Procurement procedures that promote architectural qualities in road design

This proceeding proposes a framework for innovation in procurement and contracting regarding architectural quality. The proceeding provides a brief background to public contracting in Sweden. National Road Administration in Sweden has taken initiative to investigate how architectural qualities can be endorsed in contracting for public planning, design and constructing. There is a growing demand in society for attractive living environments. Architectural quality in civil works constructions is a key factor in meeting this demand. It is therefore important that roads be well designed, as they constitute an essential part of the environment in the everyday lives of many people. Despite this, questions concerning the architectural quality of roads have less impact in SRA procurements than what used to be the case. Consultants and contractors in the industry claim that aesthetic ambitions at present carry less weight in tender evaluations. The focus is on heavy technology and quantifiable criteria. What is the reason behind this? The procurement of consultants and contractors by the SRA is governed by the Public Procurement Act in Sweden (LOU) and the opportunities and limitations this provides. In order to take advantage of this opportunity and live up to the general demands for good architectural quality on roads, a few recommendations have been proposed. It is a matter of top management pointing out the importance of aesthetic added value, it is also the development of a common vision of what is to be achieved and the formulation of project objectives. Better procurements also presume that the evaluation models used by the SRA will be further developed so that the road and landscape architectural context can be illuminated and problemised. This increases the possibility to select competent contractors who can ensure attractive and sustainable solutions (A). Only abstract (as above) is available from the conference proceedings. For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD E212343.

• Authors:
  • HEDMAN, J
  • SUNESON, T
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 1p
• Serial:
  • TRA - TRANSPORT RESEARCH ARENA EUROPE 2006: GOETEBORG, SWEDEN, JUNE 12TH-15TH 2006: GREENER, SAFER AND SMARTER ROAD TRANSPORT FOR EUROPE. PROCEEDINGS
  • Publisher: Swedish Road Administration

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Conferences; Environment; Highway design; Landscaping; Planning; Tenders
• Uncontrolled Terms: Landscape
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 9011: Design (overall design); 2184: Emergency; 425: Exit; 1683: Explosion (tyre); 1624: Fire; 1062: Railway track; 3374: Tunnel; 3392: Ventilation
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01102650
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jun 16 2008 8:12AM