Sustainability Futures in Zurich

✨Glad to host the workshop series on future sustainability scenarios in Zurich, focusing on trends that influence the direction of those potential realities. I found the following insights quite interesting:

⚡ According to the IMD Smart City Index 2024: Residents in the city of Zurich see a priority in finding affordable housing, addressing road congestion, and managing air pollution. At the same time, the perception of governance, corruption, and public participation is less favorable. Other priority topics are unemployment, security, green spaces, fulfilling employment, health services, public transport, social mobility, and recycling. Source: https://lnkd.in/dChACAnG

⚡In an interview, Dr. Miriam Meuth highlights that the housing crisis isn't just about building more homes, as new developments can displace vulnerable populations. She emphasizes that housing should address more than physical needs, incorporating emotional, social, and cultural dimensions. Gentrification often displaces lower-income groups, increasing social inequality. Meuth suggests solutions like promoting affordable housing, reducing per capita space, and addressing socio-economic factors. She advocates for socially sustainable practices in urban development, ensuring affordable housing remains post-renovation. Non-profit developers and stricter municipal regulations could help prevent displacement, especially in rural or tourist areas where affordable housing is scarce. Source: https://lnkd.in/dtJphXSw

⚡The city of Zurich, which is ranked #1 in the IMD Smart City Index, emphasizes the need for a long-term & comprehensive view of solutions that ensure competitiveness and openness to the globalized economy. In this context, Deloitte's publication "Power up Switzerland" recommends finding strategic approaches to reducing barriers to entrepreneurship & innovation, addressing labor and skills shortages, and establishing a strategy to position Switzerland as a sustainability hub. Source: https://lnkd.in/djkxtQAa

I look forward to exploring these concepts further in the next workshops and identifying innovative and sustainable solutions that boost competitiveness and contribute to Zurich's continued high living standards. Join me in the next sessions at Karl der Grosse - das Debattierhaus. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dNGEkkFS

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• World Economic Forum launched “Framework for the Future of Real Estate”

• Global Future Council on the Future of Cities

• Reshaping Affordability: Interventions for Inclusive and Livable Cities

• Shaping cities of the future to be inclusive, sustainable, and resilient

• The Future of Real Estate: The Housing Market

• WEF, Video on The Future of Real Estate

🌍Addressing Urban Housing Challenges: Global Insights and DeepTech Innovations🏠

Happy to share an overview of insights gathered today at the futures thinking workshop "Shaping Zurich’s Green Future" at Karl der Grosse - das Debattierhaus.

To tackle housing issues effectively, cities worldwide are implementing a range of solutions that can inspire us. Here are key trends/strategies and DeepTech innovations making an impact (aggregated by ChatGPT):

Expanding Housing Supply:

- High-density, mixed-use developments🌆

- Modular and prefabricated housing 🏗️

Reducing Construction Costs:

- Advanced construction technologies like 3D printing 🚀

- Tax incentives for affordable housing 💡

Improving Regulatory Processes:

- Streamlined permitting and flexible zoning📜

Mitigating High-Income Impact:

- Regulation of short-term rentals and taxes on speculative investments🔍

Enhancing Affordability & Accessibility:

- Subsidized housing programs and improved public transportation 🚇

DeepTech Solutions:

- AI-Driven Urban Planning: Optimizes land use and design 🤖

- Blockchain for Transparent Transactions: Enhances real estate transparency ⛓

Find further details on the SparkX Newsletter edition 28, W37.

• A Framework for the Future of Real Estate

• The Future of Real Estate

• The Future of Real Estate: Real Estate in the Metaverse

• Zurich Urban Housing Policy

• OECD Urban Housing

• WEF: Urban Housing / WEF, Strategic Intelligence / Contents

• Sustainable Affordable Housing: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

• State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives in Smart and Sustainable Urban Development

• A state-of-the-art decision-support environment for risk-sensitive and pro-poor urban planning and design in Tomorrow's cities

• A fresh look at contemporary perspectives on urban housing affordability

• State of the Art of Urban Smart Vertical Farming Automation System: Advanced Topologies, Issues and Recommendations

• Swissinfo: Swiss party calls for additional storeys for urban housing

🚀 Key Signals of Change:

1. Culinary Innovation: The Ayverdi Brothers transformed kebab culture, shifting perceptions and elevating local food experiences. Source: https://lnkd.in/dPUa34YB.

2. Affordable Housing: With the appointment of Philippe Koch as Zurich's first Delegate for Housing, there's a proactive push to increase non-profit housing. Source: https://lnkd.in/d6zS6Zuj.

