
Zurich Deploys AI for 100,000 Buildings
With the sale of BuildingMinds to the Zurich-based platform Lookthrough, the AI analysis of institutional real estate portfolios is becoming more integrated. The combined platform is expected to utilize data from more than 100,000 buildings in 64 countries; the transaction is scheduled to close in

Real estate portals are driving the surge in profits
SMG’s real estate platforms are setting the pace for the first half of 2026. The division saw revenue rise by 11.5 percent to 88.5 million Swiss francs and achieved an adjusted EBITDA margin of 62.9 percent. At the same time, the marketplace operator is reorganizing its executive

Shenzhen Is Brushing Aside the Real Estate Crisis
Hui Ka Yan’s life sentence brings one of the most spectacular chapters of China’s real estate boom to a close. For the market, however, the crisis is far from over, as millions of pre-sold apartments, massive debts, and new insolvency proceedings continue to weigh on the

Limmat Revitalization Project Stumbles Over Contaminated Sites
The plans for the “Lebendige Limmat” will be available for public review through September 28, 2026. This major Zurich project aims to combine flood protection, biodiversity, and local recreation along a 3.2-kilometer stretch; however, at approximately 95 million Swiss francs, it will be

The Zurich Metropolitan Area Is Growing Closer Politically
Dieter Egli is taking over as chair of the Zurich Metropolitan Conference, with Claudio Bernold joining him. The leadership change comes at a time when the organization—which coordinates spatial planning, transportation, and location issues across cantonal and municipal boundaries—has also

Bern pulls the emergency brake on unclaimed plots of land
The Bern cantonal government wishes to revise the rules governing ownerless land and plots. Land that cannot be cultivated, such as rocks and glaciers, is to belong to the local authorities. In the case of ownerless sections of road, arable land or industrial sites, the local authorities are to be

Lucerne Fights to Preserve Its Roofs
A renovated roof is more than just a new covering. It is a decision about energy, property, and the future value of a real estate asset. In the canton of Lucerne, this very issue has become a political flashpoint. No sooner had the solar mandate gone into effect than a motion was introduced calling

Concrete Gets a Way Out
Cement supports cities, bridges, and buildings. At the same time, its production is one of the world’s largest industrial sources of CO₂. The bottleneck lies deep within the combustion process and can hardly be resolved with green electricity alone. A new pilot plant from Holcim Germany now

Cyber Risk Becomes a Top Priority
The attack rarely begins in the server room. It arrives in the inbox as a credible email, comes in the form of a phone call from a purported executive, or is disguised as a modified payment order. Swiss SMEs frequently experience cyber incidents, yet they assess their own risk as surprisingly low.

Architectural Culture as a Driver of Innovation
A campus is not a showcase. It is a hub for knowledge, research, and interaction. That is precisely why the new historic preservation designation for the first construction phase of the EPFL in Lausanne is noteworthy. It not only protects the concrete, the grid layout, and the spaces, but also

The facade becomes a power plant
A glass facade provides protection, opens up spaces, and lets in natural light. Until now, it has mostly remained passive in terms of energy. Now, semitransparent organic PV modules are demonstrating that it can also generate electricity in the future. The decisive step lies not only in the cell

Stability Is a Matter of Location Policy
The global economy is navigating turbulent waters. Trade conflicts, military escalations, and fragile supply chains are putting pressure on companies. Yet in the canton of Zurich, the economy remains remarkably stable. The reason lies deep within the region’s profile and is particularly evident

St Gallen sparks a planning dispute across the whole city
St. Gallen is putting its local planning review out for public consultation from 17 August to 16 October 2026 and opening up digital participation. For property owners, developers and neighbourhoods, this involves far more than just online comments. The negotiations will cover density, building

Werkmatt Uri takes the next step
In Altdorf, the Werkmatt Uri development has taken a decisive step forward. With the completion of the infrastructure works, all building plots are now ready for construction; at the same time, work is starting on Plot 11 with the Gotthard Business Park, the site’s largest building project to

Lausanne puts the brakes on a replacement development in the upmarket residential area
In Lausanne, a housing project comprising 19 flats has been blocked on grounds relating to listed buildings and the character of the area. The city has refused to allow the demolition of two villas in the Les Fleurettes neighbourhood, thereby prioritising the protection of a sensitive ensemble of


Bern Requires Residential Buildings to Have Charging Stations
The federal government is taking direct action regarding apartment buildings. A proposal released on June 19, 2026, aims to require landlords and condominium owners to install the basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations when necessary. This is precisely what is sparking massive

Zurich Battles Over 40 Meters and the Cost of Densification
On September 27, 2026, Zurich will vote on two new high-rise regulations. The real sticking point isn’t the very tall towers, but rather the 40-meter zones in the outlying neighborhoods. There, the logic of densification, project flexibility, and fears of displacement clash

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

Switzerland’s biggest bottleneck is fighting its way out
Every day, 120,000 vehicles queue through one of Switzerland’s busiest tunnels. For decades, the Gubrist Tunnel near Zurich was a symbol of the failure of transport planning. Now, with the completion of a multi-billion construction project in sight, the picture is changing. What once seemed

Valais Blocks Housing Cooperatives Despite Shortage
In Valais, the vacancy rate is falling, but cooperative housing construction remains at a standstill. While a project for ten families in Saillon is stuck in the approval process, the canton still lacks a clear legal framework that actively safeguards and facilitates such

Zeiningen Opens the Gate to the Salt Field
In Zeiningen, the cantonal land-use plan for the Nordfeld salt mining area has been available for public review since August 18, 2026. Those affected have until September 16 to file objections. This marks the next phase of a planning process—binding on landowners—for drilling sites, pipelines,


Bronze Age Slows Down Housing Construction in Teufenthal
Work on a 67-unit residential project on Dürrenäscherstrasse in Teufenthal has been put on hold. The reason is not a formal construction freeze, but rather an archaeological find from the Late Bronze Age, which is temporarily slowing down progress at the construction

Building more flats does little to reduce commuting
Zurich and Basel are grappling with the imbalance between jobs and housing. Yet this much-cited indicator, of all things, is losing its significance. A recent analysis shows that longer commutes are only weakly correlated with the ratio of workers to

Herisau is revamping the Casinopark
A controversial redevelopment plan is currently under consideration in the centre of Herisau. The proposal for Casinopark would see the construction of flats, a public underground car park with 56 spaces, a private car park with 52 spaces and a new park. However, it is only following a public

The railway that nobody wanted but everyone needs
Too expensive, took too long to build, not enough demand. Three years on, Line 20 between Zurich Altstetten and Killwangen has silenced the critics. For what looked like an expensive experiment at the time is now the backbone of transport in one of Switzerland’s fastest-growing

The location determines whether to use a heat pump or the utility grid
The debate over the future of heating is often driven by ideology. Municipal heating plans in Germany now paint a much more realistic picture. Heat pumps and district heating networks are expected to collectively meet just under four-fifths of heating demand by 2045. In the target scenarios

Cement Can Suddenly Absorb CO₂
Cement is one of the world’s major contributors to climate change. Yet, ironically, the very industry with the heaviest carbon footprint could help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the future. Researchers at ETH Zurich are demonstrating how cement plants can be integrated with direct
