Container homes during renovation: a Swiss solution
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In Winterthur-Wülflingen, Switzerland, the real estate company Terresta began renovating 368 apartments built in the 1950s and 60s without evicting residents.
The company decided to renovate occupied buildings to avoid the social issues caused by eviction notices, which have recently occurred elsewhere in Zurich. Over eight years, Terresta will update kitchens, bathrooms, pipes, and balconies, improve insulation and windows, and replace heating systems with heat pumps.
Residents like Jasmin Freitag, who pays around 1400 Swiss francs for her four-room apartment, initially looked for other housing when they learned about the renovations but ultimately decided to stay. While the renovations are disruptive, Freitag’s kitchen and bathroom are completely removed, Terresta provides residents with access to container units for cooking and sanitation. The unusual arrangement creates a sense of community as neighbors meet in the containers, even in their pajamas.
Though the constant noise and inconvenience present challenges, especially for older residents, the Mieterverband Zürich, a tenants’ association, believes this approach to renovation is a win-win for everyone involved, avoiding the practice of evicting tenants for financial gain.
