ABZ — Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich is one of Switzerland's largest and oldest housing cooperatives, founded in 1916 with a mission to provide affordable, high-quality housing for Zurich's residents. With over 4,700 apartments across the city, ABZ serves as a cornerstone of Zurich's cooperative housing model, which accounts for approximately one quarter of the city's total housing stock and is widely regarded as one of Europe's most successful alternatives to market-rate housing.
ABZ operates on the principle of cost-based rents, meaning that tenants pay only the actual costs of construction, maintenance, and administration rather than market-driven prices. This model has enabled the cooperative to maintain rents significantly below Zurich's market average while continuously investing in the quality and sustainability of its housing stock. ABZ's governance structure gives members a direct democratic voice in major decisions, reflecting Swiss traditions of participatory governance.
The cooperative has gained particular attention for its ambitious building renovation and new construction programme, which integrates advanced energy efficiency standards, sustainable materials, and community-oriented design. Notable projects include the Wogeno neighbourhood development and several estate-wide energy retrofits that demonstrate how large-scale cooperative housing can achieve ambitious climate targets while keeping rents affordable.
ABZ actively contributes to housing policy discourse in Switzerland and Europe, sharing its operational model and development expertise with other cooperatives, municipalities, and housing researchers. The cooperative's century-long track record demonstrates the long-term viability of non-profit housing provision, making it a particularly relevant reference for European cities seeking to expand affordable housing supply through cooperative and community-led development models.