Hazardous Substances in Construction – Who Is Responsible?
Asbestos, PCBs, PAHs—anyone renovating an older building will come across these terms sooner or later. And the most common reaction is: “The architect will take care of that.” Understandable. But not entirely correct. The Role of the Architect The architect bears a great deal of responsibility: He plans, coordinates, obtains permits, and has a legal […]
Kintsugi in construction – what a Japanese art form teaches us about renovation
Tearing down and rebuilding is expensive. Sometimes the greatest value lies precisely where the cracks are visible – if you know how to deal with them. Kintsugi is a Japanese art form: broken ceramics are repaired with gold powder. The fracture lines are not hidden – they are emphasized. What was broken becomes unique and […]
Construction investments on the rise – will the client really receive more?
The figures from the Swiss DIY market are positive. But if you take a closer look, you quickly realize that nominal growth and real gains are two different things The construction boom is back—at least on paper. In the fourth quarter of 2025, nominal construction investment in Switzerland rose by 2.7%. This was followed by […]
Construction costs versus Betriebskosten
When considering the costs of a property, many developers increasingly focus on reducing construction costs. But does focusing solely on reducing construction costs always make sense? This question isn’t primarily about installing a food center, wok, and steamer in the kitchen, or shower-toilet units, whirlpool bathtubs, and fine marble in the bathrooms; it’s about an […]
Sustainable use concepts for existing areas
What requirements does an owner have for a building? Anyone building a new building usually knows this. Against this backdrop, it’s essential to design buildings to be as flexible as possible to allow for the greatest possible versatility. This applies equally to offices, residential buildings, shopping centers, schools, and logistics buildings. The requirements for buildings […]
Challenges for building owners when phasing out fossil heat generation
Global efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions and combat climate change have led to ambitious net-zero targets, which have been agreed upon politically. These goals require drastic changes in various sectors. One sector is property heat generation. Heating systems powered by fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas are widespread in many households. The new […]