“Fischermätteli” first site with Minergie certificate

May 2024

The "Fischermätteli" property project in Burgdorf BE, which was completed in 2023, is once again attracting positive attention. For the first time, a project has been awarded the prestigious Minergie site certificate.

The innovative and long-term residential construction project Fischermätteli was successfully completed by Strüby Unternehmungen in autumn 2023 after a staggered construction period of around three and a half years. The ten apartment blocks with a total of 168 condominiums were built on a former commercial site in Burgdorf BE. Over 6600 m3 of Swiss wood was used in the construction, which serves as a natural CO2 reservoir and has an excellent ecological footprint thanks to the short transport routes.

One hundred per cent of the energy requirements for the entire site are covered by renewable sources. The electricity comes from the PV systems on the roofs of the buildings, while the heat for heating and hot water comes from a heating centre that runs on Swiss pellets. The well thought-out mobility concept is based on electric mobility, car sharing, bicycles and public transport. A co-working space supports working from home and thus indirectly relieves traffic congestion. In addition, the environmental design based on the sponge city principle ensures natural and efficient cooling in summer and turns the project into a true biodiversity hotspot thanks to the wide variety of native plants.

Label with high requirements
In April 2024, the largest real estate project to date was awarded the coveted certificate by the Minergie association: the Minergie-Areal label, having already been awarded the Minergie-A-ECO label. The new standard, which has been in place since September 2023, is supported by various organisations such as the Minergie Association, the cantons, the business community and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The Minergie site is characterised by minimal energy consumption, minimised greenhouse gas emissions during construction and operation and maximum self-sufficiency with renewable energies. The buildings have particularly efficient heat insulation and controlled air exchange. In addition, the outdoor space of the Minergie site is designed in such a way that climate resilience and quality of stay are increased, for example through green planting and shading options. Another advantage of the Minergie site is the promotion of climate-friendly mobility.

The development in Burgdorf BE sets new standards in timber construction for flats. With 168 owner-occupied flats in ten apartment blocks, it is the largest construction project of its kind to combine Swiss timber and the Minergie-A-ECO standard. Sustainability aspects were at the centre of the project right from the start, which earned it the first Minergie-Areal certificate for a completed project.

Thanks to the elegant timber façades, the ensemble blends in perfectly with its natural surroundings. The clearly defined meeting and play zones with village charm promote relationships between the residents. At the same time, the architecture ensures privacy and creates living spaces with ideal air, light and sound characteristics. Community-enhancing elements such as a spacious communal pavilion and the professional home office zone “fm produktiv” round off the offer.

The flats offer 2.5 to 5.5 rooms and are designed for singles, couples and families of all ages. The floor plans are flexibly designed so that they can be adapted to future needs. From the ground floor upwards, the building was constructed using timber elements.

The energy supply is consistently based on renewable sources. The electricity for the approximately 400 residents comes from the PV systems on the roofs of the apartment blocks (700 MWh/year). Heat is generated in a heating centre using Swiss wood pellets.

The mobility concept focuses on cycling, public transport, electric vehicles and car sharing. Bicycle stands, charging stations, repair and cleaning areas are available. Residents can also use one of the two electric cars from the neighbourhood’s own car-sharing scheme via an app or conveniently use the bus, which runs every half hour from the neighbourhood to Burgdorf. Demand for the condominiums and rental flats was very high right from the start. All 168 flats were sold or rented months before completion. The fair sales and rental prices certainly contributed to the great success, e.g. a flat with 4.5 rooms was already available from CHF 610,000 (minus Minergie subsidies from the Canton of Berne).

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