kiSHore rao, dePuty
direCtor, world Heritage
Centre, uneSCo
“world heritage is the
common heritage of everyone
on earth – it is something
that touches us all”
it is uneSCo’s job to preserve those
sites that have important heritage value
for humankind the world over. it’s essential
that we protect and preserve them for
generations to come. when heritage, in the
dictionary sense, transcends international
boundaries and has inter-generational
value, then it has what we at unesco
call “outstanding universal value”. we
identify these sites around the world, be they
natural sites, monuments, buildings or groups
of buildings, and with architectural, cultural,
archaeological or anthropological interest.
the process of assessing a site for
world heritage status is rigorous and
uneSCo world Heritage Site: djennÉ
thorough. over an 18-month period,
nearly 2,000 traditional houses are still standing at djenné in mali, which the advisory bodies make field visits, hold
has been inhabited since 250 bc. a market centre and an important link
discussions with stakeholders and collate
in the trans-saharan gold trade during the 15th and 16th centuries,
djenné was also a major centre for the propagation of islam.
the views of numerous experts and partner 13
organisations. the recommendation that
comes out of this democratic process then
Steven Bee, direCtor of Planning and develoPMent, engliSH Heritage
passes to an inter-governmental committee
“Change is an essential component of our historic environment, and we should of 21 states. it makes the final decision on
not, indeed cannot, prevent change” whether to include a site.
if something is, or was, of outstanding
for professionals in the construction component of our historic environment and we future of many buildings that would otherwise heritage value and elements of authenticity
and development industries, the question should not, indeed cannot, prevent change. have been lost. english heritage has helped to and integrity exist, there may be an argument
of what on an historic site must be kept english heritage’s responsibility is to manage identify where a great level of change could for restoring it to its original condition. take
and what can be adapted or demolished change in a way that sees the heritage value of be accommodated and to guide decisions that the city of dresden, germany, for example,
has often been an arena for debate and a place strengthened, rather than diminished. wouldn’t compromise either the historic fabric destroyed during the war but rebuilt in parts
uncertainty. how can you be sure that advice this framework is just part of a forward- or the site’s financial viability. to regain that cultural landscape. there are
on conservation is objective, well-informed looking and collaborative approach to modern conservation is collaborative, also many examples around the world where
and fair? in recent years, english heritage protecting heritage. english heritage is reasonable and precise, resulting in a higher a monument has been re-erected in another
has put its best practice into a framework helping to provide the clear, objective level of confidence and creativity from the place in order that it could be saved.
for making these decisions. information that developers need in order development sector. even five years ago, what we consider to be important
The Conservation Principles, Policies and to make regeneration a success in their these sites would have seemed too risky world heritage and what we value will
Guidance for the Sustainable Management own terms. or too confrontational for investment, and change over time. it will depend on what
of the Historic Environment, published in this echoes the growing collaborative would have rotted away. by collaborating we build today and how our ideas and
may 2008, has become key to establishing relationship between heritage and with english heritage and local authorities cultures evolve. it’s not a static thing.
objectively which parts of an historic building development professionals, more and more at pre-application stages, development For some buildings or structures it isn’t
must be kept and which less-important parts often working closely together during the schemes have benefited from a constructive a question of time or values – think of
could be changed in order to find the best, pre-application stages. approach to conservation, the outcome the great pyramids or the taj mahal. but,
and sometimes only, way to keep it in use. the combination of clear information being projects that are not just commercially in other cases, as our ideas and cultures
the essence of these principles is an and early pre-application advice has provided successful, but that add distinctiveness and evolve, so will our perspectives on what
acceptance that change is an essential developers with the certainty to secure the meaning to the places in which we live. constitutes heritage and what we value.
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