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New president for the Architectural Council of Switzerland
11.06.2026 The Architectural Council of Switzerland is an organisation that unites the twelve architecture schools and faculties as well as the professional associations SIA and FSA. As an independent national platform, it promotes teaching and research, takes a stance on key issues in the field of architectural education and advocates for high standards in Baukultur. In our interview, Peter Staub discusses the council’s goals, the challenges it faces and his own motivation in his new role.
Key points at a glance
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The Architectural Council is a national platform that unites the twelve architecture schools and faculties in Switzerland. It represents their common interests in dealings with the professional sector, associations and politicians.
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Peter Staub, director of the School of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering at Bern University of Applied Sciences, has recently been elected President of the Architectural Council of Switzerland.
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The council’s primary focus is on high-quality Baukultur, the increasing complexity of the architectural profession and of society, the strengthening of architectural research and the evolving role of architects.
Congratulations on your election as President of the Architectural Council of Switzerland! What does this new role mean to you personally?
I am honoured by the trust that the SIA, the FSA and my colleagues from the other architecture schools and faculties have placed in me through this election. As a member of the council’s board, I was able to gain essential insights into its work over the past two years. Following extensive discussions and visits to the other schools and faculties, I was able to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. These meetings have led to new projects and areas of activity, which we want to tackle and implement with the new board and the members of the Architectural Council. Further developing Switzerland’s Baukultur, elevating the visibility of architecture and driving sustainable change in the construction sector are central to my mission.
Architectural Council of Switzerland
The Swiss Architectural Council is an association of all universities and universities of applied sciences in Switzerland where architecture is taught and research is carried out in this field on a disciplinary and interdisciplinary basis. It is independent of business and industry and represents the interests of the Swiss educational landscape in architecture at national and international level.
The promotion and discussion of a high level of building culture is a central content of the Architecture Council's teaching and research and the aim of the Swiss universities' architectural education, which is renowned far beyond the Swiss borders. Last but not least, this education is the basis for the fact that Switzerland has had a large number of award-winning architects and architects for years, who are committed to high building culture through their daily work.
What are the council’s current priorities?
The Architectural Council of Switzerland is a national platform that unites the twelve architecture schools and faculties as well as the professional organisations SIA and FSA. It acts both as a facilitator for the exchange of experience and knowledge and as a collective voice representing the interests of its members. We are currently initiating a number of projects in these two key areas, for instance, workshops and symposia that will facilitate in-depth discussion on current challenges in teaching and research. We are also seeking to create synergies at an administrative level so that we can benefit from one another’s work. In addition, we are placing greater emphasis on networking and building strategic partnerships. Obviously, we also want to raise the profile of the various schools and faculties in order to highlight the diversity and quality of architectural education in Switzerland. At the heart of all our efforts lies the ongoing development of the role of architects. It is a shared goal and a driving force for us all.
What are the main challenges in architectural education in Switzerland?
Architectural education in Switzerland is highly regarded worldwide. The studies adopt a generalist approach paired with a strong practical focus, which is unique in my view. Concrete spatial interventions provide solutions to societal challenges. The potential to design our built environment in a sustainable way is huge, and the positive energy, drive for innovation and optimism of architects are truly infectious. The tasks and processes involved in architecture are becoming increasingly complex. Truly sustainable construction is often difficult to scale up and often poses an economic challenge when implemented consistently.
Research can play a key role in this. Architectural schools and faculties also have the capacity to make effective use of their innovative strength in research. Architecture is a multi-faceted discipline that extends beyond the scope of traditional sciences. This makes it difficult to conduct successful research within the framework of Swiss funding programmes. In light of this, it is imperative to provide targeted support for architecture lecturers conducting research.
Ultimately, however, the changing role of the profession is a challenge in itself. The complex tasks of architects span diverse scales and disciplines, making the professions inherently interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary. The skills required for this are no less diverse. Capturing this complexity within studies is a major challenge.
«Bridging the gap between the ideological aspirations of architectural education and the reality of the built environment remains, in my eyes, a major challenge.»
In what way can the Architecture Council benefit from BFH’s transdisciplinary expertise?
Bern University of Applied Sciences is committed to promoting a holistic and transdisciplinary approach to Baukultur. We apply this principle in our study programmes in landscape architecture, civil engineering, architecture and wood technology. The experiences gained through this interaction and our joint learning units will undoubtedly inform discussions at the Architecture Council and in the other schools and faculties. The diversity of Swiss architectural education is the result of different approaches to teaching methods and content. The benefits of this are widely shared.
What do you hope to achieve at the head of the Architectural Council in the next four years?
I would like the Architectural Council to be recognised as Switzerland’s leading body for matters relating to teaching and research in architecture – both by the architecture schools and faculties and by practice partners and policymakers.
