Table of Contents
How can Switzerland create enough housing for its growing population? What role does the ageing of society play? And why do we need more standardisation in the construction industry?
Adrian Wyss, Head Division Real Estate at Implenia, has taken on these questions.
Are the current building zones enough to create sufficient housing?
Adrian Wyss: „In theory, yes. In practice, many of these zones are either poorly developed or politically difficult to activate. In cities in particular, densification measures are often controversial, which leads to construction happening in places that, from a spatial-planning perspective, aren't ideal – in the agglomeration or even the periphery."
Why isn't housing construction in Switzerland keeping pace with population growth?
Adrian Wyss: „Approval procedures are extremely long. A development plan can take five to ten years. We would need more efficient processes and targeted incentives to attract investors to affordable housing. Realising a share of low-cost housing on transformation sites and in upzoning are, in my view, sensible measures that can also be well formulated into a proposal."
What impact does the ageing population have on the housing market?
Adrian Wyss: „Many older people live in large apartments or single-family homes, but have no financial incentive to move into smaller apartments, because those are often more expensive. We would need to create more age-appropriate housing with services, particularly in rural areas. From my perspective, attractive offerings for senior citizens are the key to activating underused living space."
How can the construction industry become more productive?
Adrian Wyss: „Primarily through standardisation and industrialisation. Instead of planning every building from scratch, we should develop modular systems. This would lower costs and drastically shorten construction times. Implenia is leading the way here with the innovative housing products 'Cabanne' and 'Casitta', which are being deployed for the first time in Zurich-Seebach." More information here: https://implenia.com/medien/artikel/neue-standardisierte-immobilienprodukte-fuer-schnellen-und-nachhaltigen-wohnungsbau/
Below is an excerpt from our conversation ⬇️
