The Federation as construction client

type: Article , Topic: Building & Housing

The State has a strong responsibility to improve the quality of the built environment, because its buildings are very much in the public eye. The Federation is very much aware that it must set an example

The Federal Government therefore strives to ensure its building policy targets are reflected in federal buildings. 

Building policy targets:

  • functionality
  • safety
  • cost-effectiveness
  • quality
  • design excellence in architecture
  • sustainable and energy-efficient construction
  • use of innovative materials, building techniques and procedures
  • architectural heritage conservation
  • integration of the project into local urban design
  • art in architecture

The Federal Government promotes Baukultur (improving the quality of the built environment) in Germany by, among other things,

  • carrying out planning competitions for all suitable federal construction projects based on the 2013 guidelines for planning and design competitions;
  • providing a specific requirements profile for the sustainable planning, construction and operation of buildings in the form of the Guideline for Sustainable Building;
  • involving visual artists in the artistic design of federal buildings, in line with the purpose and importance of the construction project.

Responsibilities

Blick auf den Innenhof des BMI-Neubaus während der Bauphase Blick auf den Innenhof des BMI-Neubaus während der Bauphase (Larger version opens in new window) Source: BBR / Christian von Steffelin

Overall responsibility for the planning and implementation of civilian federal construction projects both in Germany and abroad rests with the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. The Federal Construction Guidelines (RBBau) set out the responsibilities and procedures to be complied with when carrying out federal construction measures. 

The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), which is based in Bonn and Berlin, is responsible for the operational implementation of construction projects for the constitutional bodies and the supreme federal authorities, and for Federal Government buildings in Berlin. 

All other federal building matters come under the responsibility of the federal state building authorities, as set out in bilateral administrative agreements between the federal and state governments.

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