
Klybeckquai and Westquai as a hinge between the city and the future
Basel is setting new standards in urban planning with the development of Klybeckquai and Westquai. A newly conceived quarter on the Rhine, flexible uses on Westquai and generous open spaces define the face of a dynamic, complex urban

View into the fire zone
The FireDrone flies into burning buildings, tunnels or industrial plants and delivers real-time data from extreme environments. Developed at Empa and continued as a spin-off, it combines heat-resistant materials with intelligent robotics for greater safety and efficiency in firefighting and

Modernization and building mobility: Why we need to build on the existing infrastructure
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

Market digitally. Sell more economically.
In a persistently competitive real estate market, it is not just visibility that determines marketing success, but rather the benefits of the necessary investments. Efficiency, quality of contacts and the shortest possible marketing periods are increasingly becoming the focus of estate agents and

SVIT Zurich political talk “Zurich municipal council elections 2026”
On March 8, 2026, the city of Zurich will elect its municipal council. In the SVIT Zurich Polit Talk, seven committed candidates will discuss their positions on housing and real estate policy, present solutions for the tight housing market and enter into direct dialog with the

Energy future in the Limmat Valley
The "Limmattal Energy Center" is being built in Dietikon. The waste incineration and wastewater treatment plant is being extensively renovated for this purpose. The design plan will be open to the public from January 20, 2026. An important step for the energy and climate strategy in the canton of

Engineers’ Day 2026
On March 4, 2026, Switzerland will once again be dedicated to the art of engineering. Engineers' Day will bring together experts in engineering, STEM and tech professions. Supplemented for the first time by the national "National Conference of Engineers" at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences

Zurich strengthens energy transition with 60 million program
The canton of Zurich wants to further reduce emissions in the building sector. To this end, the cantonal government is applying for a new framework credit of CHF 60 million until 2029. Together with federal funds, up to CHF 286 million is available for energy promotion

Wolf-Areal Basel affordable apartments
A new part of the city will be built on the Wolf development site in Basel from 2028. SBB is granting building rights for two plots to the Basler Wohngenossenschaft and Vivanta AG. Around 270 affordable apartments based on the cost-rent principle will create a mixed, lively

Real estate market in a state of tension
In 2026, the Swiss real estate market will continue to be caught between interest rate reversals, political uncertainty and declining construction activity. While residential properties continue to increase in value, the commercial market is coming under pressure. The latest SIV market report shows


Canton of Jura updates list of industrial sites suitable for redevelopment
The canton of Jura has updated its list of industrial brownfield sites suitable for redevelopment as part of SwissRenov. The number of properties recorded has risen by 30 to 70. This project, which is unique in Switzerland, aims to promote the circular economy. It is being carried out by Haute


Swiss deep tech at the CES 2026
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

Experimental field of cooperative city life
The Hobelwerk in Oberwinterthur shows how a dense, mixed-use district can be created from a former industrial site right next to the train station, combining living, working and community life in a new way. Around 400 people live and work here in a confined space with diverse forms of housing,

Cantons stop fire protection liberalization
Following the fire in Valais, the cantons have halted the "BSV 2026" project and put the planned relaxation of Swiss fire safety regulations on ice. Instead of deregulation, the focus is now on analysis, clarification and readjustment, with an open outcome between tightening, standardization or

Mega merger with a signal effect
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

Expansion of strategic management with Daniel Kuster
Daniel Kuster, a high-profile personality with broad real estate and governance experience, will strengthen the Group's strategic management in future. He is to be elected to the Boards of Directors of Property One Partners AG and Property One Investors AG at the Annual General Meetings in April


Apartments are shrinking again
More and more people are living in less space. New-build apartments are becoming smaller for the first time in decades, while the living space per capita remains historically high. This trend is fundamentally changing planning, construction and energy policy and is turning space itself into a

Zurich strengthens energy future with solar and storage obligation
The Zurich cantonal government wants to generate more solar power from its own roof and at the same time promote the development of long-term energy storage systems. Two amendments to the law are intended to promote security of supply and self-production, with a sense of proportion and a spirit of

Majority stake drives growth in the Peruvian market
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


New sales concept focuses on experience and encounters
Rohner AG is expanding its sales area at the company headquarters in Balgach by September 2026. The aim is not only to present the company's own socks, but also to create emotions, experiences and exchanges. The shop-in-shop concept includes other

Realignment of a former weapons range takes shape
The canton of Vaud can begin planning for the future police academy on the Moudon weapons range, as the canton and the federal government have signed a letter of intent to cede the site. The possibility of turning the site into an interdisciplinary training center is now also being


Where the construction and real estate world is building its future
Swissbau 2026 will be a laboratory for the future of construction. Topics such as climate protection, the circular economy, digitalization and skilled workers are coming closer together than ever before. With a focused look ahead, strong content and a dialog between planning, construction and

St.Gallen prevents planning standstill in municipalities
With an amendment to the Planning and Building Act, the St.Gallen government is creating more planning security for municipalities, investors and project sponsors. Special use plans remain possible even during ongoing local planning revisions and the deadline for adapting land use planning to the

Federal government supports 33 model projects for tomorrow’s spatial planning
Over the next four years, the federal government will be supporting 33 projects throughout Switzerland with a total of almost CHF 4.3 million through the model projects for sustainable spatial development. The aim is to test new approaches to housing, landscape, supply, movement and regional
