Within the framework of the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale, the Davos Alliance held its kick-off meeting in Venice on May 19 and 20, 2023. Held at Palazzo Zorzi, in the Castello neighborhood, near the Venice Arsenale, where part of the Biennale “The Laboratory of the future,” curated by Lesley Lokko, is on display till November 26, 2023,¹  the symposium aimed at launching the Davos World Economic Forum (WEC) “Baukultur Alliance” initiative.² The project, supported by the WEC, Switzerland, and other twenty-six European countries, aims at building “a multi-stakeholder global alliance dedicated to achieving high-quality Baukultur: the culture of building. The Alliance’s mission is to advance quality design and construction of more sustainable and vibrant communities.” ³

Emerged on the global discourse of architecture over the last decade, the term literally means “the culture of building.” More generally, it wants to suggest the idea of a cultural movement aimed at promoting high-quality standards, research and interventions for our habitat. Since 2005, Austria has established a “Plattform Baukulturpolitik,” while in Germany the “Bundesstiftung Baukultur” has been in place since 2007. In 2011, the Swiss Baukultur Round Table first published its “Manifesto on Baukultur,” which was an important step for the movement. In the same year, the German Federal Chamber of Architects (BAK) presented the German contribution to the 9^th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial under the motto “Baukultur made in Germany.” In 2018 the WEC produced the Davos Declaration, promoted by the conference of the European Ministers of Culture, in which Baukultur… views the maintenance and preservation of cultural heritage and the comprehensive design and planning of the built environment as a single entity and which raises cultural expectations regarding the appearance of our built environment, can build on the ongoing international discussion, both in terms of cultural heritage and of current planning, design and construction, and set a new course in this respect.⁴

In 2021, The Plan Journal published a stimulating, multi-disciplinary conversation, with several distinguished authors, designers and thinkers, “Baukultur in a Cybernetic Age: A Conversation,” moderated by Michael Arbib.⁵

Day One of the kick-off meeting in Venice started with welcoming remarks by Ana Luiza M. Thompson-Flores, Director, UNESCO Liaison Office in Geneva and UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences and Culture in Europe (Venice, Italy), and by Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs. 

The presentations were offered by well-selected leading architects and firms that distinguished themselves in researching impactful ways of sustainable, affordable and beautiful architectures, especially for communities with socio-economic challenges across the globe. 

The first presenter was Chilean Pritzker Prize laureate Alejandro Aravena, who discussed renowned and more recent projects by his firm, with a particular focus on the affordable housing system and strategy called “Elemental,” already well-know and the recipient of world-wide acclaim. Even though Elemental has been well presented and disseminated (some of its design and construction documents are available on-line in open access), it was refreshing and invigorating to be reminded of the clear logic of a design concept and process able to impact so effectively and beautifully the life of people in need. Aravena framed his works by addressing a variety of issues, such as governance, functionality, environment, economy, diversity, context, sense of place, and beauty, through the scales of housing, building and city.       

Then, Christian Benimana, of MASS Design Group presented works of the firm founded by Michael Murphy in 2008. The Boston firm distinguished itself for the impactful and beautiful architecture, especially in Africa, but also around the world (see my editorial “Out of the Crisis by Design” ⁶), priding themselves to be involved and practicing participation, from visioning, to planning, design, construction and evaluation. 

Finally we heard from Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Neri & Hu Design. The Chinese firm has recently arised onto the world-stage with remarkable works, awards and accolades. Pursuing a line of research close to the one of fellow Chinese architect and Pritzker Prize laureate Wang Shu, Neri & Hu are now building a portfolio of masterful architectures that, be they additions (such as the Vertical Lane House / The Waterhouse at South Bund in Shanghai) or new interventions (such as the Tsingpu Yangzhou retreat), are able to reconnect in China the strained thread tying contemporary habitat and its traditions with subtle and sustainable design solutions.   

All the presentations showed a well diverse set of examples of how Baukultur may be achieved and promoted across cultures, regional contexts and design strategies.