Wealth is not all: how gentrification in Zurich has led to housing shortage

Architect Fareyah Kaukab compares gentrification in Zurich with similar cases in other developed countries. As real estate becomes a commodity, she wonders whether this process is leading to cities without inhabitants. Even one of the richest cities in the world is at pains to deal with its housing crisis, a common problem of practically all metropolises. As the corner shop is replaced by a trendy café and diverse communities by yuppies, Zurich, a city where the middle class represents the lower end of the social pyramid, faces a growing challenge to provide affordable housing. + Swiss landlords and tenants are in perpetual conflict The latest Raiffeisen Bank real estate report, published in September, has revealed a 6.4% increase in rental offers for the second quarter of this year, the highest rise in over 30 years. In the gentrified area of Zurich-West, the real estate market continues to surge, with luxury developments becoming more prevalent. Real estate reports frequently ...