The UOB Plaza modernisation project is featured in the April issue of *Elevator World* magazine. As part of the project, Schindler fitted the twin towers of UOB Plaza in Singapore with new lifts, escalators and smart mobility technologies between 2022 and

An electric car that is largely self-powered sounds like a dream of the future. But a European research project is now providing tangible figures. Solar cells integrated directly into vehicles could dramatically reduce the electricity requirements of entire fleets and relieve the strain on the

Green hydrogen is seen as the key to the energy transition, but remains expensive to produce. The materials used in electrolyzers in particular drive up costs. Empa researchers are developing coatings that replace precious metals, stop corrosion and can be scaled up in industry. This brings the

When KONE introduced MonoSpace, the world's first machine room-less elevator, in 1996, it was more than just a technical innovation. The system marked a turning point in elevator planning: a new principle that has permanently changed the planning and realization of

Why does traffic congestion in Los Angeles differ from that in Zurich? And what does the construction of a new neighborhood have to do with commuter traffic? A new study by ETH Zurich provides answers for the first time and provides urban planning with a tool that was previously

Some media are proclaiming the end of the home office. The figures tell a different story. In Switzerland and Germany, hybrid working has not only persisted, but established itself as a structural constant of the modern working world. A new CBRE analysis shows that what is currently happening is

A butterfly has given researchers at Fraunhofer ISE the decisive clue. Solar modules that look like brickwork, roof tiles or individually designed façade elements and generate electricity with almost no loss of power. The new "ShadeCut" technology could resolve a long-standing point of contention:

Real estate companies invest in AI tools - and reap complexity instead of clarity. The reason rarely lies in the technology. It lies in the database, which is not approached

Steel bends, rubber stretches, materials always react to forces in the same way. Until now. Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have developed a metamaterial that learns, forgets and adapts flexibly, without a central brain or program code. The study was published in "Nature Physics" and

Developing new products safely and sustainably before damage occurs. This is the aim of the EU's "Safe and Sustainable by Design" concept. Many companies fear that this will mean additional work. However, a new analysis by Empa shows that the concept is already in line with around two thirds of the

Smart cities mark the transition from traditional urban planning to data-based, networked and learning urban systems. According to international rankings, cities such as Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne have been among the world leaders for years. Not because of individual gadgets, but thanks to clear

Hydrogen is supposed to heat houses, power cars and save industry. That sounds like a simple solution to a complex problem. The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research has now evaluated more than 100 studies and the result is clear: hydrogen is not a panacea, but a targeted tool.

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world and one of the biggest climate offenders. A European research team with Empa and ETH Zurich wants to change this. The goal is not less concrete, but a printed, cement-free and even CO₂-negative building material that can be repaired

Researchers are developing 3D-printed floor beams made from plastic waste that meet building regulations and could replace wood in housing construction in the future. The approach is aimed at lightweight, modular constructions and making plastic waste usable as a resource in global housing

Don't burn waste wood, shape it. A research project by the University of Kassel and Buro Happold shows how waste wood can be 3D printed into load-bearing wall modules and how circular construction begins at the design

Cities of all sizes face a common challenge: their key infrastructure was never designed for the relentless pace of modern life. Millions of people rely on systems that are decades old, well past their intended lifespan and incompatible with climate

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, three start-ups that emerged from Empa will show how Swiss research is turning into market-ready hardware innovations for energy storage, photovoltaics and electronics cooling. The focus is on ultra-thin solid-state batteries, silent cooling technology for high-performance

Rio Tinto and Glencore are negotiating a potential mega merger that could create the world's largest mining and commodities group with a strong focus on copper. Rio Tinto must decide by February 5, 2026 at the latest whether a binding offer will be made. Whether the Zug-based group will actually be

Holcim has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the Peruvian construction company Cementos Pacasmayo. The transaction, with a volume of USD 1.5 billion, is intended to strengthen Holcim's presence in Latin America and is a central component of the NextGen Growth 2030

Holcim has expanded its European portfolio for recycling building materials. Three acquired companies in England, Germany and France with a capacity of 1.3 million tons of construction and demolition materials will contribute to the Group's goal of recycling over 20 million tons by

At an ancient building site in Pompeii, researchers have discovered evidence of a hot-mixing process for Roman concrete. The discovery strengthens the theory of self-healing concrete and contradicts the traditional description by the architect Vitruvius. With consequences for the understanding of

China is at a turning point. While electric cars, AI and green tech dominate the headlines, a deep-seated real estate crisis is eating away at the foundation of the economy. Major developers are faltering, provinces are groaning under debt, deflation is eating away at confidence and yet Beijing is

With the GlobalBuildingAtlas, a research team from the Technical University of Munich has for the first time created an almost seamless, freely available 3D map of all buildings on Earth. It forms the basis for new applications in climate research, urban planning, from megacities to rural

On Lake Neusiedl, a detached house with a thatched roof shows how circular construction can be achieved with local, regenerative materials. The building combines architectural quality, ecological responsibility and pioneering work for natural building materials in new construction. With appeal far

Sika has acquired Awazil Al Khaleej Industrial Co (Gulf Seal). The manufacturer of bitumen membranes for waterproofing operates its plant in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. It has established export channels to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation

Zurich North America and Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS) are teaming up with Arrowsight, an expert in video-based safety for construction projects. The background to this is a multi-year pilot program in New York City, in which occupational accidents on Arrowsight construction sites have fallen

Europe is entering a new era of earth observation. From 2027, CO2M satellites will for the first time provide comprehensive, high-resolution measurement data on CO2 and methane, right down to individual industrial plants. The necessary technologies were developed by Empa research teams, who are

The Sagrada Família has reached a historic milestone. At 162.91 meters, it has topped Ulm Minster since October 2025 and is now the tallest church in the world. However, the building is far more than just a height record. It is an example of visionary structural engineering, digital planning and

A building material that surpasses the strength of steel and yet is renewable. The vision sounds futuristic, but it is taking shape. After years of research, the US start-up Inventwood has brought so-called Superwood into mass production. The material was developed at the Department of Materials

Digital parking systems, data-driven land use and artificial intelligence. After Expo Real 2025, it is clear that the mobility turnaround has long since arrived on the land of the real estate industry. Europe's leading free-flow provider Wemolo identifies five trends that are transforming parking