One of Switzerland’s smartest property firms helped improve a once-unloved stretch of Zürich. Now Ledermann has tackled its most ambitious project – developers everywhere take note.
Starting on a shoestring, Benjamin Sommerhalder moved from making his own magazine to building up a small publishing house with a gallery and shop space. And on the way he’s kick-started an old-fashioned publishing boom.
Coop is the second largest retailer in Switzerland after Migros, with about 1,500 outlets and 44,000 employees. In 2005, it had a turnover of €8.6bn. It has 20 per cent of the country’s food retail business. As well as…
Located on Lake Zürich, Strandbad Wollishofen is a swimming spot that has stood the test of time, respecting its prewar design while meeting contemporary demands. Join the early-morning crowd or, come the evening, wine and…
Switzerland’s reputation for being the most efficient country in the world is not undeserved: SBB, the state-controlled railways, has a 96 per cent punctuality rate and slick service.
This month we start a new series looking at the lives and empires of media barons. First is Michael Ringier who, in 1991, became the fifth generation of his Swiss family to head their eponymous empire. Since then Ringier…
Many cities need more housing schemes but fall short of making them characterful and interesting. We visit a Swiss development that has built-in charm and diversity.
Our annual Quality of Life Survey has placed Zürich at the top spot twice and in the top five six times. We’ll soon be opening a new bureau, shop and café in the city, so we thought it was time to put together a directory…
Once a seedy neighbourhood with an air of debauchery, Zürich’s Kreis 4 is now a shiny hub of creativity. But the clean-up that began in 1995 didn’t involve a clear-out: a glimmer of the red-light district remains as neon…
The Alpa has become a cult camera for professionals, thanks to its razor-sharp detail and attractive finish. But it wasn’t always such a success story after the brand disappeared altogether in the 1990s. Monocle talks to…
As skyscrapers are built ever higher, and architecture becomes more complex, there is a demand for elevator systems that can move thousands of people in minutes. A leading manufacturer, Schindler, is investing in double…
