Interview with Doris Sfar

English Summary (Full Interview, in French, at bottom of page)

As a part of a series of interviews, IFHP illustrates some innovative approaches and highlights relevant experiences from the point of view of professionals in the broad field of housing and planning. We interviewed Doris Sfar on her work for the Swiss Federal Office for Housing in Switzerland in general, and on the commitment for an innovative approach of both social and urban integration called “Projet Urbain” in particular.

Doris Sfar outlines the fact that various urban issues that Switzerland encounters are also common in the rest of Europe. Even more, urban issues such as urban sprawl or sustainable development are worldwide issues. She reminds us that the work of a planner is deeply rooted in a physical context. However, Doris Sfar points out that planners must pay particular attention to the local context and its specificities. The Swiss context is an example of the negative effect of an unregulated growth of the city. Furthermore, decisions in planning have sometimes unexpected effects. As an example, the metropolitan areas of Zürich and Basel appear as victims of their economic success and attractiveness: the development that these cities experience is accompanied by an over-growth of “prestigious” real estate or companies in the city center whereas social housing is relegated to the suburbs. The Swiss housing policies (or lack thereof) add to the problem: “In Switzerland, housing is still a private sector initiative”.

It is in this context that the Swiss Federal Office for Housing steps in. It serves a dual purpose: on the one hand, it supports owners and public developers by providing differential rates. On the other hand, it campaigns against the abuses in the rental sector with a specific focus on disadvantaged groups.

According to Doris Sfar, as a result of this context, Switzerland has a long tradition of cooperation: “We cannot do it alone”. Doris Sfar explains that cooperation is a political necessity in the Swiss context. It is a tool to improve the efficiency of urban projects in a local context. The “Projet Urbain” programme is a good translation of the culture of cooperation from a political level to a local context in Switzerland.

“Projet Urbain” is a Swiss innovative approach which reacts to several urban issues. One goal is integration in the housing sector by close cooperation between the different federal departments. Another aim is to empower the disadvantaged people and to raise their standard of living by providing a common platform to exchange their problems and experiences.

Doris Sfar gives a concrete example of how a common action of both federal offices and the civic society can cope with the wide range of urban issues. The key lies in creating and providing tools to allow people to act as stakeholders for their own improvement of their standard of living.