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Prix SIA 2026: call for entries

The call for entries for the Prix SIA 2026 has reached the half-way mark. Interdisciplinary projects and processes that promote a sustainably designed living environment in Switzerland can still be submitted up to 23 January.

The Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA) is looking for interdisciplinary projects and processes that promote a sustainably designed living environment in Switzerland. They must have been realised in large part in Switzerland between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025.

The Prix SIA is awarded by the Society to honour innovative and interdisciplinary projects and processes in the field of Baukultur. Have you recently been involved in innovative works, products, instruments or processes that reflect a holistic understanding of sustainability and demonstrate a keen sense of responsibility towards society and Baukultur as an inherent part of their approach? Then don’t hesitate to submit them! The deadline for entries runs until 23 January 2026. Projects can be submitted on the Prix SIA website.

Round Table on the NRP “Baukultur”

The Swiss Baukultur Round Table came together in Zurich on 18 March 2025 to discuss the National Research Programme (NRP) “Baukultur”. Paola Viganò, President of the NRP’s Steering Committee, moderated the programme together with Caspar Schärer and Boris Buzek. The Round Table, hosted on this occasion by Archijeunes, also discussed the future development of baukulturswitzerland.ch, competitions as a form of living cultural heritage and current political matters and activities in which members are involved. The meeting came to a close with a guided tour of the “I LOVE CHALETS” exhibition at ZAZ Bellerive.

Case studies for Schoolchildren

Form from the test run with school children (photo: Lea Weniger, PHSZ)

"Let's talk about places in Switzerland. Which place is important to you? Which place lacks something in your view?" This is the new "Case studies for Schoolchildren" feature. It opens up baukulturschweiz.ch to a wider target audience: children and young people. The new tool was developed in cooperation with Lea Weniger from the Schwyz University of Teacher Education (PHSZ) in order to establish case studies on Swiss Baukultur in general education schools. It is now available to all interested parties.

Round table on skills shortage and competition

On 19 March 2024 in Zurich, the Swiss Baukultur Round Table discussed how contemporary job profiles, attractive working conditions and educational opportunities in schools and universities can counteract the shortage of skilled workers. Oliver Martin, Head of the Baukultur Section at the Federal Office of Culture, presented the new Baukultur Action Plan, the status of the Cultural Message 2025-28 and the current fields of action of the Davos Baukultur Alliance. The round table, which was hosted by bauenschweiz this time, also discussed the further development of baukulturswitzerland.ch and the competition system as a living cultural heritage. The meeting was rounded off with a guided tour of the south wing of Zurich main station organised by SBB.

Cultural Message 2025–2028: Yes to sustainability through Baukultur

The leading organisations in the field of Baukultur welcome the present draft of the Cultural Message 2025–28. A high level of Baukultur is the key to sustainably designing our living environment. Its promotion and incorporation into law are therefore urgent and appropriate.

The following organisations support this basic position:

Archijeunes
Federation of Swiss Architects BSA-FAS
Association of Swiss Landscape Architects BSLA
Espace Suisse
Federation of Swiss Urbanists FSU
Material-Archiv
National Information Centre for Cultural Heritage NIKE
S AM Swiss Architecture Museum
Swiss Heritage Society
Swiss Foundation for Landscape Architecture SLA
Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects SIA
Sotto Voce Foundation

Kulturbotschaft 2025–28: Ja zur Nachhaltigkeit durch Baukultur

New advisory service

The Federal Office of Culture’s new Advice module on the “Baukultur Switzerland” web platform pools Baukultur advisory services from all of Switzerland.

From continuing education on the topic of townscape protection to the best-suited planning tool for everyday work – at baukulturberatung.ch, cities and municipalities will find not only work aids and guidelines, but also inspiration and specific examples drawn from practice.

Davos Baukultur Alliance Kick-off Meeting

The Swiss Federal Office of Culture, UNESCO, and the World Economic Forum invited to the inaugural event of the Davos Baukultur Alliance at the Biennale Architettura 2023 in Venice.

Chaired by Swiss President Alain Berset, members of the Alliance gathered on 19 and 20 May to discuss how government, business and civil society leaders can work together to plan, construct, and manage high-quality places while also prioritizing affordability.

Runder Tisch zu Lärm und Baukultur

Der Runde Tisch Baukultur Schweiz diskutierte am 15. März 2023 in Bern, wie Lärm und Stadtentwicklung zusammengehen. Monika Litscher, Vizedirektorin des Städteverbands, nannte als erste Priorität, den Lärm an der Quelle zu reduzieren.

Caspar Schärer, Generalsekretär des Bundes Schweizer Architektinnen und Architekten, wies darauf hin, dass Lärm nicht als Rekurs- und Blockademittel gegen eine qualitätsvolle Innenentwicklung missbraucht werden dürfte. Damian Jerjen, Direktor von EspaceSuisse, machte auf Unterschiede bei der Lärmbekämpfung in der West- und Deutschschweiz aufmerksam.

Weitere Themen des Runden Tischs waren die Davos Baukultur Alliance, die nächste Kulturbotschaft, der neue Aktionsplan Baukultur, die gesetzliche Verankerung von Baukultur, die Klimaoffensive Baukultur sowie die Denkmaltage 2023, die im September zu Entdeckungen in der ganzen Schweiz einladen, dieses Jahr unter dem Motto «Reparieren und Wiederverwenden».

Switzerland launches a global Baukultur-alliance

In the future, politicans, business and civil society will be working together to create better-designed cities, villages and landscapes.

The second Conference of European Ministers of Culture on Baukultur, which was held at the invitation of President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset from 14 to 16 January 2023, saw the launch of the Davos Baukultur Alliance. 45 founding members have already been confirmed: 25 state parties, 3 intergovernmental organisations, 7 non-governmental organisations and 10 companies from the construction and real estate sector will be part of the Alliance.

Baukultur as an investment

The private sector has great influence on our designed living environment.

The special publication «Erfolgsfaktor Baukultur» (“Baukultur as success factor”), released on 30 September 2022, examines projects by institutional investors: traditional architecture in place of a shuttered cinema in the Old City of Berne, a centre of Alpine culinary heritage housed in a converted monastery in Stans, the new corporate headquarters of the Baloise insurance group in Basel, and the transformation of the former paper mill in Cham. The reflections revolve around the eight criteria of the Davos Baukultur Quality System: governance, functionality, environment, economy, diversity, context, sense of place, and beauty.

«Erfolgsfaktor Baukultur» (“Baukultur as success factor”)

Davos Baukultur Quality System

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