
Nussbaum’s residential towers are even more deeply entrenched
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

Basel is struggling with a growing commercial vacancy rate
511,000 square meters of unused commercial space in the two Basel cantons mark an abrupt reversal of the trend. While the housing market continues to dry up, vacancies in retail, commercial, and warehouse spaces in particular are rising sharply, intensifying the pressure on property owners and

Basel is opening up the Lindenhof site for housing and a park
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

Apartment Sales Drive Basel to Another Jump in Profits
Just under 85 million Swiss francs in net income over six months, 60.8 million Swiss francs from residential sales, and a nearly sold-out project in Cham. The Basel-based real estate group’s half-year financial report shows just how strongly development gains are currently driving earnings, while

Basel’s Building Inspectorate loses its head
Basel-Stadt is pulling the plug on the Building and Hospitality Inspectorate. Following criticism of lengthy procedures and the management, the head of the inspectorate is taking early retirement at the start of 2027. For building owners, the main concern now is whether the change in leadership

Basel is lowering a ramp into the water
Construction has begun at the Dreispitz, transforming disused railway infrastructure into a 170-metre-long natural swimming pool. The ‘Gleispool’ is costing 8.8 million Swiss francs, is due to open in summer 2027 and marks a significant step in the redevelopment of the approximately 50-hectare

Baden Puts 20 Apartments on Hold Due to a Late Application for Protection
On the Demuth site in Baden’s Oberstadt district, a housing project by the municipal housing foundation has suddenly been put on hold. The city council has applied to the canton to have the old metalworking shop designated as a protected historic building, thereby blocking a project involving 20

Steinenvorstadt risks failing to gain listed status
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

Baden Regio sets out its next planning strategy
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

Basel is moving towards vertical living
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

Zurich Hesitates, “Dübai” Keeps Building
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,

The Rosental Tower in Basel will open later
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

Baden is putting the brakes on affordable housing in the Oberstadt
In Baden, a housing project run by the municipal housing foundation is coming under pressure because the town council wants to list the old metalworks in the Upper Town. This brings housing development and heritage conservation into direct conflict at a small but politically sensitive

Webermühle Plans to Increase Density to Accommodate 1,000 Residents
A new residential neighborhood for about 1,000 people is set to be built on the peninsula in Neuenhof starting in 2030. However, the project in Webermühle is contingent on a cooperative planning process, which—following the rejection of a loan—will not be restarted until the end of

The City That Blocks Itself
One of Switzerland’s most renowned urban planners is turning her attention to her own hometown. Sibylle Wälty of ETH Zurich accuses Baden of being far too cautious in its construction efforts, even though the city could actually accommodate twice as many people. Her conclusion is clear: the new

Basel tightens regulations on affordable housing on vacant plots
In future, one third of the residential floor space in large regeneration areas in Basel-Stadt must be offered on a cost-based rent basis on a permanent basis. The government is thus setting out the implementation of the counter-proposal to ‘Basel baut Zukunft’ and bringing forward the relevant

The City of Baden Gets Serious About Its “Sponge” Initiative
Cities are heating up like frying pans. Concrete and asphalt trap the heat, while sewer systems carry rainwater away—precisely when it’s needed most. Baden is now doing the opposite and showing how urban planning can be the answer to climate

Basel Eases Housing Protection Measures, Leading to Noticeable Effects on Rents
According to available data, 84.3 million Swiss francs have been invested in renovations in Basel-Stadt since May 2022. The trend since November 1, 2025, is particularly striking: With the revised ordinance, the permissible surcharges are rising significantly, especially in the comprehensive

Klybeck is being marketed even before residents move in
Rhystadt is consolidating its current and future properties in Basel’s Klybeck district under the new brand “Neues Klybeck.” This move comes at a time when the master plan is in place, the zoning plan is expected in early 2027, and the first commercial offerings, such as FLOW, are shaping the

Limmattal. Room for more.
With a refined strategy, concrete location development projects, and a new brand identity, Limmatstadt AG is positioning itself as a driving force in a strong region. The Limmat Valley is leveraging its dynamic location between Zurich and Baden to further raise its profile as an innovative business

What will become of Basel’s largest site?
In the middle of Basel lies a derelict industrial area of almost 30 hectares, directly between the Rhine and the meadow. It is the city's largest transformation site and a political hotspot. On June 14, 2026, Basel voters will decide what will become of it. A new district with thousands of

Baden gets serious about the sponge city
Heavy rain floods cellars, heat glows on sealed surfaces, sewage systems work at their limit. What was considered normal urban development for decades is now taking its toll with every extreme weather event. The city of Baden is now drawing the consequences and getting allies to break up private

2000 jobs are on the line in Wettingen
It's about far more than just a piece of land. In Wettingen, the ground is to be prepared for a campus that could give Aargau a major boost. there are plans for 1000 existing jobs and up to 2000 new jobs. Nothing has been decided yet. This is precisely why the case shows how hard regions are

Where others park, you soon live
If you're looking for living space in Baden-Dättwil, you'd better look up. Eight modular wooden houses are to be built above a fast food outlet and a supermarket - compact, sustainable and already fully booked. An investor from Aargau proves that unused roofs could be the answer to the housing

Beer, concrete and living – Baden builds on its history
For decades, the Müllerbräu site was a piece of Baden's industrial history. Now, the building plans have been dropped and one of the most striking residential projects in the canton of Aargau has emerged. 136 rental apartments, commercial premises, restaurants and a specialty brewery in the

Laufenburg builds windmills at the train station
Opposite Laufenburg station, a residential ensemble is being built that draws strength from the contradictions of its location. Two staggered buildings, a lush green layer and over 30 apartments. Together with Urben Seyboth AG, AWW Architekten AG has won an invited study contract that is far more

Three exceptions to planning security for Bremgarten
Seven years of work, two appeals, a decision by the cantonal government and now Bremgarten's new land use plan has been almost fully in force since February 2, 2026. Almost, because the cantonal government sent three points back to the town. The municipal assembly will decide again in

Five stones, 220 apartments, one future
On April 2, 2026, a stone fell on one of Baden's last large building land reservoirs - five to be precise. The Brisgi site in the Kappelerhof district entered its decisive phase with a symbolic laying of the foundation stone. Around 220 affordable apartments will be built here by 2028, providing a

Historic Spa District gets a new perspective for use
The city of Baden and Verenahof AG have signed a contract for the use of Verenahof. The building complex will combine assisted living for the elderly with cultural offerings and publicly accessible uses. The building application and estimate are to follow in a year's

Digital intelligence in construction
From planning to operation, a wealth of valuable building data is generated today. But it often remains unused. At a specialist event at Swissbau in Basel, experts demonstrated how platforms, AI and visualization technologies can make construction more efficient, sustainable and