A 73-hectare site in West Frankfurt, a building featuring a spectacular glass façade in Paris, a prestigious property on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich and a hotel in Barcelona: Swiss Life has a large and broadly diversified portfolio of residential and commercial properties and is also involved in developing new sites and districts. In this list, we present ten special properties and real estate projects in Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain.
Real estate is an important, attractive asset class for the Swiss Life Group as it aligns very well with the company’s long-term insurance liabilities and offers stable returns. Swiss Life Asset Managers is responsible for managing the assets in Swiss Life’s insurance business. In Europe, Swiss Life Asset Managers managed and administrated real estate in Europe valued at around CHF 108.5 billion as at the end of June 2024 in the office, residential, healthcare, logistics and manufacturing sectors, as well as retail and hotels. A key aspect in this regard is that the portfolios for the proprietary insurance business and the real estate funds for institutional clients, such as pension funds and family offices, always meet the current requirements and that the properties are fit for the future. These ten special properties demonstrate just how diverse this asset class is:
1. Swiss Life Brannhof, Bahnhofstrasse 75/79, Zurich
In 1912, department store pioneer Julius Brann commissioned an architecturally impressive building to be built on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse. Together with the extension built in 1929 and the “Nafenhaus” constructed in 1931, the building we know today as “Swiss Life Brannhof” was born. Swiss Life has owned the building complex since 2001. Following a comprehensive refurbishment that took place between March 2020 and the end of 2023, Swiss Life has now brought the building complex into the future with a new, modern use concept. From the first basement floor to the first floor, there is a café and five retail stores covering some 4600 square metres, including mixed-use facilities such as a car showroom combined with a modern coffee outlet. Between the second and the fifth floors, there are around 5800 square metres of office space. The property boasts many special features, such as the meticulously restored historical elements, including 10 000 coloured lead-glass windows, as well as the contemporary on-site art both in the interior and exterior of the building. In a constantly changing environment, “Swiss Life Brannhof” is well set to become a new fixture on Zurich’s world-famous business and shopping promenade.
Images © Roger Frei




2. Rue du Rhône 8, Geneva
The historic “Rue Du Rhône 8” property can be found in a very central location in Geneva and has been owned by Swiss Life since 2015. Located in the prestigious Rue Basses district of Geneva, the seven-storey building complex contains five building parts and extends from the Rue du Rhône via the “Passage des Lions” to the Rue de la Confédération. Covering a total of 18 000 square metres, there is modern retail space up to the first floor, which also includes a restaurant with a large roof terrace facing the inner courtyard, as well as flexible office space on the remaining floors



The “Passage des Lions” was built in 1911 by Adrien Peyrot. It is the only shopping arcade of its kind in Geneva and is a listed building. Another special feature is the green façade facing the inner courtyard and the mix of historical elements and modern architecture, which blend together perfectly having been extensively renovated. The new use of “Rue Du Rhône 8” has significantly improved and brought more life to the district with the revitalised “Passage des Lions”.
Images: © Fernando Guerra


3. Au-Park, Wädenswil, Zurich
Since summer 2023, Swiss Life in Wädenswil has been transforming a development site spanning around 32 000 square metres previously used for commercial purposes into a diverse residential area located directly on Lake Zurich. In addition to 295 new apartments – a mix of freehold and rental apartments – the site will also offer around 2000 square metres of commercial space. There will also be around 30 allotment gardens that can be rented out. At the heart of the site will be the spacious and publicly accessible Au-Park, which also contains a promenade and will make the area more pleasant to spend time in. Sustainability also plays a major role on the site: heat is generated from geothermal heat pumps and is backed up by solar panels covering the roofs. The residential buildings are certified with the Swiss “SNBS Gold” label for sustainable construction. As part of the mobility concept, there are around 800 bicycle parking spaces, and great attention has been paid to providing e-mobility infrastructure. Tenants are set to start moving into the apartments by the summer of 2026.
Visuals: Tend AG



4. FRANKFURT WESTSIDE, Stoofstrasse 27,
Frankfurt am Main
The former industrial site in Frankfurt am Main dates back to 1856, with the site originally used to produce chemicals. It is no longer used for this purpose. Since 2020, the 73-hectare site has been part of the portfolio of Swiss Life Asset Managers and its subsidiary BEOS AG and is now known as FRANKFURT WESTSIDE. With an investment of around EUR 1.3 billion and more than 70 new buildings, FRANKFURT WESTSIDE is being developed by Swiss Life Asset Managers and BEOS AG into a mixed-use commercial and industrial district, with completion scheduled for 2035.



