New Architectural Policy Programme Proposal ready

The working group that prepared the Architectural Policy Programme has considered how the Finnish architecture and built environment will be able to respond to the great societal challenges, said a government press release.

Climate change, population ageing, urbanisation, new technologies and internationalisation are challenges, but they can also be seen as opportunities.

The aims of the programme include more flexible use of buildings, creating criteria for the quality of housing construction, and making Finland increasingly attractive as a destination for architecture tourism.

The proposal for the Architectural Policy Programme was submitted to Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko and Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen on Tuesday.

“The aim is to strengthen cooperation between stakeholders that influence our built environment. This is needed to create a construction culture in Finland that boosts the economy in a sustainable way, offers solutions to international questions, and provides opportunities for every person to live in a good and comfortable environment,” said Saarikko.

The five main themes discussed in the programme proposal are climate change, equality, economy, meaning, and education. Beside the global questions, the programme also addresses matters that are particular to Finland: population ageing, regional development, and cultural heritage.

“Investments in the quality of zoning and construction take us towards a low carbon-built environment that will also cherish biodiversity. The proposal contains several measures that will lead to even more effective climate action in the built environment sector, such as developing methods to assess the impacts of zoning on emissions and the concept of a circular economy city block,” said Mikkonen.

In May 2019, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of the Environment appointed a working group to draw up a new Architectural Policy Programme for Finland. The proposal will now be sent out for comments and the feedback received will be taken into account to finalise the programme.