10 Million Swiss: As space in Zurich becomes scarce, the agglomeration must become a city. But do the people there want that too?

Stefan Marty, the mayor of Regensdorf, stands amidst a vast construction site, the future heart of a rapidly transforming Zurich suburb. Behind him rise new high-rises, and before him, a foundation the size of a football field is being laid for a third tower. "The third high-rise is being built right here!" he exclaims, a smile playing on his lips.

Regensdorf, once known for its utilitarian housing blocks and a correctional facility, is becoming a model of future urban living: dense, eco-friendly, and meticulously planned. The Bahnhof Nord development, spanning 21 hectares, is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating features like unsealed ground and porous stone to manage rainwater and mitigate heat, embodying the "sponge city" principle.

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Here, the third high-rise is being built!

Marty, a non-partisan community figure, is visibly enthusiastic about this new vision for Regensdorf. He points out planned amenities like an open-air cinema, a bicycle rental service with cargo bikes, and the first businesses, including a barber shop. "And here, look, the ground: unsealed, with porous stone, so water can seep in when it rains and evaporate when it's hot. Sponge city principle!" he shares.

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Even better would be a meadow here, of course. Like it used to be – tractors, fields, open spaces, nature.

However, when pressed about his evident joy, Marty pauses. "A meadow would be even better here, of course," he admits, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "Like it used to be – tractors, fields, open spaces, nature." Regensdorf, a place once considered unremarkable, is being absorbed by Zurich, evolving from a farming village to an industrial zone, then a suburban area, and now an avant-garde outpost of the city.

The population has surged from 7,000 in the early 1960s to over 20,000 today, with projections reaching 35,000 by 2050. Despite this growth, the community has twice rejected official name changes to "Stadt" (city) via popular vote. Nevertheless, the new urban district at the train station is proceeding, slated to provide housing for 6,500 people by 2030. Its centerpiece will be Switzerland's tallest wooden high-rise, a 24-story structure that welcomed its first residents last summer. The question remains whether this intensive densification is a sensible approach or a symptom of "density stress."

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Unsealed ground, with porous stone, so water can seep in when it rains and evaporate when it's hot. Sponge city principle!