Whether for research and development, institutes, manufacturing, offices by the waterfront, creative hubs or coworking spaces – the site will in future offer individual and tailor-made solutions for Industry 4.0 for up to 6000 employees. The mile-long bank of the river Main plays a key role for the entire site. The rejuvenated river path connects to the existing walkways, giving pedestrians and cyclists access to FRANKFURT WESTSIDE. In other words, the former industrial park is opening its doors to the public and unlocking its full potential.
Images: © Bloomimages Berlin GmbH

5. Berlin Decks, Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 16–21, Berlin
BEOS AG acquired the site on the northern edge of the Moabit district for a German investor consortium in 2018. The Berlin Decks, which were planned from the outset as a place for integration and communication, will be built in this area. The site combines nature, businesses and neighbourhoods, which will form a community of their own. During the construction phase, the site was already being used by various local and internationally renowned artists. With a timber-hybrid construction method, CO2-neutral operations, green spaces and various lighting artworks, which – like the entire campus – are powered exclusively using green electricity, Berlin Decks is committed to developing the site in a sustainable manner. The ceramic façade and the green roof mean the site is designed in an ecologically advanced and economically sustainable way. In addition to the innovative concept for the campus, the Berlin Decks also feature a historical touch, with the 2800 square metre brick building built in 1912. A further 48 000 square metres, intended to bring together various companies and people, will be gradually available in four new multi-level builds from 2024 to 2026.
Images: © BEOS AG



6. West.side Office, Siemensstrasse 21, Bonn-Endenich
The “West.side Office” project is located at the centre of an up-and-coming area in the Bonn-Endenich district and has been part of the portfolio of Swiss Life Asset Managers Germany since 2018. The mix of office, catering and retail space helps meet the need for office and retail use in the west of Bonn. The five construction sites, spanning a total of around 35 755 square metres, combine historic industrial spaces with modern architecture. The older buildings are being revitalised and preserved, while new modern office buildings are also being added. While construction sites 1 and 2 – which are spread across 9560 and 11 200 square metres, respectively – have already been completed and fully let, construction sites 3 and 4 are still under development and are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. Construction sites 3 and 4 (11 300 and 3600 square metres, respectively) primarily contain modern office space. Construction site 5 is also still under development and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. Its proximity to the university and Bonn city centre makes the West.side Office an attractive site in a burgeoning residential area.
Images: © Swiss Life Asset Managers Deutschland



7. Maison Trévise, Paris
The “Maison Trévise” is located in a lively Parisian district in the 9th arrondissement. It consists of three buildings and was acquired in 2021 for a Swiss Life Asset Managers special fund. The former Hotel Bony is at the centre of the block. The hotel was added to a list of historical monuments due to its neo-Palladian style typical of 1815 and its embellishments inspired by ancient architecture. In order to create an environmentally friendly building complex and provide greater comfort for users, Swiss Life Asset Managers France has completely restructured “Maison Trévise” and converted it into modern offices.



The former Hotel Bony was renovated by a chief architect for historic monuments, who created exquisite infrastructure that connects the three buildings. In addition, the garden, which is considered a protected green area under the local urban development plan (PLU), was upgraded and a business centre was created in the basement – which previously housed parking facilities – below the garden. The fully restored and architecturally unique property now provides office users with a large selection of modular workspaces and reception areas.
Images: © Antoine Mercusot


8. 104 Richelieu, Paris
Built on stilts, this landmark building from the 1960s is located just a few blocks from the Palais de la Bourse, the Opéra Garnier and the Louvre. It originally suffered from certain shortcomings: a lack of sound or thermal insulation, little natural light, no separate entrances for offices and apartments, and a lack of communal areas. Following a thorough structural and ecological upgrade, the property now boasts a new, contemporary identity as a green cocoon with a striking glass façade, making it a much-sought-after location in the heart of this popular district. In addition to the glass façade, large functional platforms and green terraces provide light. The way the building has been revitalised is a perfect example of how an old building can be modernised and optimised to meet demanding market requirements, whether in terms of the quality of the work carried out and the quality of life offered, or with a view to the real estate portfolio’s own CO2 reduction path. This not only improves the image of the property, but also contributes to the quality of life for residents and makes the district more attractive.
Images: © Swiss Life Asset Managers France



9. Rue Monsieur, Paris
Built at the end of the 19th century, the original hotel is a landmark in Paris’s 7th arrondissement and has been a Swiss Life property since 2018. Located in the ministerial and embassy districts, the 2180 square metre complex, some of which is listed, has a garden of around 1000 square metres. The building’s cultural heritage has been highlighted following the extensive renovation and redesign of the various spaces, with the SRI (Socially Responsible Investing) requirements and ambitions of Swiss Life Asset Managers France also playing a major role.



The restructuring project posed two major challenges: to preserve the cultural and historical value of the property, while also adapting the buildings to current office use standards in order to create modern and attractive workspaces. The aim was to architecturally restore the layout of the original building from 1891, preserving the historical building shell, but not compromising on the quality of the architecture. The careful design of the green spaces helps preserve biodiversity, while at the same time providing office users with an island in which they can relax.
Images: © Swiss Life Asset Managers France


10. Axel Hotel, Barcelona
In October 2021, Swiss Life Asset Managers France, convinced that the hospitality sector could quickly recover following the Covid-19 pandemic, purchased the Axel Hotel Barcelona, which is named after its operator. This 4-star hotel is located in the centre of Barcelona, in an area very popular with tourists. It has around 100 rooms and is primarily aimed at cosmopolitan travellers. Built in the 19th century, the iconic building has a rooftop terrace with sky bar, pool and restaurant, and so offers attractive facilities for tourists. Axel Hotels is a chain that positions itself as the market leader in the LGBTQI+ community and places particular emphasis on tolerance, diversity and respect throughout its facilities. The hotel fits well with Swiss Life Asset Managers’ city hotel strategy, which targets medium-sized properties with a strong identity in attractive and touristic European cities.
Images: © Swiss Life Asset Managers France


