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

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,

Sometimes, just a few extra words in a piece of legislation are enough to overturn the status quo. That’s exactly what’s happening now at Swiss Post, where a minor revision to the Postal Act could have a major impact. The very idea of having your own mailbox on your front doorstep is suddenly

Anyone who digs a tunnel ends up producing millions of metric tons of soil and rock, most of which has, until now, ended up unused in landfills. A new research project at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences aims to change exactly that and use this excavated material to produce a

Sustainable construction is often seen as an expensive luxury rather than a smart investment. A new study using the Empa and Eawag campus parking garage as an example shows the opposite. Investing in flexibility today saves millions tomorrow. The proof lies in an unassuming wooden building in

A planning application has been submitted for 24 barrier-free flats for people aged 60 and over on Landstrasse in Lengnau. The project, led by the Mühlihalde co-operative, aims to bridge the gap between living at home and moving into a care home at a later stage; however, the start date for

On 27 September 2026, Winterthur will vote on a proposal to allocate 35.13 million Swiss francs for new end-stand stands and an operations building at the Schützenwiese. The development is intended to modernise the outdated infrastructure by 2029, increase capacity and ensure that matches can

The refurbishment and extension of the Pretorium in Bellinzona are taking longer than planned. Instead of autumn 2026, the building – which will house judicial and police services – is now due to be handed over in spring 2027. The canton attributes the delay to appeals lodged during the

Ten objections are holding up the preventive resettlement project in Brienz/Brinzauls. However, the municipality of Albula/Alvra only gave its clear approval for the loan of 82.56 million Swiss francs on 10 July 2026. For property owners, this means that not only the financing but also the

Following the ‘yes’ vote at the ballot box, the development plan for the Metalli site in Zug has come through the public consultation period without any objections. This means that development of the site can now proceed. The next concrete step will be an architectural competition for the

On Lägernstrasse in Dietikon, postwar buildings that have long outlived their usefulness are being demolished. In their place, a new urban neighborhood is taking shape—one that not only provides housing but also showcases what urban densification can look like in the Limmat Valley. It features

In the Tscharnergut neighbourhood of Bern and in other residential areas, heritage conservation and housing regeneration are at loggerheads. Whilst property owners and housing cooperatives are pushing for replacement buildings, objections are dragging proceedings out for years, thereby exacerbating

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

A concrete building project has been proposed for the Gimenen municipal site in Zug for the first time. Plans include widening Gimenenstrasse and constructing a new bus turning loop. However, there is still no legal basis under planning law for the affordable housing development that has been under

In Zurich, 18.4 per cent of tenants in self-supporting council flats exceed the income thresholds. This affects around 1,400 out of approximately 7,700 flats. The city does not yet know which households are affected, as the figures are calculated anonymously. Individual checks are not planned until

Arrive, transfer, leave. For decades, the Dietikon train station was a place for people to pass through quickly. Now, SBB and the city are joining forces to tackle a project that’s long been overdue. A sprawling transit hub is being transformed into an urban gateway to the city, featuring a new

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

The National Council and the Council of States have secured the key federal instruments for social housing construction until the early 2030s. CHF 150 million has been approved for the Fonds de Roulement, along with guarantees totalling CHF 1.92 billion for EGW

Construction investment in Switzerland rose by 3.5 per cent in 2025. According to provisional figures, the bulk of the increase was attributable to additional construction activity. The public sector, in particular, increased its spending significantly, thereby boosting both building construction

Six smaller properties owned by the Reformed Church Parish of Zurich are to be leased under building rights. The parish is seeking organizations that will create additional housing on the sites at reasonable costs, while existing leases will continue for the time

In Bern’s Viererfeld neighborhood, the cost of purchasing a cooperative apartment is rising significantly. Following the decision on June 1, 2026, the minimum equity contribution will rise to 2,000 francs, plus share certificates totaling approximately 40,000 francs, depending on the size of the

In Geneva, a landlord failed in his attempt to have a rent—which had quadrupled following unauthorized renovations—recognized as a permissible luxury rent. The Federal Supreme Court upheld the order to repay 193,609 francs and pay a fine of 32,000

In San Bernardino, objections are delaying the next phase of the Acuforta site development process. The municipality of Mesocco must now review more than five but fewer than ten submissions before the building permit process for the hotel, spa, and apartments can

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 redevelopment of Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz in Bern has cleared its next hurdle. The Bern-Mittelland District Office has granted the building permit and rejected an objection. This brings the start of construction closer, with work set to begin no earlier than the fourth quarter of

Biel is now managing a portfolio of approximately 180 municipal buildings with an insured value of 1.3 billion Swiss francs using portfolio data. This move increases pressure to invest, as maintenance is 10 to 15 years behind schedule and several major renovations are planned well into the

On the shores of Lake Arbon, the development of the former Metropol site continues to face delays. The design plan for the two 43-meter-tall Riva Towers will still not be legally binding by July 2026, as the proceedings regarding the objection filed by Thurgau Heritage Protection have now been

Six years of dialogue, two white papers, an architectural competition featuring six teams—and now the design plan is on the table. The Limmattal Energy Center (LEZ) is no longer just a promise. It is a project that will shape Dietikon and the Limmattal for generations to come. Anyone who wants to

In Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg, the public participation process for the development plan for the Isleren area has been completed. The plan calls for 17 apartment buildings with approximately 300 units for about 660 residents. The next step in the process—the public review period—is still

In Zurich, 18.4 percent of the evaluable urban rental agreements exceed the income limit. This is above the permitted 15 percent threshold. However, immediate action is not required because the rent regulations are based on a three-year average, and a move is only required if the limit is