3. E-Bike City Vision: ETH Zürich's proposal to reallocate 50% of street space to pedestrians, cyclists, and e-bikers represents a significant shift towards sustainable urban mobility. Source: https://lnkd.in/dYQKZCuJ.

4. Suburban Renaissance: Dübendorf is challenging traditional views of suburbia, evolving into a vibrant urban hub. Source: https://lnkd.in/dUDvtYKG.

Find further details on the SparkX Newsletter edition 29, W38.

🌍 Key signals of change identified at today's workshop:

1. Überlandpark: A groundbreaking initiative atop the Schwamendingen motorway tunnel, this park aims to unite the neighborhood while enhancing biodiversity. It features low-maintenance plants, playgrounds, bike paths, and a pavilion. Set for completion in May 2025, it marks a shift towards multifunctional urban spaces that prioritize environmental well-being. Source: https://lnkd.in/d5Z5JfrM.

2. Üetlihof Transformation: The former Credit Suisse office complex is being repurposed into a cooperative living environment for 5,500 residents. This innovative project emphasizes community engagement and urban farming, redefining the area from commercial office space to a vibrant, self-contained urban community. Source: https://lnkd.in/daaKK6hg.

3. Digital Senior Apartments: The City of Zurich is leading a digital aging initiative, promoting independent living for older adults through technology. This project aims to integrate smart solutions into homes, enhancing safety and comfort, and fostering community engagement among seniors. Source: https://lnkd.in/dYY6qnNP.

4. Self-Organized Housing: A new initiative in Winterthur showcases seniors developing a communal living project, focusing on collaboration and mutual support. This shift from isolation to community living highlights the changing face of aging. Source: https://lnkd.in/dVhcYdur.

✨ Insights from the Zurich Workshop on Sustainability Futures ✨

Main theme: Need for "humanity-by-design" technology

Glad to share key takeaways from our recent workshop on sustainability futures, held at Karl der Grosse - das Debattierhaus in Zurich. Our discussions explored the global transformations outlined in Roland Berger’s Trend Compendium 2050 and how these could impact sustainability in Zurich. Here are some of the core themes and reflection points that emerged (summarized by ChatGPT):

🌟Theme: AI Impacts

AI will transform how we use our time and reshape job markets. As AI takes over routine tasks, people will have more leisure time, raising the question: How do we find purpose in an AI-driven future?

Key questions include:

- How can education systems help individuals adapt to AI's role and find meaning in their free time?

- What initiatives can prepare society for AI-related risks like disinformation and privacy breaches?

🌟Theme: Wealth & Happiness

The workshop highlighted a growing disconnect between wealth and happiness, especially among the elderly living alone. There’s an urgent need to bridge emotional and financial gaps in society.

- How can we foster empathy and community spirit, particularly among the wealthy?

- What steps can be taken to promote emotional well-being and reduce reliance on material wealth?

🌟Theme: Consumption & Economy

The increasing volatility of financial systems and overconsumption, fueled by emotional needs, were key focus points.

- How can we reduce our desire for consumption and emphasize relationships, empathy, and health over material goods?

- What strategies could help reassess our consumption habits, especially in developed nations?

🌟Theme: Social Responsibility

We need to close cultural gaps and redistribute wealth more equitably, especially through AI-generated wealth supporting socially relevant jobs like elderly care.

- Can we design technology that fosters empathy and strengthens community bonds?

- What role does policy play in ensuring tech-driven success doesn’t widen societal divides?

🌟Focus Topic

◾Climate change is derived as an emotional and mental health issue in society. Need to find solutions to reduce consumption by promoting relationships, empathy, emotional closeness, diversity, and integration in society.

These insights will help shape future foresight workshops. Let’s continue the conversation on how to build a sustainable and inclusive future! 🌍

Find the trends discussed at Roland Berger’s Trend Compendium 2050: https://lnkd.in/dwQ5nsKJ

Glad to share some highlights of today's futures thinking workshop at Karl der Grosse - das Debattierhaus in Zurich.

The workshop dynamic included group discussions, practical activities with tools & self-reflections, while leveraging GenAI in the exercises. Here are some of the future possibilities discussed:

◾Emergence of new housing buildings offering compact spaces for families and individuals. This generates the need for external "self-rooms" or "mental re-charging spaces" that people can rent to regain their (individual) lost space.

◾With many people seeking natural/nature-similar experiences, a mixed reality environment merging real trees with high-tech images, sounds, and lights provide an enhanced nature experience to recharge mentally.

◾New housing concepts emerge with exclusivity for community-driven & food self-sufficiency focus. Tenants rent/own urban gardens in the building that are equipped with high-tech devices, which help generate food consumed within the building and in excess, it is sold to other facilities/organizations in the city. Members of these tech & sustainability-oriented communities receive discounts/premiums for the renting price.

