“The built environment is the framework for all human activity and interaction, it is all pervasive, we give it form and it forms us.”, the Built Environment Education Guidelines of the International Union of Architects (UIA) said in 2002. Though architecture affects our daily life more than music, fine arts or literature, it is still not an integral part of school education.

The architects’ chambers of the German Länder as well as the Federal Chamber of Architects, Germany (BAK) have launched several initiatives themed “Architecture and Children” in order to change this. There are numerous activities of the architects’ chambers of the Länder ranging from school projects with architects up to developing teaching material, launching political initiatives and training programs for teachers. BAK is encouraging this subject by regular political lobbying as well as by national and international events in Germany and abroad.

The architects’ chambers of the Länder and BAK would like everyone to have the chance to develop an understanding of the built environment and thus become not only qualified clients and citizens but also competent decision makers in politics and administration. Moreover, dealing with the built environment also exercises fundamental human abilities. It trains the senses, promotes interdisciplinarity and teamwork and helps developing historical and ecological consciousness.