Approach: Following a thematic introduction of the concept of “sustainable development“ and its effects for the building sector, different certification systems, especially the German Sustainable Building Certificate are being covered. An overview of the local competition culture, the applicable regulations, and existing approaches to overcome sustainability deficits in architectural competitions, are summarizing the state of knowledge. The methodology development commences with an analysis of the most important, sustainability-relevant factors under consideration of the stakeholders in the competition process. The project concludes with the development of a system which integrates criteria of sustainability and of usual competition criteria. Based thereon, the manual “Empfehlungen für die praktische Durchführung“ (Recommendations For The Execution) highlights the procedures for “Nachhaltigkeitsorientierte Architekturwettbewerbe“ (Sustainability-Oriented Architectural Competitions). The recommendations are organized according to the procedure phases (e. g. request for proposals, jury, etc.), and are complimented within the appendix “Werkzeuge für die praktische Durchführung“ (Tools For The Execution In Practice) with target-oriented information, evaluation and planning instruments. By means of a detailed practice example as well as the rough analysis of other reference competitions, the developed tools, instruments and manuals are being tested. The conclusion summarises the gathered findings and provides a perspective for further action and research demand.

Results: The presented research contributes to transfer the current state of knowledge and research in aspects of sustainability, from rating completed buildings to the early planning stages, and presents a method applicable in practice, on how to anchor sustainability requirements in architectural competitions. Thereby, within the framework of this dissertation, a manual for the Freie und Hansestadt Ham-burg, as well as a field report were published. Partial results were presented and opened for discussion at symposia and events (Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Hamburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen), and were met with noticeable interest by both competition participants and representatives of the architecture associations. In addition, because of this expertise within the research project “Bewertungssystem Nachhaltiges Bauen - Integration von Nachhaltigkeitsanforderungen in Wettbewerbsverfahren” (Rating system sustainable building – integration of sustainability requirements in competition processes, the author was entrusted to develop an instrument to ensure sustainability quality of public buildings already during the competition phase. This methodology shall be mandatory starting 2013 for all federal building developments.