In order to convert the building stock in a climate-neutral or climate-positive way, a changed legal framework for building is necessary. The Building Energy Act is one of these legal frameworks. The Architects for Future see an urgent need for change. No less essential for achieving a “building turnaround”, however, are the Building Code, the Building Use Ordinance and standards that affect construction. Building in existing contexts and building with renewable, recyclable or secondary building components and materials has so far required deviations and individual approvals, and this is associated with planning uncertainties, which A4F surveys confirm.

In the above video, Christina Patz and Michael Wicke will present A4F’s proposed amendments to the model building code and discuss them with their guests:
Prof. Annette Hillebrandt, Dr. Christine Lemaitre (DGNB) and Markus Müller (Chairman of the BAK Committee on Economy, Energy and Building Culture).

A climate-neutral building sector is the set legal goal. In order to achieve this, in addition to energy efficiency in operation and the type of energy supply, the focus must above all be on the revitalisation of the existing building stock and a much more appreciative approach must be taken to the resources of space and material. Conversion and recyclable building must be made the new status quo.

These points are, however, still hindered by a multitude of legal regulations, among others in the model building code! Architects for Future are therefore calling on the Conference of Building Ministers to amend the Model Building Code.

According to A4F, urgent changes are needed in the building sector to achieve the “building turnaround” and meet the 1.5 degree target. Only by taking the following points into account can we succeed in significantly reducing CO2 emissions, resource consumption and waste generation caused by the construction, operation and deconstruction of buildings.

A4F call for a model (re)building code that recognises the continued use of existing buildings as a “standard” building task and takes into account the constraints of building in existing buildings, sets guidelines for a respectful use of the resource “space”, and makes recyclable building the standard, to make the building sector climate-positive, resource-conserving and thus sustainable in the long term.

The open letter to the Conference of Building Ministers and the proposed amendments to the Building Code can be read here.