Swiss Cultural Message 2025–28 for building culture
The Cultural Dispatch 2025-28 marks a milestone for building culture in Switzerland. For the first time, sustainability is defined as an independent field of action and the importance of high-quality living spaces is recognised. Organisations from the building culture sector welcome the clear positioning and call for it to be enshrined in law.
The draft Cultural Message 2025-28 places building culture at the centre of sustainable spatial development. In the face of climate change, resource scarcity and the loss of biodiversity, the design of living space is gaining strategic importance. With its holistic approach, Baukultur provides answers to key challenges and enables a sustainable future.
Design as a social mission
Baukultur encompasses all spatially effective activities from monument preservation and urban planning to the design of contemporary buildings. Well-designed buildings, settlements and infrastructure promote the well-being of the population, strengthen the cultural heritage and combine ecological, social, economic and cultural values. This integrative quality makes Baukultur a decisive instrument for the transformation of cities and regions.
Forward-looking impetus from Davos
The international Davos Baukultur process and the latest declarations by European culture ministers confirm the need for a holistic understanding of Baukultur. Switzerland is taking up this impetus and is planning to enshrine Baukultur in the Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act, an important step towards strengthening the federal government’s role model function and making targeted use of existing funding instruments.
Circular economy and innovation as guidelines
Future building culture must be consistently geared towards the circular economy and sufficiency. New standards such as life cycle limits for emissions, the conscious use of resources and a culture of remodelling form the foundation. In addition, a culture of innovation is needed that promotes new materials, technologies and processes.
Recommendations for coherent implementation
The signatory organisations have made specific demands. The environmental sector should be more closely integrated, municipalities and cities should be included in advisory and training programmes and effective construction taxation should be taken into account when adjusting subsidies. In addition, a consistent application of the concept of Baukultur is required, for example in the Swiss Culture Awards or in the work of Pro Helvetia. The Swiss Building Culture Round Table offers itself as a national platform for coordination with international initiatives.