



Construction project becomes a learning laboratory for students and researchers
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) is turning the HIL building on Hönggerberg into a living lab. During its careful refurbishment and extension, professors, students and researchers will be testing new approaches to circular and resource-saving construction until around

Whitepaper “Sustainable building concepts”
Modern buildings are far more than just static shells. The new white paper from Drees & Sommer and Siemens Switzerland shows how intelligent building automation optimizes the life cycle of properties, meets legal and ESG requirements and meets the highest standards of comfort, efficiency and

ETH spin-off teaches the construction industry how to save money
With a pioneering technology, 4QT shows how fuel consumption and emissions of heavy construction machinery can be massively reduced. The ETH spin-off focuses on sustainable innovation and proves in practice that savings and efficiency should have long been standard on Swiss construction


Construction industry at the center of future flood protection
The increase in heavy rainfall poses new challenges for Switzerland. Surface runoff already causes the majority of flood damage today. The Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks advocates an active role for the construction industry in order to make flood protection fit for the future with property

Disbursements of subsidies for energy-efficient refurbishments stagnate in 2024
The disbursement of subsidies for energy-efficient renovations stagnated in 2024 for the first time since 2016 and totalled CHF 528 million. The subsidies reduced the energy consumption of buildings by 12 billion kilowatt hours and CO2 emissions by 3.5 million



Basel tests CO2-free operation of construction sites
The canton of Basel-Stadt is trialling the potential for CO2-free construction site operations. In a pilot project with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the planning office EcoForce GmbH, a waste collection centre is being built with electric construction machinery. The


Simple building needs courage and less bureaucracy
In Switzerland, "simple building" is not failing because of the law, but because of uncertainty, overregulation and a lack of trust. SIA legal advisor and National Councillor Beat Flach calls for more pragmatism, less bureaucracy and a strengthening of existing

Lock-in effect blocks the housing market
The gap between asking rents and existing rents is growing. Many tenants are staying in apartments that no longer suit their living situation for fear of higher costs. The phenomenon of the lock-in effect is slowing down mobility on the housing market and exacerbating structural

Swissbau 2026 provides strong impetus
From January 20 to 23/24, 2026, the Swiss construction and real estate industry will meet at Swissbau at Messe Basel. Under the motto "Setting new impulses together", the concentrated expertise of the industry will provide information on innovations and current challenges from Tuesday to



Renovation incentives secure energy targets and the construction industry
Energy-efficient renovations are crucial to achieving Switzerland's climate and energy targets. However, the current proposal on the imputed rental value threatens to slow down investment and weaken the construction industry. A new study shows how much untapped potential there is in the building

Builders’ association welcomes EU negotiating mandate
The Swiss Federation of Master Builders supports the adopted negotiating mandate with the European Union. According to the association, orderly relations with the EU are key for Switzerland. Thanks to the Information System Allianz Bau (ISAB), the association believes that wage protection is

Switzerland needs faster approval procedures
Switzerland is building too few apartments. Instead of the required 50,000, only around 42,000 are expected to be built in 2025. A new study by the Federal Office for Housing shows where the causes lie and provides possible solutions. The Swiss Association of Master Builders is now calling for

Heat protection on construction sites becomes a joint task
Periods of heat are increasingly posing major challenges for construction in Switzerland. Where individual hot days used to be the exception, they are now a permanent feature of summer. This has direct consequences for the health of employees and productivity on construction sites. Michael Walz,







