Lise and Lotte

Innovation meets sustainability 

In Köniz, a former office complex is being given a second chance and being transformed into the urban well-being oasis Lise and Lotte. Sustainability played a key role in the conversion of the property and runs through the entire residential project. Lise & Lotte is a prime example of how new residential and living spaces can be created while extending the life of buildings.  

In the municipality of Köniz, not far from the lively capital of Bern, AXA Leben AG is carrying out a transformation that is still somewhat unusual these days – yet successful. Two buildings, which once served as office space for a well-known Swiss construction company, now have a new guise and bear the name Lise and Lotte. 

Instead of demolition followed by a new building, the property owner decided that, thanks to the well-preserved structure, they would convert the obsolete offices into unique residential and living spaces. During the refurbishment, care was taken to reuse as much material as possible, such as the old window frames. Fully in line with the motto of ‘Recycle, don’t throw away’. 

Unusual marketing measures

The conversion of the office space into residential space not only extended the life of the building, but also set an example for acting with the environment in mind. 

The marketing that Lise and Lotte carried out, however, was somewhat different to the usual practices. With creative approaches and a largely digital marketing campaign, our Bern rental team succeeded in first getting the property owners excited themselves and then also attracting the attention of an urban, young target group. 

For the first time, the rental team joined forces with the city’s famous blog ‘Bärner Meitschi’ and the event platform Ron Orp. An appealing homepage, peppered with Bern-specific terms and an advertisement all in Bernese German helped to generate interest. This allowed us to build an incomparable connection with thetarget group.

The only analogue advertising activity was also the most sustainable: advertising boxes mounted on bicycles aroused interest in the housing project at various locations around the city of Bern and its outskirts. At the end of the application phase, the bicycles used for the campaign had travelled some 1,700 kilometres. 

Focus on community and quality of life

The Lise and Lotte building project is a paradise for those who value sustainability and social connections. It also offers much more than just residential space. Various meeting areas, such as a communal kitchen, a business hub with co-working space, a sauna accessible to all tenants and additional guest rooms for spontaneous visits from friends and acquaintances, all help to promote a sense of community. 

The ideal location – Köniz train station and shopping facilities are within walking distance – makes Lise and Lotte a sought-after residential property. A local recreation area with beautiful bike and jogging trails is practically on the doorstep. Even the famous Gurten Festival is easily accessible by bike – all without traffic jams and tedious searching for parking spaces.

Full occupancy is imminent

In the meantime, the marketing measures have almost achieved their objective: the April 2024 move-in has been completed. Only two of the 83 apartments are still available. The 600 m2 commercial spaces located on the site are also sought after. Four out of seven have already been rented. If you are interested in the last available apartments, contact us at Lise and Lotte. 

Lise and Lotte – a harmonious project where sustainable construction and creative marketing activities have worked hand in hand to revive not only the two buildings but also the sense of community.