The respondents’ most urgent needs fall into four different categories.

Housing: In the area of housing, the respondents wish above all for more affordable housing space and for more promotion of social housing. They also deem it important to have meeting places in areas on the outskirts of the city, which would promote creative businesses and consumption, be suitable for the younger age groups and favour diversity.

Reconciliation of family and work life: The study participants consider it important for concrete difficulties in relation to reconciling family and work life to be analysed with regard to child care. They see problems in the decentralised child care services and relatively inflexible care times. The services offered should be better adapted to job requirements. Furthermore, costs for child care are currently too high.

Quality of life and open spaces: The respondents appreciate Zurich very much in this regard and wish for the abundance of city and district squares, meeting places and culture to be maintained. At the same time, they suggest that bicycle lanes and signalling be improved, and safety be increased. They furthermore express their desire for more (interim) use of free spaces with alternative ideas that foster diversity and consider various different needs.

Participation and information: According to the study participants, information about urban development, planning and discussions in the urban area should be published more widely and more often. New formats for participative processes and networks for the dissemination of information are therefore needed. Respondents also expressed their urgent wish to introduce voting and electoral rights or specific rights of participation at community/district level for foreigners.

More detailed information on the study and the recommended action can be found in the final report. You can find a short overview of the study on the project page.