
The wood that protects itself
Today, sawdust usually ends up in the oven. Tomorrow it could protect houses from fire. Researchers at ETH Zurich and Empa have developed a composite material that combines wood waste with the mineral struvite and achieves the fire protection class of conventional cement boards. The material
PropTech remains invisible and indispensable
As one of the first PropTech pioneers in Switzerland, Heinz Schwyter knows the digital development of the real estate industry like no other. In this interview, he talks about the importance of data, the role of AI, cultural and organizational hurdles and which trends and technologies will shape

What was considered a bargain becomes a billion-euro project
Zurich wants to save its historic arsenals on the barracks site. But the price tag has risen dramatically. What was once estimated at 55 million francs now costs almost four times as much. The city council has presented a new utilization concept and is focusing on culture, commerce and a social

Zurich is still going strong, but for how much longer?
One in ten jobs in the Zurich region is linked to the financial sector. Around 16 per cent of total regional value added comes from banks, insurance companies and banking-related service providers. A new study puts the figures on the table and at the same time the Zurich Banking Association makes a

Rent cap eats its own children
Capping rents, making terminations more difficult, securing living space. That sounds like social justice. But in Basel-Stadt, it is precisely this logic that has brought housing construction to a standstill. Now Zurich is set to follow the same path on June 14. Those who ignore the warning signs

The turnaround is real USZ turns positive
A huge excavation pit is gaping in the heart of Zurich. The new hospital campus will cost almost a billion. A further 1.3 billion will follow over the next 25 years. Who is paying for it? The hospital itself. This is precisely why the current figures are so crucial and so

Regensberg fights for survival
Less than 500 inhabitants, a tax rate of 115 percent and a structural deficit with no end in sight. Regensberg, the third smallest municipality in the canton of Zurich, is under pressure. But instead of waiting for outside help, 13 villagers have taken the initiative themselves. With a building

Group of 15: Joint plea for a united real estate industry
"Progress instead of regulation - loosening shackles, shaping the future" was the title of the latest Group of 15 symposium at Zurich's Kunsthaus. Swiss politicians and responsible players from the real estate industry came together to discuss the highly controversial status quo of the Swiss real

From industrial heritage to innovation campus
Step by step, the traditional industrial site is being transformed into a future-oriented location for work, technology and innovation. The focus is clearly on productive uses and on the idea of sustainably strengthening Töss with a strong, open economic

Zurich municipal council elections 2026
Zurich votes on March 8, 2026 and political education becomes playful. With the "Built&Rent" game, SVIT Zurich invites you to experience the challenges of housing and real estate policy interactively. How real estate professionals work under pressure and what influence political decisions have on


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

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

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,

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


Polysportive lighthouse project takes shape
A new sports powerhouse for the Zurich region will be built between Dübendorf and Wangen-Brüttisellen by fall 2026. The Zurich Sports Center in the Dürrbach area will bring together over 30 types of sport under one roof. This project combines popular and top-class sport, training and

Fresh capital for data-based planning in the construction industry
The start-up vyzn, which specializes in digital and sustainable construction planning, has successfully completed its seed financing round with Swiss and Finnish partners. The team of three male and one female founder now wants to expand the portfolio and grow. Vyzn will launch in Germany at the


How much of the past can densification tolerate?
The Brunnergut residential development is a child of the post-war era. Functional, dense, with underground parking and a lot of neighborhood history. Now the building appeals court is stopping its removal from the municipal inventory and demanding an independent additional report. Winterthur must

Million-euro financing accelerates autonomous construction site technology
Gravis Robotics can intensify its global market launch with 23 million dollars in funding from several venture capital companies. The Zurich-based start-up has already found numerous new industrial partners for its autonomous

Bassersdorf plans the next growth step
Bassersdorf is getting serious about the development "along the tracks". At the consultation event on December 3, 2025, the municipality showed how a little-used commercial area south of the train station is to be transformed into a mixed-use district with housing, workplaces and plenty of green

27 years of commitment to Schlieren’s transformation
On November 26, 2025, Albert Schweizer received a special honor. The award as Site Promoter of the Year 2025 recognizes his many years of commitment to the development of Schlieren into a leading biotech and medtech location. A transformation that was significantly shaped by his work as Head of

Power from the parquet floor
Researchers from ETH Zurich and Empa are working with the Bauwerk Group to develop a parquet floor that uses ecological raw materials, achieves the properties of oak and can also act as a sensor or microgenerator. The combination of modified poplar wood and piezoelectric Rochelle salt creates a




