What is the importance of building culture?

Twenty years ago, when the term Baukultur was still not very widespread in Germany, every small town in the Netherlands already had contact points offering advice for building owners and citizens on the subject of Baukultur in conversions, extensions and new buildings. This head start in terms of building culture, planning and architecture is still having an effect worldwide today. Germany now wants to catch up.

In times of rising land prices and ever higher building densities, the topic of building culture is becoming more important and a recognised goal in the real estate industry: with support from the real estate and housing industry, the Institute for Corporate Governance in the German Real Estate Industry (ICG) and the Federal Foundation for Building Culture developed the Code for Building Culture, a voluntary commitment for the responsible performance of tasks by companies in the real estate industry. Scientific support was provided by IREBS at the University of Regensburg.

In its role as project developer, planner, builder or owner, the real estate industry bears a special responsibility for the design of our living spaces. At the same time, building culture values and social acceptance form the basis for economic success. 

The fact that building culture offers added value has now entered people's minds. In a survey, for example, 98 percent of those questioned said that the appreciation of historical assets is seen as relevant or at least conditionally relevant. The Code for Building Culture focuses on the responsibility of real estate business activities for the built environment and the resulting consequences. It is about a holistic view and prudent action in new construction and portfolio development.

The complete Code of Building Culture and documentation can be found at www.bundesstiftung-baukultur.de. 

(Photo: © Piet van de Wiel, Pixabay)