Architectuur Lokaal / English summary

Centre of expertise and information
Architectuur Lokaal is the independent national centre of expertise and information devoted to commissioning building development in the Netherlands. The foundation acts as bridge-builder between parties involved in the building process and can be consulted about matters relating to architecture policy, spatial quality policy and building commissioning. In addition, Architectuur Lokaal develops programmes to advance client expertise in the area of architecture policy. These programmes are tailored to the needs of local authorities, housing associations, project developers, and others who commission building development. Architectuur Lokaal maintains close relations with the local architecture centers. The Procurement & Design Competition Office at Architectuur Lokaal advises public and private clients about selecting designers and property developers. Help takes the form of advice on the programming of competitions or procurement. Hundreds have been for review since then. The review (free of charge) is carried out in line with the Kompas manual. This manual was compiled on the initiative of the Government Architect and is widely endorsed by various ministries, designers’ groups, corporations, developers, and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities.

Library and archive
The library houses an extensive collection of mostly Dutch publications on spatial policy, and policy in the fields of architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, infrastructure, public space and on accompanying instruments such as aesthetic control, design and development competitions, and commissioning building development. Other items include newspaper-cuttings, periodicals and material about competitions.

Architectuur Lokaal, quarterly periodical
Since early 1993 the periodical Architectuur Lokaal (Dutch language) has been issued quarterly. The publication targets local authority officials, provinces, housing associations, property developers, occasional building clients (business parks, school management boards, private individuals and others), related cultural institutions, local architecture centres and designers. The quarterly is available free of charge.

PANORAMA EUROPE
Architectuur Lokaal maintains contact, mainly in Europe but also elsewhere, with organisations active in architectural policy. Sharing expertise is the key aim. A recurring project is PANORAMA EUROPE, a gathering of experts from two countries on commissioning development and challenges facing spatial planning policy. In 2002 Architectuur Lokaal organised a gathering in Cologne. In 2004 there was a gathering with Flemish experts in Brussels. An exchange project with Scotland took place in 2007.

Building on Ambition
Building on Ambition is a special edition of the quarterly magazine of Architectuur Lokaal and is intended to give the reader an impression of the activities of Architectuur Lokaal and of Steunpunt Architectuuropdrachten
& Ontwerpwedstrijden (The Procurement & Design Competition Office) in 2009.
Building on Ambition download