Wohnbaugenossenschaften Zürich is the largest of nine regional associations of cooperative housing developers in Switzerland, operating in Zurich and the surrounding canton. The organization was established in the late 19th century and has a documented history dating back over 100 years. As of 2019, it comprised over 260 member cooperatives and represented more than 66,000 homes, making it the leading provider of cooperative housing in the canton of Zurich.
Throughout its history, Wohnbaugenossenschaften Zürich has coordinated cooperative housing initiatives, especially in response to periods of acute housing shortages. Since 1910, the city of Zurich has actively supported non-profit housing construction, notably by selling or leasing land to cooperatives under favorable conditions. Estimates suggest that approximately 11,000–12,000 cooperative housing units in Zurich have been built on city-leased or -sold land.
The organization helps facilitate renovation, new construction, and modernization projects undertaken by its member cooperatives. Recent examples include the replacement of the Lerchenhalde 60Plus estate in Zürich Affoltern, the redevelopment of the Überlandpark area in Zürich Schwamendingen, and projects such as the ecologically designed outdoor spaces of the Gemeinnützige Bau- und Mietergenossenschaft Zürich in Aussersihl.
Wohnbaugenossenschaften Zürich is led by Andreas Wirz (president since 2023), an architect with long-standing engagement in urban housing and cooperative development. The association regularly organizes site visits and public events to foster exchange among members and with the broader public. Its activities span member support, advocacy, information dissemination, and participation in regional housing policy debates.