlet for the time being. This slow start is affecting a site that is planned to become the new centre of Lucerne North and is set to bring together around 30 of the canton’s administrative offices by

The German federal government is pushing ahead with plans for its own housing association. However, a new IMK study dated 31 August 2026 warns of significant legal and financial risks and argues that a credit-based housing stimulus scheme would be quicker, cheaper and more widely

Courdimanche is set to become a tourist magnet with three new theme parks costing 6 billion euros. However, the much-heralded Dragon Ball flagship attraction, of all things, has not yet secured full funding in legal terms, as, according to recent reports, approval from the Japanese rights holders

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

For the Markthof Schild Ost project in Nussbaumen near Baden, the start of construction—already scheduled for spring 2026—is being further delayed. Because the ongoing permitting process has made a second basement level necessary, the underground parking garage is being expanded from 48 to 70

The Granador site near Hitzkirch and Ermensee is changing hands, giving new momentum to a development project that had been stalled for years. According to the design plan approved in March 2026, the new owner aims to submit a building application for approximately 275 apartments as early as

A glass facade provides protection, opens up spaces, and lets in natural light. Until now, it has mostly remained passive in terms of energy. Now, semitransparent organic PV modules are demonstrating that it can also generate electricity in the future. The decisive step lies not only in the cell

At the Lindenhof site in Basel, the transformation from an isolated corporate headquarters into a mixed-use urban block is drawing nearer. Planning permission has been submitted for two new high-rise buildings and a public park, alongside the refurbishment of the listed existing building dating

In Altdorf, the Werkmatt Uri development has taken a decisive step forward. With the completion of the infrastructure works, all building plots are now ready for construction; at the same time, work is starting on Plot 11 with the Gotthard Business Park, the site’s largest building project to

Buchs is raising the bar for new municipal construction and renovations. The new Building Standard 2025 is mandatory for the city’s own properties and also applies to site developments, special-use plans, land sales, and building rights transfers by the

In Valais, the vacancy rate is falling, but cooperative housing construction remains at a standstill. While a project for ten families in Saillon is stuck in the approval process, the canton still lacks a clear legal framework that actively safeguards and facilitates such

Work on a 67-unit residential project on Dürrenäscherstrasse in Teufenthal has been put on hold. The reason is not a formal construction freeze, but rather an archaeological find from the Late Bronze Age, which is temporarily slowing down progress at the construction

A controversial redevelopment plan is currently under consideration in the centre of Herisau. The proposal for Casinopark would see the construction of flats, a public underground car park with 56 spaces, a private car park with 52 spaces and a new park. However, it is only following a public

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

Southwest of the Altdorf cantonal train station, a reserve area is gradually being transformed into a new business hub. All the building lots at Werkmatt Uri are now developed. At the same time, the Gotthard Business Park—the largest building construction project on the site to date—is getting

At Baslerstrasse 36 in Brugg, a housing project that has been delayed for years has taken a decisive step forward. The planning permission for three blocks of flats comprising 27 owner-occupied flats is now legally binding, and marketing is set to begin in

The next major step for Lucerne North is set to begin at Seetalplatz in Emmen. From September 2026, construction will begin on the Rüüssegg site to create 344 flats, commercial premises and new open spaces along the Kleine Emme. The neighbourhood is due to be completed by the end of

Higher rental income, lower vacancy rates and 80 million Swiss francs of fresh capital. The Immo Helvetic property fund posted an operational improvement in the first half of 2026, despite no new acquisitions being made during the reporting period. The boost stems from ongoing residential

Something that once seemed unthinkable is currently taking place at Kreuzäcker in Spreitenbach. On a site that was blocked for years by planning restrictions, a commercial building is now rising. 40 million Swiss francs, 6,000 square metres – a clear commitment to the region. The Gateway