AARERAIN: the first positive energy neighbourhood in Switzerland

Architect: Fischer Architekten AG 

In Worblaufen, north of Bern, the Aarerain project can claim to be Switzerland’s first positive energy neighbourhood, built for the Coop Pension Fund (CPV/CAP). This new residential neighbourhood will produce more energy than it consumes, according to the weighted criteria employed by the Positive Energy Neighbourhood standard. Systematic installation of photovoltaic panels on the roofs and facades of the six- to eight-storey buildings will make this possible. Geothermal probes will be responsible for heat production. As well as apartments, the development will include a day-care centre and workshops at ground floor level, the presence of which will help bring the neighbourhood square to life.  

QUARZ’UP: a range of uses under one roof

Architects: Benoît Dubesset Architecte SA / AETC & Associates SA

One distinctive aspect of the Quarz’Up project, which is located in the town of Vernier, near Geneva, is the variety of uses served by its four buildings, which will accommodate several types of companies, including start-ups, local craft businesses and international high-tech players. The site enjoys sustainable energy supply, mainly thanks to centralised heat production provided by energy company SIG (Services Industriels de Genève) and photovoltaic roof panels. Constructed for Arab Bank Switzerland, Quarz’Up aims to strengthen links between economic activities and the population, thanks to the inclusion of a farm and urban greenhouses, encouraging short supply circuits. Quarz’Up will seek both Minergie® and WELL Community certifications, attesting to its commitment to the environment and to the comfort and quality of life of its occupants. 

SEETALPLATZ CANTONAL ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE : a mixed-use project that will serve the whole community

Architect: Max Dudler Architekten 

This new construction will allow around 1,450 employees of the Canton of Lucerne to work under one roof. The building has been designed for a variety of uses alongside standard office functions. It will provide reception areas for the public, a police station, restaurants and shops on the ground floor, as well as apartments and a day-care centre on the upper floors. A mixed concrete-wood structure, the project consists of a six-storey base and a tower. At the centre of the complex, a building dedicated to receiving the public will be entirely constructed in timber. Photovoltaic modules will be installed on the roofs for the production of electricity. All heat and cold will be supplied by a connection to the Seetalplatz urban heat network. The offices and restaurants will enjoy natural light thanks to the roof terrace of the atrium, and to the three internal courtyards that provide a pleasant environment. The building is being constructed for the Canton of Lucerne. 

 AUX ACACIAS : an integrated project in the heart of Geneva

Architect: Magizan CCHE 

 Aux Acacias, a project located in the centre of Geneva, was designed in a competition lasting almost a year. It was selected for its urban and architectural qualities, its energy performance and its limited environmental impact, as well as its economic feasibility. The Aux Acacias complex will surround a tree-lined square with several points of access, creating an open ensemble. Built for the Acacias-Lièvre B SA property company, the project incorporates 4,000 m² of retail space intended to revitalise the neighbourhood, along with a range of while offering a variety of accommodation options over a total surface area of 36,000 m². Aux Acacias will benefit from CO2-neutral heat production. 

Losinger Marazzi has spent more than ten years developing and building pioneering projects in the field of sustainable real estate. These projects have served as laboratories of innovation and sustainability, giving Bouygues Construction inspiration that has enabled it to offer customers in many countries projects that reduce their carbon footprint and consumption, while improving comfort, allowing an ever wider range of uses, etc. These projects include the Greencity neighbourhood in Zurich (first 2000 Watts site in Switzerland in 2012), Erlenmatt West in Basel (first 2000 Watts site in Switzerland en exploitation en 2013), the Im Lenz neighbourhood in Lenzburg (2015), as well as the Églantine eco-neighbourhood in Morges (2019), the Eikenøtt project in Gland (the first sustainable neighbourhood in French-speaking Switzerland), along with the Twist Again in Wankdorf City (the first recipient of the Swiss Sustainable Construction Standard label) and Arbora in Crissier (the first project in Switzerland awarded the “Well-Community” certification, in force throughout the world). 

Pascal Bärtschi, Chief Executive of Losinger Marazzi, said: “As a leader and pioneer in the construction sector and in low-carbon solutions, we are driving the environmental transition forwards, with the goal of achieving net zero emissions for the next generation.”