Publications
Art in architecture
Article Building & Housing
Art in Federal Government buildings has a long tradition and as a construction client with direct public influence, the Federation sees art in architecture as an important part of its overall task.
Art in architecture addresses the place, space, content and function of the construction work in hand.
Site-specific art has the potential to highlight or respond to a building, foster its acceptance and identification, reach the public and raise its profile.
Nägel, die in den Asphalt vor dem Dokumentationszentrum eingeschlagen wurden, bilden ein unregelmäßiges Raster aus silbrig glänzenden Punkten. Die Nagelköpfe liegen zum Teil im Schatten eines Baumes. (Larger version opens in new window)
Source: Via Lewandowsky, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2021
"Nagelschatten" von Via Lewandowsky für das Dokumentationszentrum Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung in Berlin
There are rules and proceedings in place to govern the participation of visual artists in Federal Government construction projects, as set out in the Federal Construction Guidelines (RBBau) and more specifically in the Guidelines on Art in Architecture published by the former Federal Ministry for Building in 2005. The latter serve as guidance for construction work under the scope of the Federal Construction Guidelines and the Regulations for Grant-Funded Construction Measures (RZBau) (including federally funded university buildings) as well as for Federal Government construction projects as part of public private partnership models (PPP). The Guidelines on Art in Architecture have proven highly effective in practice. They are regularly reviewed and updated in line with legal, structural or organisational changes in the federal construction sector.
70 years of Art in Architecture in Germany
In 2020, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community celebrated 70 years of Art in Architecture in Germany, honouring the occasion with a film, an exhibition and a publication entitled "70 Jahre Kunst am Bau in Deutschland" ("70 years of Art in Architecture in Germany").
The film, the exhibition and the publication provide an overview of Art in Architecture works created in the two German states (the former East and West Germany before reunification) and in reunified Germany as well as insights into selected Art in Architecture projects both in and outside Germany, most of which are not accessible to the public.
The publication "70 Jahre Kunst am Bau in Deutschland" is published by Deutscher Kunstverlag, ISBN 978-3-422-98617-6.
You can find current information about where and when you can see the exhibition at www.bbr.bund.de/70-jahre-kunst-am-bau-in-deutschland
More information about Art in Architecture is available at www.kunst-am-bau-in-deutschland.de
Background information on art in architecture
As early as in 1950, the German Bundestag adopted a decision requiring the Federal Government as a construction client to spend a fixed percentage of the overall construction costs of a given project on site-specific art. The aim is for the pieces of art “to form an independent artistic contribution to the construction work which refers to the architecture or the function of the building”. In this context, the Federal Government regularly organises art in architecture competitions, most of which are held as open or partially restricted proceedings.
Where do I find interesting site-specific art as part of public buildings nearby? Which artists have designed site-specific art? In an online presentation, the virtual Museum of 1000 Places shows site-specific art as part of federal buildings, making it accessible to everyone. The new virtual museum has been designed as an expendable site which can host all pieces of art mandated by the Federal Government.
