On 13 and 14 May, members of the National Research Programme on Baukultur (NRP 81) met in Thun for the project kick-off meeting , which was attended by around 80 people from 13 research groups and the steering committee. Among the projects involved were two developed by two professors from the Academy of Architecture of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).
Over the course of two days, a strong sense of community emerged among the members of NRP 81 despite their diverse themes and working approaches. The variety of projects was clear from the very beginning of the kick-off meeting. NRP 81 brings together a diverse range of stakeholders from various sectors, comprising more than 130 individuals, including 45 practice partners.
The first of the two days ended with two insightful presentations by Dr Raphael Lanz , Mayor of Thun, and the city architect Florian Kühne , who emphasised the importance of dialogue in Baukultur.
The second day focused on exploring future challenges in the field of Baukultur. The discussion began with Dr Oliver Martin , who oversees the Baukultur section at the Federal Office for Culture (BAK), and Prof. Ivana Katuric , co-author of a handbook on the New European Bauhaus self-assessment method. This conversation then continued enthusiastically in mixed working sessions.
The Chair of the Steering Committee, Prof. Paola Viganò , was happy with this first meeting: "I am pleased to see that a group has formed that shares a common goal: we all’aim to use this programme to advance the discourse on ecological and social change in built spaces".
Among the projects taking part in the programme are two developed at the Academy of Architecture of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI): the first, led by Full Professor Franz Graf and Prof. Giulia di Marino (LAB Institute, Catholic University of Leuven), is titled " Reload. Rethinking architectural practices within the existing building ". Starting from the consideration that the majority of buildings in Switzerland were built between 1946 and 2000, the project questions how renovation methods can simultaneously take into account the architectural value of buildings and modern ecological and energy standards. Project partners are Dr Moreno Molina (USI), Lic. iur. Walter Maffioletti (USI), the City of Lausanne (Service d’architecture et du logement), and the Canton of Vaud, Direction générale des immeubles et du patrimoine DGIP.
The second project is titled "From Baukultur to Umbaukultur ’’and is led by Associate Professor at the USI Academy of Architecture Muck Petzet. The construction sector significantly contributes to carbon emissions, the destruction of natural habitats, resource depletion, and the environmental waste burden. This project aims to explore the unconscious cultural and behavioural factors that often impede the successful implementation of conversion projects. By integrating research from social anthropology, economics, and law, we will identify and outline the foundations for a new "Umbaukultur," or culture of care and repair.
The National Research Programme on Baukultur takes shape
