Half a
century of ZIMA
In 1971, Horst Zimmermann and DI Franz Markowski (†) founded the ZIMA Group in Vorarlberg, which quickly established itself as a local residential developer. Today - 50 years later - around 180 employees in four countries work at six branch offices on innovative real estate projects that retain their value. The focus is on creating sustainable properties that offer a high quality of life and security for future owners and investors. Not only have more than 8,000 apartments and space for 6,500 workplaces been realized in recent years, but a number of new projects have also been initiated.
Good future prospects thanks to attractive project pipeline
"As an owner-managed group of companies, we have been developing special properties in the German-speaking Alpine region since 1971. The work we have done over the past 50 years fills me with pride and has set the course for this success story to continue. Our current project pipeline of over 4,300 residential units and a total project volume of around 1.8 billion euros allows us to look to the future with confidence and optimism," explains Alexander Nußbaumer, CEO of the ZIMA Group. Nußbaumer himself joined the company around 30 years ago and took it over in 1999 as part of a management buy-out. He then took over all shares in the company in 2001 and has been managing the operational business as CEO and sole owner ever since.
ZIMA's current landmark projects include the "Kirschblüte" in Vienna. The new-build project in Donaustadt is already on the home straight and will be completed in fall 2021. With the "Attemsgarten", another flagship project in the Austrian capital is also in the starting blocks. Another flagship project is currently under construction in Tyrol : With the Stadt Carré, the group is currently realizing an attractive urban quarter in the heart of Innsbruck, comprising four buildings with around 250 residential units. The modern, fully furnished micro-living apartments are a particular highlight. The "DASGOETHE" residential and commercial property in Munich City is already one step ahead: the city center project could be completed in spring 2021.
50 years of ZIMA - trust as the most important asset
On its 50th anniversary, ZIMA emphasizes the importance of an alliance of trust at all levels. "Trust starts with creating a home and ends with keeping all promises to partners, customers and investors. It is not built through words, but through deeds. We will continue to follow this motto for the next 50 years," continues Nußbaumer. The group of companies is active as a developer at various levels, acquiring projects, building properties and exploiting them. Reliability, quality, transparency and appreciation are always indispensable components.
Promoting sustainable concepts
"To be successful in this industry, you need the skills of a generalist, coupled with commercial expertise and handshake quality. That was the case back then and it hasn't changed to this day. What is needed now more than ever is courage for new visions and a willingness to embrace change," says the 80-year-old Horst Zimmermann, one of the two ZIMA founders, when asked what the success factors of a project and real estate developer are. ZIMA undoubtedly has the courage for new visions and the willingness for change. The company has been using intelligent development concepts for a long time in order to conserve land and make sustainable use of existing areas.
Probably the most exciting and revolutionary topic of the future at the moment is purelivin, with which ZIMA, as a property developer, is promoting innovative and climate-positive construction. With the modular solid timber construction concept, serially prefabricated, complete room modules are combined into multifunctional residential units according to the "plug & play" principle. The combination of high-quality solid wood and serial prefabrication enables short construction times, reduces the CO2 impact of construction and creates residential buildings that are almost 100% recyclable. In line with this principle, projects in the hotel, student living, social centers, schools, office and residential construction sectors with around 7,000 modules have already been successfully implemented with partner Kaufmann Bausysteme from Reuthe - even beyond Austria's borders. Further purelivin projects with over 350 apartments and more than 900 modules are currently being planned and implemented.
About ZIMA
The ZIMA Group has been realizing real estate projects for 50 years and is one of the largest private real estate developers in the German-speaking Alpine region. The head office is in Dornbirn. Other branches are located in Innsbruck, Bolzano, Munich, St. Gallen and Vienna. Total annual output amounted to over EUR 253 million in 2020
