Update of the high-rise guidelines

Since May 2019, the Office of Urban Planning has been examining new high-rise guidelines in a study procedure. Since then, it has been calling on experts to apply on an interdisciplinary basis (e.g. in composite working groups). In the first stage, eight selected teams will develop ideas and theses on the future high-rise development in the city of Zurich. In the second stage, one to three working groups will deepen and concretize the ideas.

The study procedure will be completed in summer 2020. The definition of the new guidelines as well as the adjustment of the high-rise areas in the building and zoning code (BZO) will take place after the completion of the study procedure.

The current city high-rise guidelines date back to 2001. Their review, as well as the assessment of the high-rise areas defined in the building and zoning code, takes place against the backdrop of current growth scenarios and development trends as presented by the communal structure plan for settlement, landscape, public buildings and facilities provides for.

Skyscraper viewer now available

In view of this updating process, the Office of Urban Planning has developed a web-enabled Skyscraper viewer which shows a city-wide overview of all existing and some planned high-rise buildings. In the application, the year of construction and the building height of each high-rise building can be queried. The cantonal planning and building law defines a high-rise as a building height of 25 meters or more.

The high-rise viewer shows a city-wide overview of all existing and selected planned high-rise buildings. According to the cantonal planning and building law, high-rise buildings are buildings with a height of 25 meters or more. The web application includes an interactive 3D map tool, which is linked to a diagram of the height and year of construction of the buildings.

Here you come to the skyscraper viewer