Bern

1. Federal City of Switzerland: Bern is not only the capital of Switzerland but also designated as the "Federal City." This unique status means that it houses the federal government and serves as the political center, which many may not realize while exploring its historical sites. 2. Cultural Events: Bern hosts an array of unique cultural events throughout the year, such as the Bern Carnival (Fasnacht), which features elaborate costumes and parades. This vibrant festival is less known to visitors who may focus on the city's historical attractions. 3. Bear Park: The city has a Bear Park (BärenPark) that is home to actual bears, symbolizing the city. This park is situated near the Old Town and offers a unique opportunity to see these animals in a natural-like habitat, which many tourists may overlook while visiting the more famous sites like the Zytglogge clock tower.

The housing market in Bern, Switzerland, is currently experiencing high demand and limited supply. As of June 2024, the vacancy rate in Bern dropped to 0.76%, the lowest in a decade, with only 1,735 vacant housing units. This scarcity has led to rising prices in both the rental and purchase markets. The average price per square meter for apartments in Bern is approximately €9,100, while houses average around €10,450 per square meter. For rentals, the median price is about €24 per square meter per month. Bern has a strong rental market, with over 50% of residents renting their homes. This is partly due to Switzerland's historically low homeownership rates. The city is facing challenges in providing affordable housing. To address this, Bern has implemented various social housing initiatives and cooperatives, although specific figures on their market share are not available in the provided search results. The real estate market in Bern is expected to remain competitive in 2025, with predictions of continued price increases due to low mortgage rates, high immigration, and limited supply meeting large area demands. While the total number of housing units in Bern is not explicitly stated in the search results, the city is experiencing a shortage, with estimates suggesting a potential deficit of 700,000 apartments across Switzerland.

The city of Bern has implemented several measures to address affordable housing: The city has introduced Article 16b in its building regulations, which mandates that at least one-third of residential use in newly zoned or rezoned areas should be affordable apartments or handed over to non-profit housing developers. These apartments must be built and let at cost rent. Bern offers a 20% utilization bonus for new buildings and conversions if all apartments in the building are affordable or built by a non-profit organization at cost rent. The city has designated overlapping zones for affordable housing in its zoning plan, with at least 50% reserved for affordable housing. Associated ordinances regulate upper limits for permissible net rents and sales prices based on apartment types. Bern is also focusing on sustainability in housing. The Swissôtel Kursaal Bern, for example, offers carbon-neutral events and stays, with fees contributing to sustainability initiatives like rooftop solar panels and beekeeping. The city administration collaborates with housing cooperatives, favoring them in building codes during re-zoning. This approach is seen as a sustainable "third way" for affordable housing provision, balancing between public and private sector solutions. These initiatives demonstrate Bern's commitment to creating more affordable and sustainable housing through regulatory measures, incentives, and partnerships with non-profit organizations.

Housing cooperatives play a significant role in Bern, Switzerland, though their presence is not as prominent as in other major Swiss cities like Zurich. In Bern, cooperatives aim to provide affordable, sustainable, and community-oriented living spaces. The city of Bern supports housing cooperatives through various policy measures. These include offering public land on leasehold contracts, implementing zoning regulations that favor cooperative housing, and providing general support to non-profit housing developers. However, Bern does not offer direct financial or technical support for individual cooperative projects, unlike some other Swiss cities. One notable cooperative in Bern is the Railway Construction Cooperative (EBG), established in 1919 to provide better housing for railway employees' families. The EBG has continued to build housing complexes and high-rises, making apartments more affordable for workers. It remains an important player in the non-profit housing sector in the greater Bern region. While specific lighthouse projects in Bern are not mentioned in the search results, the nearby town of Ittigen (near Bern) is developing the Worblaufen Plusenergie-Quartier, a project aimed at creating versatile living spaces for around 500 people. This development, while not explicitly stated as a cooperative, aligns with the principles of sustainable and community-oriented living often associated with housing cooperatives.