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

In Safenwil, every available classroom is becoming a scarce resource. Today, a home economics room serves as a classroom, and music lessons are spread across several school buildings. The new “Ufm Känzeli” building is intended to relieve pressure on the existing facilities and ensure that

In Frauenfeld, the dispute over the new municipal development plan is entering a critical phase. Business associations and a town centre association are rallying against the provisions on traffic, parking and procedures. They fear more restrictions, reduced accessibility and greater interference

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

In Ticino, the property gains tax is no longer to go solely to the canton. A parliamentary initiative calls for 40 per cent of the revenue to be channelled to the municipalities in which the sold property is situated. According to a simulation, this would have amounted to around 31.6 million Swiss

Over 60,000 certified buildings are synonymous with efficiency and comfort. Yet it is precisely during heatwaves that Minergie homes are coming under increasing pressure. The association is responding with stricter requirements for summer heat protection and is placing greater emphasis on cooling,

At Baslerstrasse 36 in Brugg, a housing project that has been delayed for years has taken a decisive step forward. The planning permission for three blocks of flats comprising 27 owner-occupied flats is now legally binding, and marketing is set to begin in

The next major step for Lucerne North is set to begin at Seetalplatz in Emmen. From September 2026, construction will begin on the Rüüssegg site to create 344 flats, commercial premises and new open spaces along the Kleine Emme. The neighbourhood is due to be completed by the end of

At the end of August, Rheinfelden will launch a public consultation on the most significant planning decision since 2004. The revised land-use plan will be available for public inspection from 1 September 2026. It will determine where, in future, urban densification, affordable housing, commercial

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

Six sections of road in Frauenfeld town centre are to be put out for public consultation. The framework grant of 11.3 million Swiss francs, approved in 2022, remains in place, but the redevelopment will be carried out in phases until at least 2030 and will have a significant impact on transport,

Grenchen will switch to the eBauSO system for planning applications from 1 September 2026. For developers and planners, submissions will therefore only be accepted digitally from then on, whilst objections and appeals in the canton of Solothurn will, for the time being, continue to be submitted on

Even 351 vacant flats in Bern are still not enough to provide even a minimal buffer. As at 1 June 2026, the vacancy rate remained at 0.44 per cent, even though the housing stock had risen to 79,797 units by the end of 2025 and new builds had already been fully

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

Something that once seemed unthinkable is currently taking place at Kreuzäcker in Spreitenbach. On a site that was blocked for years by planning restrictions, a commercial building is now rising. 40 million Swiss francs, 6,000 square metres – a clear commitment to the region. The Gateway

An electric car spends most of its time parked. That’s exactly when it should be able to charge—at home or at work. But for many renters and condominium owners, this simple idea hits a wall in the garage. The Federal Council now wants to change that, thereby sparking a conflict that goes far

Zurich is debating building regulations. The discussion centers on housing, open spaces, the character of neighborhoods, and the question of what a growing city should look like. On September 27, 2026, voters will choose between two proposals for new high-rise building

The summer heat takes its toll on roofs, facades, and workplaces. Indoors, people find it harder to concentrate, energy consumption rises, and the desire for air conditioning grows. But buildings can do more than just combat the heat. They can absorb it, store it, and effectively slow its

For a long time, Rüüssegg was little more than a promise on paper. Now, construction is getting underway at Seetalplatz. By the end of 2029, a neighborhood featuring 344 apartments, jobs, and new open spaces will have taken shape along the Kleine Emme. This marks a decisive step forward in the

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

At Bischofszell railway station, the former hemp factory site is to be redeveloped with two new buildings and an extension to an existing building. The plans include 38 rental flats and around 740 square metres of commercial space. The project will be presented at the town hall on 24 August

In Geneva, new neighbourhoods and buildings are increasingly being awarded green certifications. Yet it is precisely at the stage where materials are used and emissions are generated that oversight remains lax. This is increasing the pressure on developers, planners and authorities to finally carry

At Badenerstrasse 501 to 505 in Zurich Altstetten, the way is now clear for a new replacement development. Sixty-five rental flats and commercial premises are to be built on the 1,700-square-metre site. The decision takes a long-planned project into the next concrete

Although the approval of around 52,000 new homes marks a statistical turning point in Switzerland, this is barely noticeable on the rental market. Construction is taking place mainly outside the regions with the greatest shortages, whilst refurbishments are tying up capacity and asking rents

With the Niderfeld project, Dietikon is developing one of the largest contiguous development areas in the Limmat Valley, covering around 40 hectares. Following a planning process spanning several decades, the Niderfeld project is on the verge of becoming legally binding. This article provides an

Despite the rent register, the debate on expropriation and the electoral risk, major rental housing projects are continuing to get under way in Berlin. The reason is straightforward, yet risky for developers. Demand remains high, but political uncertainty and rents exceeding 20 euros per square

956 valid signatures were enough in Zollikofen to put the rezoning of the Steinibachgrube to a public vote. This means that a housing project comprising around 140 flats will become a political litmus test for urban densification, the risk posed by contaminated sites and traffic

St. Gallen intends to offer financial incentives to owners of properties outside building zones to encourage them to demolish empty or unsightly buildings. To this end, the government is submitting an amendment to the Planning and Building Act for consultation. As things stand, the first payments

Temperatures of 39 degrees in German-speaking Switzerland and tropical nights in the cities are shifting the focus when it comes to home ownership. Prospective buyers are paying closer attention to shade, greenery and protection from the summer heat, whilst overheated locations and poorly insulated

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