NRP 81 Takes Shape, with two projects from the Academy of Architecture

On May 13 and 14, 2025, the NRP 81 community will meet in Thun for the kick-off meeting. Two projects realised at the Academy of Architecture of the Universita della Svizzera italiana will also be present.
 
The National Research Programme "Baukultur" (NRP 81) is taking shape: around 80 participants from the 13 research groups will gather with the Steering Committee on May 13 and 14 for an initial exchange. The diverse program includes presentations of the research projects on the first day, along with contextual commentary from the Steering Committee. The Mayor of Thun, Dr. Raphael Lanz, will welcome the conference participants, and City Architect Florian Kühne will report on recent developments and projects in Thun.
 
The second day is dedicated to exploring future challenges in the field of Baukultur. Dr. Oliver Martin, Head of the Baukultur Section at the Federal Office of Culture (FOC), and Prof. Ivana Katurić, co-author of a handbook on evaluating Baukultur for the New European Bauhaus, will open the discussion with their presentations. This will be followed by mixed breakout sessions, focusing on both theoretical and highly practical engagement with the qualities of Baukultur.

The persident of the Steering Committee, Prof. Dr. Paola Viganò, looks forward to the joint start of the research phase: "NRP 81 brings together a wide-ranging thematic exploration of the concept of Baukultur. Together, the project teams are mapping out the cultural possibilities for ecological and social transformation."