Zurich is debating building regulations. The discussion centers on housing, open spaces, the character of neighborhoods, and the question of what a growing city should look like. On September 27, 2026, voters will choose between two proposals for new high-rise building

For a long time, Rüüssegg was little more than a promise on paper. Now, construction is getting underway at Seetalplatz. By the end of 2029, a neighborhood featuring 344 apartments, jobs, and new open spaces will have taken shape along the Kleine Emme. This marks a decisive step forward in the

Artificial intelligence has become part of everyday work life. It summarizes documents, answers inquiries, and streamlines processes. The more useful AI becomes, the more important the question becomes: Who retains control over the data, knowledge, and decisions within the

The cost of home ownership in Switzerland continues to rise in July 2026, but at a significantly slower pace. Flats are still up by 0.3 per cent month-on-month, whilst detached houses have risen by just 0.1 per cent. At the same time, fixed-rate mortgages rose noticeably up to 25 July, making

In Basel’s Steinenvorstadt district, the demolition of an entire row of houses has suddenly ceased to be merely a matter of urban development. Four historic buildings have been listed on the cantonal register of listed buildings, and the conflict between preservation and urban densification is

At Bischofszell railway station, the former hemp factory site is to be redeveloped with two new buildings and an extension to an existing building. The plans include 38 rental flats and around 740 square metres of commercial space. The project will be presented at the town hall on 24 August

In Geneva, new neighbourhoods and buildings are increasingly being awarded green certifications. Yet it is precisely at the stage where materials are used and emissions are generated that oversight remains lax. This is increasing the pressure on developers, planners and authorities to finally carry

According to a recent analysis by Wüest Partner, Appenzell Innerrhoden tops the list of Swiss cantons with the highest risk of overvaluation for detached houses. Prices there are around 16 per cent above their fundamental value, but the small size of the market means this warning is susceptible to

At Badenerstrasse 501 to 505 in Zurich Altstetten, the way is now clear for a new replacement development. Sixty-five rental flats and commercial premises are to be built on the 1,700-square-metre site. The decision takes a long-planned project into the next concrete

Although the approval of around 52,000 new homes marks a statistical turning point in Switzerland, this is barely noticeable on the rental market. Construction is taking place mainly outside the regions with the greatest shortages, whilst refurbishments are tying up capacity and asking rents

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

956 valid signatures were enough in Zollikofen to put the rezoning of the Steinibachgrube to a public vote. This means that a housing project comprising around 140 flats will become a political litmus test for urban densification, the risk posed by contaminated sites and traffic

St. Gallen intends to offer financial incentives to owners of properties outside building zones to encourage them to demolish empty or unsightly buildings. To this end, the government is submitting an amendment to the Planning and Building Act for consultation. As things stand, the first payments

Temperatures of 39 degrees in German-speaking Switzerland and tropical nights in the cities are shifting the focus when it comes to home ownership. Prospective buyers are paying closer attention to shade, greenery and protection from the summer heat, whilst overheated locations and poorly insulated

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

750 million dollars by 2035, 500,000 additional homeowner households and a more than 40 per cent increase in mortgage volume. The largest US bank is banking on an aggressive expansion of financing in the weak US housing market, thereby turning access to home ownership into a growth area – of all

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

An annual inflation rate of 0.5 per cent in June 2026 and an SNB key interest rate of 0 per cent will spare fixed-rate mortgages maturing by the end of the year the acute impact of rising interest rates. At present, the greatest influence often lies not with monetary policy, but with the banks’

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

Sustainable construction is often seen as an expensive luxury rather than a smart investment. A new study using the Empa and Eawag campus parking garage as an example shows the opposite. Investing in flexibility today saves millions tomorrow. The proof lies in an unassuming wooden building in

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

The refurbishment and extension of the Pretorium in Bellinzona are taking longer than planned. Instead of autumn 2026, the building – which will house judicial and police services – is now due to be handed over in spring 2027. The canton attributes the delay to appeals lodged during the

Ten objections are holding up the preventive resettlement project in Brienz/Brinzauls. However, the municipality of Albula/Alvra only gave its clear approval for the loan of 82.56 million Swiss francs on 10 July 2026. For property owners, this means that not only the financing but also the

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

Evolène and Goms top the list of the most affordable Alpine destinations analysed for 2026. According to UBS, prices for holiday homes there stand at 6,600 and 6,700 Swiss francs per square metre. At the same time, prices for second homes in the Alps continued to rise across Switzerland in 2025,

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