◾The concept of culinary co-housing emerges. Residential areas incorporate shared kitchens and dining spaces, promoting cultural exchange and community dining experiences. From the culinary exchange new recipes originate, merging ingredients and cooking procedures of the different cultures.

◾Innovative dining concepts originate which combine food with immersive & full-senses experiences, connecting, e.g., smells, visuals, and food-feelings that connect people to the various cultures part of the newly created recipes.

◾New types of community-oriented services emerge in mixed-generation buildings, in which people offer services to the rest of the community, e.g., elderly & child care, coaching, cooking, and (cultural) dialogues. These services offered by tenants help promote community-values and experiences and help address societal challenges like elderly as well as childcare, loneliness, and enable the use of available skills, time & professional experience offered by tenants in the respective buildings.

◾Fully smart housing emerges leveraging tech like IoT, AI, and robotics to run apartments especially for the elderly, helping reduce the care demand and compensate for the working staff needs. It also facilitates the elderly integration in mix-community buildings.

🚀 Exploring the Future of Housing and Sustainability in Zurich 🏙️🌱

Glad to share some insights from a strategic foresight workshop, exploring the future of housing and sustainability in Zurich. This workshop was powered by generative AI, brainstorming into the most relevant and innovative consequences and future scenarios shaping urban living.

Here are the key takeaways on the horizon:

1. Community-Driven, Tech-Enhanced Living: We’re heading towards a future where community-centered, tech-driven buildings will become the norm. Imagine vibrant spaces where technology seamlessly integrates with wellness and sustainability, creating an environment where residents can grow their own food, share experiences, and connect with their neighbors on a deeper level. 🌿💡

2. Reimagining Personal Space for Mental Well-Being: As Zurich’s population grows and space becomes scarcer, the need for larger personal spaces dedicated to mental recharging will increase. In response, we’ll see more “self-room” concepts—private spaces for solitude and relaxation. These spaces will be designed not just for physical comfort but for mental well-being, helping residents escape the overstimulation of crowded environments. 🧘‍♀️🏠

3. Energy Demand and Sustainability: With the rise of high-tech, energy-intensive building systems and food production models, the demand for electricity will spike. However, Zurich’s commitment to sustainability means that we’ll see major strides in energy efficiency, green infrastructure, and renewable energy solutions.⚡🌍

4. Cultural and Food Innovation: New dining concepts will emerge that combine sustainability with creativity—think hybrid dishes blending Swiss and international cuisines, reducing food waste, and promoting local sourcing. This will create new opportunities in the food industry while fostering a deeper sense of cultural exchange and inclusivity within communities. 🍽️🌎

5. Navigating Economic Inequality and Displacement: To avoid deepening social divides, we’ll need policies that ensure housing remains accessible and inclusive for all, while still embracing the innovations that make Zurich a model city for sustainable urban living. 🏘️⚖️

As we look to the future, it’s clear that Zurich has the potential to become a global leader in sustainable, community-focused housing. By blending innovation, societal development, and technology, we can create a city that not only survives but thrives—while making a positive impact on the world around us. 🌟

Review further details of these scenarios in this report: https://lnkd.in/dEHZ3mX9.

🚀 Thrilling Forecasts on The Future of Housing and Sustainability in Zurich! 🌍🏙️

I’m glad to share insights on the latest futures design session I held analyzing key signals of change and trends shaping the future of housing & sustainability in Zurich. Normally, these sessions are run by a team, discussing insights to shape the future. This time, I added a twist with GenAI to help analyze and refine the predictions.

Key Forecasts:

1️⃣ The Rise of the Green Residential Hubs 🌿

2️⃣ The Green Skyline: Building Biodiversity Above Zurich's Highways 🏙️

3️⃣ Gourmet Living: Zurich’s Transformation Through Food and Culture 🍽️

4️⃣ Living Longer, Living Smarter: Zurich’s Vision for Senior Independent Living 👵👴

5️⃣ Zurich's Culinary Evolution: Tradition Meets Innovation 🍴

6️⃣ Dübendorf’s Metropolitan Renaissance 🏘️

Additionally, here are three key takeaways from articles on urban housing transformation:

📍 Sustainability is key for future cities, source: https://lnkd.in/dBjYHDE9

📍Digital tools are vital for planning urban spaces, source: https://lnkd.in/dMN92ACy

📍Green infrastructure is critical for resilience and inclusivity, source: https://lnkd.in/dMN92ACy

For the full details on the forecasts, please check out the slide deck below.