Baukultur is essential for creating an environment worth living in. Its production, appropriation and use is a social process that is based on a broad understanding of qualitative values and goals. In order to define and discuss these values and goals, the Federal Foundation of Baukultur has now presented its first Baukultur Report on the state of Baukultur in Germany. Due to the broad range of topics and the complexity of the built environment, the report focuses on urban issues for 2014 and 2015. It takes a close look at three key areas in particular: mixed-use districts, public space and infrastructure, as well as planning culture and process quality. The report presents the status quo, current developments, scope and potential for each of the focal points. The explanations are based on a Forsa survey and two statistical surveys. The results were compiled in collaboration with the German Institute of Urban Affairs and the Technical University of Berlin and advised by the foundation’s advisory board and an interdisciplinary advisory group. The report culminates in concrete suggestions and recommendations for action aimed at the government and parliament, planners and other stakeholders to promote Baukultur in Germany.
The recommendations range from suggestions for improving project structures and planning processes to advice on promoting and communicating building culture issues and suggestions for formulating guiding principles and guidelines in the building and planning process. Specifically, the report calls for a “phase zero” to strengthen the basic investigation and clarification of the construction task before the start of planning, which should enable thorough preliminary investigations and the involvement of the public. In addition, according to the report, an additional “phase ten” after completion of the construction project, which is also proposed, would allow weak points to be rectified and avoided in future planning. In addition to many other points, the report also calls for high design standards for engineering structures, the establishment of communication and participation processes and experimentation clauses to create scope for innovation.The report thus offers extensive proposals relating to the areas of “New approach to planning and building culture”, “Role model function” and “Promotion and communication of building culture”. It also makes recommendations aimed at specific stakeholder groups such as the public sector, private developers, chambers and associations and the Baukultur Foundation itself.At the public convention meeting, which acts as a central forum for forming opinions for the foundation, members and guests were invited to reflect on and discuss the recommendations for action set out in the report in a practical manner in three workshops. Finally, the recommendations of the Baukultur report were evaluated in an interactive survey and prioritized for concrete implementation.The next convention in 2016 will focus on rural areas and medium-sized and small towns. Until then, we can hope that this year’s Baukultur Report will not only be widely listened to, but that the words will also be followed by deeds.