Case Studies

A collection of case studies introduces ideas on how to operationalise key quality criteria and how to put them into action at multiple governance levels. For this purpose, use a checklist to assess how you can achieve quality in planning processes (available to download here).

You will find 33 best practice case studies from across Europe in the report, which you can explore in detail in the above image gallery (image gallery with text and links to the institutions / organisations and prizes that are included). The best practice cases were grouped into eight relevant categories. The cases presented here embody all or some of the eight quality criteria that are part of the Davos Baukultur Quality System. The following eight categories were defined in response to recently emerging EU topics, themes, activities and the impact of the recent pandemic:

awards,
laws and policies,
education and awareness raising,
regeneration and revitalisation
tools, processes and research,
funding and investment,
grass-roots initiatives,
technical innovation (reused materials, new technologies).

More case studies

In addition to the 33 best practice case studies you will find in the report, the OMC editorial group is making its in-depth research on other institutions, organisations, schemes and prizes available to you. The additional case studies provide further information on how the best practice models relate to the Davos Baukultur Quality System while also giving further information on funding, process and the transferability of the scheme to other countries.

You can download the summary document "Additional Case Studies" here

Davos Quality System

Eight criteria for high-quality Baukultur

In line with the Davos Declaration 2018, the Davos Baukultur Quality System was recently developed to deliver a comprehensive definition of high-quality Baukultur. This system enables its assessment, reviewing existing systems, research and observations. The Davos Baukultur system offers eight fundamental quality criteria that each describe an aspect of high-quality Baukultur: governance, functionality, environment, economy, diversity, context, sense of place and beauty. Each criterion is linked to a quality principle while a set of key questions allows the assessment of a place to establish its future quality. The Davos system allows those who use it as a reference point to better understand the notion of quality. The recommendations in this report therefore build on the eight criteria of the Davos Baukultur Quality System.

1. Governance

The quality of Baukultur highly depends on the governance decisions the various stakeholders of a place make over time. Good governance creates an environment where better decisions for high-quality Baukultur can be made, ensuring proper place management.

2. Functionality

Functionality as a criterion of Baukultur means going a step further instead of merely complying with current state-of-the-art building standards. It takes into account issues related to sufficiency, durability, adaptability, health compatibility, innovation in both the use of materials and urban, architectural and landscape design, as well as comfort in use to ensure wellbeing. In the long-term places must be functional, accessible and adaptable to the mixed uses of different people and communities. This allows for a large number of different functions and users in the long run as well as for the sustainable continuous use of a place and its longevity. The basis for a high-quality design solution is the conformity of the space to the needs of the users and the recognition of various use cases. Spatial solutions be-come a success if the various kinds of use correspond with the needs of the many different users of the space

3. Environment

Environment as a criterion of Baukultur considers the use of natural resources, bio-diversity and emissions in the field of planning and building, including how we deal with the limited resources of land and materials. Diversity of flora and fauna from private gardens to public spaces, green space and landscapes on a larger scale are all considered a part of this criterion. It further includes embodied energy as well as the energy the building industry consumes through various energy sources in addition to emissions released into the environment as they have a major impact on the climate. Mobility, too, strongly influences the environment and is included here with a focus on its sustainability.

4. Economy

The economy criterion addresses questions of how human activity can be justified economically and looks at which activity brings the greatest possible benefit to an individual or a community. Economy is one of the three pillars of sustainability alongside society and the environment. It promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Economic activities are unevenly distributed in terms of space since there is a concentration of economic activities in cities and, even more so, in the densely built areas of cities

5. Diversity

Diversity in Baukultur is of great significance in terms of the socially binding effect it has on people and the built environment. Baukultur which places greater emphasis on diversity reflects and promotes inclusive societies and strengthens social cohesion by way of including and accommodating specific needs of individuals and communities. Well-adapted places encourage people to connect as they facilitate interaction and shared responsibility, supporting integration into society and helping to prevent segregation, gentrification, alienation and abandonment. This makes for places where people of different social and ethnic origins, various age groups, abilities and disabilities can live, work and interact. Vibrant, mixed-use and socially diverse neighbourhoods are inclusive, contribute to democratic societies based on human rights and leave no one behind – an essential condition for the success of public policy. In rural areas, diversity in Baukultur means the social diversity of people in small centres offering a mix of functions which can be found in everyday spatial settings (landscapes, settlement patterns and buildings).

6. Context

Overall, high-quality spatial design creates places which fit into the local context, and which have distinctive features that help to create a sense of place and iden-tity. In that way, high-quality architecture and urban design consider the historical contexts, the refinement of the tangible and intangible culture and utilise these as important resources and tools. High-quality architectural design finds new uses for objects of heritage value.

7. Sense of place

8. Beauty

Beauty as a criterion of Baukultur results from a highly positive aesthetic, spatial and atmospheric impact on the observer who experiences the place emotionally. The observer, whether a person or society in general, has a sensory perception of the place, expresses an opinion and judges its beauty. In the context of Baukultur ‘perceived beauty’ in relation to a specific place always includes its surroundings or – depending on its scale – its surrounding landscape. The emotional experience of beauty has to be followed by a rationally founded attribution of specific aesthetic value. There are places that are universally known as being of incomparable beauty, which are aesthetically, socially and economically stimulating for their communities; their beauty makes them a destination for visitors of different social classes and levels of education. There are landscapes of outstanding beauty and some of them are listed.