Ittigen: Start of construction for the Aarerain district

The ground-breaking ceremony for the Aarerain housing estate in Ittigen-Worblaufen (BE) took place recently. Together with the CPV/CAP Coop pension fund and the municipality of Ittigen, Losinger Marazzi is developing the first PlusEnergy district in the canton of Bern and will realize it as a total contractor. The project is expected to be handed over to the investor at the end of 2026.

Preparations for the construction site began in September 2023, with Fischer Architekten AG responsible for the architecture. The new development offers a total of 189 apartments for up to 400 residents on a plot area of 23,635 square meters. The apartment mix ranges from 1.5 to 4.5-room apartments. In addition to the apartments, a daycare center and studio spaces are also planned on the first floors to enliven the neighborhood square. The slope path of the Aarerain project provides barrier-free access to the Aare area and the new leisure and water sports center of the municipality of Ittigen.

Photovoltaics, geothermal probes and lots of greenery

Over the course of the year, the new housing estate will produce more energy than it consumes in accordance with the PlusEnergyQuarter (PEQ) energy standard, which was launched by the capital region. Photovoltaics (PV) on the roofs and facades of the six to eight-storey buildings will ensure this. Heat is generated using geothermal probes; in summer, the geothermal probes are regenerated by cooling the apartments via the underfloor heating.

Another important aspect in the planning of the development was to keep the green spaces on the Aare slope as free as possible. This is made possible by the compact construction method in the eastern part of the plot. A good half of the plot is to remain undeveloped. The car-free neighborhood square between the buildings should also offer a high quality of stay. (aw)