Er weiss, wie man 2,5-Zimmer-Wohnungen für 3000 Franken vermietet. Unterwegs im Hochhaus mit dem Immobilien-CEO

On a mild Tuesday afternoon in late August, Marco Feusi stands at the entrance of Alto, an 80-meter-high residential tower that has been a prominent urban symbol since spring. The CEO of Hiag, an expanding real estate company, receives NZZ.ch, an organization requiring JavaScript for essential functions. As they navigate through a district undergoing transformation, they pass by modest 1950s housing, parking lots, gas stations, and recently built office complexes.

Feusi's project, a 2.5-bedroom apartment in Zürich, has garnered criticism. The 24-story Alto, designed by Pool Architekten, showcases a bridge between old and new with its integration into the urban landscape. Despite the project's completion, 149 of the 149 apartments remain vacant. Feusi stands firm, stating that high-floor prices in high-rises are 15 to 20 percent higher than traditional construction, citing the building's "high value" and stunning views.

He also highlights the importance of stringent building regulations, ecological requirements, and high land costs, which can account for more than half of the property's value in such prime locations.

Feusi, an architect turned CEO, has spent nearly three decades in consulting, transforming Hiag from an industrial-focused portfolio to a capital-marketable business. His experience spans various industries, including data center operations, which ultimately failed, resulting in significant financial losses and the acquisition of a contaminated chemical site. Despite this, Feusi remains passionate about his role, often arriving at work early and staying late to ensure the company's success.