The project “Fourth Building Culture Report” was concluded successfully with the publication of a comprehensive final report. The project commissioned by the federal government (represented by the BMKÖS) based on two resolutions of the National Council aimed to draft a regulatory proposal including an impact assessment for more effective and efficient building culture instruments.

In this context, the term “building culture” has to be interpreted in a broad sense: it does not only refer to built structures, but also includes related processes. Against this backdrop, the Fourth Building Culture Report addresses current challenges in the area of building culture policy. These challenges include limited appreciation of building culture and building heritage, a lack of sustainability, land consumption and the reduced functionality of city and town centres as well as a sometimes counterproductive legal framework.

Under the guidance of WU project leader Prof Verena Madner, the Research Institute for Urban Management and Governance contributed key legal expertise to the project. The particular focus was on analysing legal and institutional issues related to the establishment of an agency for the promotion of building culture in Austria. Such an agency should cover the following topics: Building culture funding for cities and municipalities, research funding, consulting and collaboration as well as quality development. The legal analysis dealt with a variety of aspects raised by the project. For example, it explored issues relating to the creation of a viable legal basis (Federal Building Culture Act) against the complex background of scattered competences in the field of building culture. Other important issues dealt with included the choice of legal form, the details concerning the governing and supervisory bodies as well as the funding regime. Furthermore, the project addressed the need for additional adjustments to the current domestic legal framework as well as relevant questions of EU law (e.g. prohibition of state aid).

The Fourth Report on Building Culture, financed with funds from the BMKÖS, is available on the website of the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport.