Council conclusions on architecture: culture's contribution to sustainable development
Date: 2008-12-13
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: architectural heritage, architecture, cultural promotion, public awareness campaign, quality of life, sustainable development, town planning

13.12.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 319/13

Council conclusions on architecture: culture's contribution to sustainable development

(2008/C 319/05)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

4. POINTING OUT THAT:

1. HAVING REGARD TO:

— the Treaty establishing the European Community,

— the Council Resolution of 12 February 2001 on architec-
tural quality in urban and rural environments (1), which
affirms that architecture is a fundamental
the
culture and the fabric of life of each of our countries,

feature of

— the Council conclusions of 24 May 2007 on the contribu-
tion of the cultural and creative sectors to the achievement
of the Lisbon objectives (2), which point out that cultural
activities and creative industries, including architecture, play
a critical role in boosting innovation and technology and are
key engines of sustainable growth in the future,

— and the Council Resolution of 16 November 2007 on a
European agenda for culture (3) which,
to the
Commission communication of 10 May 2007 (4), brings out
the cross-cutting role of culture.

further

2. TAKING NOTE OF:

by

the

adopted

European Council

— the renewed European Union Sustainable Development
Strategy (5),
of
15 and 16 June 2006, the overall aim of which is to identify
and develop actions to enable the EU to achieve continuous
life both for current and for
improvement of quality of
future generations,
sustainable
communities able to manage and use resources efficiently
and to tap the ecological and social innovation potential of
the economy, ensuring prosperity, environmental protection
and social cohesion,

through the creation of

— the Leipzig Charter on sustainable European cities, adopted
on 24 May 2007 by the Ministers with responsibility for
urban development (6), which underlines the importance of
building culture and calls for the adoption of an integrated
urban development approach covering the economic, social,
ecological and cultural aspects of towns and cities, on the
basis of cooperation between the different tiers of adminis-
trative and political responsibility and between public and
private sector actors.

3. WELCOMING:

— architecture, as a discipline involving cultural creation and
innovation, including a technological component, provides a
remarkable illustration of what culture can contribute to
sustainable development,
its impact on the
cultural dimension of towns and cities, as well as on the
economy, social cohesion and the environment,

in view of

— architecture is also an example of the cross-cutting nature of
culture, being affected by a number of public policies and
not just cultural policies.

5. CONSIDERING THAT:

— Europe's towns and cities today face major challenges: demo-
graphic change and its implications for urban sprawl, envir-
onmental issues and climate change mitigation, maintaining
social
a background of
economic and cultural change, and the protection and devel-
opment of architectural and cultural heritage,

cohesion, particularly against

— the way to respond to those challenges is by means of
sustainable urban development,
integrated
approach under which culture, economics, social affairs and
the environment each play an equally important part,

creative,

a

— sustainable urban development means:

— paying particular attention to architectural quality and
diversity as aspects of cultural diversity,
to heritage
conservation and enhancement and to the individual
identity of natural or urban landscapes,

— contributing to the management of projects to use and
convert land and buildings, in particular industrial waste-
land, control energy resources in the context of climate
change and reduce pollution,

— reflecting, through innovative approaches to architecture
and urban planning, developments in population life-
styles, particularly issues of mobility and demographic
change, as well as objectives of social cohesion, social
mix, intercultural dialogue and civic involvement,

— encouraging high-quality architectural creation as an
economic stimulus and tourist attraction for towns and
cities,

— the work of the European Architectural Policy Forum on
issues of architectural quality and sustainable development.

(1) OJ C 73, 6.3.2001, p. 6.
(2) OJ C 311, 21.12.2007, p. 7.
(3) OJ C 143, 10.6.2008, p. 9.
(4) 9496/07 + ADD 1.
(5) 10117/06.
(6) http://www.eu2007.de/en/News/download_docs/Mai/0524-AN/

075DokumentLeipzigCharta.pdf

— architecture can play an integrating and innovative role in
implementing sustainable urban development, in particular
by:

— reconciling the sometimes differing requirements of
building and landscape conservation and contemporary
creation or of
legitimate aspirations and
controlling urban sprawl,

inhabitants'

C 319/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

13.12.2008

life

— contributing, by its diversity, quality and creativity, to
the urban population's cultural enrichment and quality
of
and
tourism-related vibrancy of towns and cities, in particu-
lar by serving as a breeding ground for small and
medium-sized businesses,

commercial

economic,

to the

and

— sustainable urban development, lastly, provides an opportu-
nity for creation, innovation, renewal architectural styles and
the reappropriation and reinterpretation of traditional prac-
tice.

6. NOTING WITH INTEREST:

— initiatives by many European towns and cities, in particular
as European cultural capitals, to use culture and especially
architecture as a major means of regeneration,

— the emergence of creative towns and cities, whose sustain-
is based on new competitive
able urban development
factors, including urban infrastructure quality and interaction
between culture and industry.

7. CALLS ON MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION, WITHIN
THEIR RESPECTIVE SPHERES OF COMPETENCE AND WITH DUE
REGARD FOR THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY, TO:

— make allowance for architecture and its specific features, in
particular its cultural aspects, in all relevant policies, espe-
cially in research, economic and social cohesion, sustainable
development and education policies,

— devise for architecture, apart from technical standards, an
approach involving overall economic, social, cultural and
environmental objectives,

— encourage innovation and experimentation in sustainable
development
in architecture, urban planning and land-
scaping, particularly within the framework of European poli-
cies or programmes and when commissioning public works,

— improve knowledge of the architectural sector and its contri-
bution to sustainable development, particularly in terms of
statistics,

— raise public awareness of the role of architecture and urban
planning in the creation of a high-quality living environment
and encourage public involvement
in sustainable urban
development,

— consider the feasibility,

in cooperation with professionals
and in the light of experience in a number of Member States,
of an annual European architecture ‘event’,

— work together to ensure that these conclusions are acted

upon and take stock of their implementation in 2012.

8. CALLS ON MEMBER STATES TO:

— endeavour to have architecture play an integrating and inno-
vative role in the sustainable development process, begin-
ning with the design stage of architectural, urban planning,
landscaping and rehabilitation projects,

— help develop the economic growth and employment poten-

tial of architecture, as a creative, cultural industry,

— promote education in architecture and heritage, and in the
through artistic and
in particular

living environment,
cultural education,

— promote the initial and further training of architects, urban
planners and landscapers as regards sustainable develop-
ment,

— highlight architecture in implementing the European Year of

Creativity and Innovation (2009),

— where appropriate, apply the open method of coordination

for culture.

9. CALLS ON THE COMMISSION TO:

— take architecture into account in preparing its Green Paper

on cultural and creative industries,

— involve networks of public and private-sector architectural
experts and practitioners, such as the European Architectural
Policy Forum, in work and consultations on issues and/or
matters relating to architecture,

— in cooperation with those networks and the European

network of schools of architecture, encourage:

— the provision of information and sharing of good prac-
tice and research among architects, developers and users,

— the training of young architects, urban planners and
landscapers in sustainable development, promotion of
their work and access for them to public or private
Commissions.