Making Good Design a National Priority

"France, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Denmark, and Norway are just a handful of the two dozen or so countries-located primarily in Europe-that have introduced robust national architecture policies, state-funded initiatives, or government agencies dedicated to advancing design excellence in the public realm. The idea is only gaining momentum. The Brussels-based European Forum for Architectural Policies (FEPA), established in 1997, compiles best practices, convenes officials, and shares knowledge on how nations may best formulate and implement their own policies or systems. In Europe, a national architectural policy is becoming as standard as, say, adopting a national policy on climate, energy, or housing.

And it makes sense. Why shouldn't all developed nations articulate a position on a field that impacts everything from resource consumption to urban development, public safety to economic growth?"

But there is no formal policy or program in the U.S., leading some to wonder why.