Dr Echter is extremely driven by the high emotional quality and the special value of ancient houses. He practices with great feedback and support the theoretical and practical safeguarding of historic buildings and historic urban areas and their undiminished transmission to future generations. To raise the awareness of all citizens and institutions, he gets involved with an active heritage conservation policy in organisations, in research, science and teaching, with his international top-class networking and in his numerous publications. He advocates a preventive conservation with proactive strategies of information and consultation of the owners of monuments. His personal intention is to help, that there are even in 50 years cities and towns like Regensburg, Bamberg or Görlitz with unique historic centres and historic urban areas.