© FOC / photo Rolf Siegenthaler
Everyone is talking about Baukultur and its associated Baukultur concept is growing in popularity in Switzerland and internationally. A Swiss initiative, the Baukultur concept was internationally and strategically embedded in the Davos Declaration 2018. Efforts to achieve high-quality Baukultur have been growing ever since. They range from regional initiatives and strategies through, nationwide organisations to international networking committees. like the Davos Baukultur Alliance, which includes government offices and civil society organisations as well as the private sector.
Two of our neighbouring countries have established institutions at national level to strengthen Baukultur and promote dialogue on the subject: the “Plattform Baukulturpolitik” in Austria (since 2005) and the “Bundesstiftung Baukultur” in Germany (since 2007). Many other countries have established Baukultur policies and implement them using such terminology as “architectural policy” or “policy for the built environment”.
In Switzerland, the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA) set up the “Runder Tisch Baukultur” in 2010 to establish a Baukultur network with the different involved parties. The “Manifest zur Baukultur” was published the following year. In its cultural policy statement (Kulturbotschaft 2016–2020), the parliament mandated the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) to develop a policy for a high-quality Baukultur in cooperation with all the relevant federal offices. The “Kulturbotschaft 2021–2024” adds substance to the concept of Baukultur and systematically integrates it into cultural policy. The Federal Council approved the interdepartmental Baukultur policy in February 2020.
The FOC shapes and coordinates federal national and international Baukultur policy. That demonstrates its commitment to suitable cooperation formats with all relevant players.
Contact
Federal Office of Culture
Section Baukultur
Hallwylstr. 15
3003
Bern
Phone
+41 58 462 86 25