Approval of the Draft Law on the Quality of Architecture to guarantee it as a good of general interest
The text begins the parliamentary process for its vote in the Congress of Deputies
The Council of Ministers, at its meeting on Tuesday, January 18, and at the proposal of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma),has approved the Draft Law on quality of Architecture for subsequent referral to the Cortes Generales, thus beginning its parliamentary processing. The future text is one of the reforms included in the Recovery Plan.
It is the first state law that was born with the aim of guaranteeing the quality of architecture as an asset of general interest, having as main goals to promote links that encourage the approach of architecture to society. The future regulations also seek to respond to the greater awareness of social, environmental, and architectural heritage revaluation issues, a process that has accelerated with the pandemic.
The law includes specific measures to promote from the public authorities the national and international dissemination of architecture, support for Spanish companies and professionals, the establishment of incentives and awards that recognize quality, the promotion of research and innovation and, of course, the protection of the values of the built heritage. In addition, it includes the promotion of sustainable urban rehabilitation, regeneration and renewal.
Architecture Quality Council
The law includes the creation of two fundamental bodies to guide action and enhance the exemplary role of the public authorities towards that necessary quality: the House of Architecture and the Council of Quality of Architecture.
The first of them seeks, among other purposes, to bring the values of architecture closer to society, becoming a national and international reference for the dissemination of the discipline and promoting it as a tool for cultural diplomacy.
For its part, the Architecture Quality Council will be constituted as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and participation, as well as for consultation and advice on matters related to the contents of this law, such as promoting the adoption of standards or measures of a general nature for the improvement of the quality of architecture, or modify existing ones, as well as elaborate and disseminate models of specifications and other documents of an indicative nature.
Regulatory framework
The drafting of the Quality of Architecture Law has been framed in a context in line with important European initiatives, such as the New European Bauhaus, the Renovation Wave and the Davos Declaration.
In addition, the law is aligned with the Spanish Urban Agenda, the 2030 Agenda and the international Urban Agendas, with its triple demand for greater social, economic and environmental sustainability. It is, therefore, a legislative instrument that reinforces the exemplary role of the Public Administration, enhancing the planning of the rehabilitation of the built public park.
Along the same lines, the draft law includes a series of amendments to Law 9/2017, of November 8, on Public Sector Contracts, aimed at improving the quality of architecture promoted by the Administration.
Next Generation Funds
The Law on the Quality of Architecture is configured as a necessary legislative instrument to consolidate a new model of economic, energy and ecological transition, which promotes greater inclusion and social cohesion, promoted by the Next GenerationFunds.
The law is included as reform 4 of component 2 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), approved by the Government of Spain to face the crisis caused by Covid-19, which focuses on the promotion of rehabilitation and improvement actions of the building stock, both in urban and rural areas.
In addition, it is part of the European legislative initiatives to promote energy efficiency, renewable energies and the fight against energy poverty and will promote the application of the "energy efficiency first" principle, in accordance with Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/1749 of 28 September 2021.
Public participation process
In its elaboration, this future law has been the subject of broad public participation, since, in addition, in addition to the prior public consultation that took place in July 2020, a multidisciplinary participatory process structured in six discussion tables was held, which could be followed telematically and openly, having a great impact on networks, even internationally.
Discussions can continue to be viewed on the website created for the purpose. Discussion tables were also held with the main sectors affected, academic and social sector, territorial administrations, professionals and associations.
Although the law is born to respond to an exceptional moment, it also does so with the purpose of establishing a global framework that is enduring over time, dynamic and with the capacity to adapt to new challenges and objectives. In fact, it includes among its objectives the elaboration of a National Architecture Strategy, as a governance tool that serves to implement it.
