Pražský deník - Czech Republic Thursday, August 14, 2008
World heritage under threat in Prague
UNESCO has ordered the city of Prague to revise a project for constructing skyscarpers near its centre, threatening that unless the city complies it could be struck from the World Heritage list. Prague newspaper Pražský deník notes that the critics of the project can notch up UNESCO's demand as a success: "UNESCO has put an end to the skyscraper plans. These buildings that were to reach a hundred metres into the sky will now end up at least 30 metres smaller because otherwise Prague's unique panorama would suffer. The civic initiatives have won their battle - albeit on international soil. The city authorities had so far proven immune to their demands. Mayor of Prague Pavel Bem claimed that the threat of the city being struck off the World Heritage list was not real. Now we know that it is indeed real."
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/City-centre-buildings--39pose.4689008.jp
City centre buildings 'pose threat' to world heritage site
Published Date: 13 November 2008
By Brian Ferguson
TOWERING new buildings, large-scale developments and modern schemes out of keeping with their historic surroundings risk damaging Edinburgh's world heritage site, Unesco chiefs warned yesterday.
The city council and the business community have been warned the whole "integrity" of the Old and New Towns will be in doubt if developments are allowed to proceed unchecked. On the opening day of an official visit which could see Scotland's capital stripped of its world heritage status, Mechtild Rössler, Europe and North America chief at Unesco's world heritage centre, said it was vital for Edinburgh to guard against development that was "incompatible" with its surroundings. She said it was particularly crucial that key views of the city centre, including from the main approaches to the city, were not ruined. Dr Rössler dismissed claims that Edinburgh's world heritage status risked holding back development and instead warned the city's economy could suffer long-term damage if widescale change in the heart of Edinburgh was accepted. She spoke out as details emerged of a damning report to Unesco from a key advisory body, warning that the scale of developments planned for Edinburgh city centre could have a dramatic impact on the city's world heritage site. Dr Rössler, who is accompanied by Professor Manfred Wehdorn, of the International Council on Monuments, in Edinburgh this week, said: "We are well aware of the strength of the debate in Edinburgh. We have received hundreds of letters and the arguments have been very passionate. "It's important to remember that world heritage status was awarded to Edinburgh based on its historic buildings and street patterns. We are not arguing that cities should be maintained like museums. "It's totally false for anyone to suggest that, but development has to be compatible with what is there, whether it is a tall building or a modern new development in an historic location. "It's very important that existing views are maintained for the citizens of Edinburgh and great care should be taken to ensure that new developments are in keeping with what is already there."
http://www.citymayors.com/development/toledo_development.html
Report claims new developmentsthreaten Toledo’s historic setting
By Daniel González Herrera, Spanish Editor*
7 February 2006: Toledo, situated some 70 kilometres south of Madrid, is one of Spain’s most important historic cities.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, the city was once the country's capital and is renowned for its medieval architecture. It is also famous for steel making. Toledo swords were the most sought after hand weapons of their time. However, now a report by one of Spain’s oldest art academies says that the city’s historic setting could be seriously damaged by new developments planned by the city council.The municipal authorities published a municipal urban development plan (POM) to construct some 37,000 dwellings between now and 2025 on the outskirts of Toledo, in areas known as Huerta del Rey and Vega Baja. This plan has been severely criticised by the Royal Academy of Arts of San Fernando, Madrid’s oldest art institute. The Academy said that implementation of the plan would mean the end of Toledo’s environment, which has been cherished for centuries. Toledo Mayor José Manuel Molino counters that the old part of the city would not be touched. “POM will only affect the outer edge of the old quarter,” he said.However, for the deputy director of the Royal Academy of San Fernando, Pedro Navascués, this is no reassurance. He points out that is not only the historic part of the city, but also the natural environment that surrounds the town, which allowed Toledo to gain World Heritage status. Mr Navascués used Venice as an example, saying that if a plan like POM was applied to the Italian city, it would mean draining its canals. “The development plan poses a real threat to the symbiosis, the marriage between the medieval city and its surrounding environment,” he explained.Pedro Navascués also accused the city council of “violating the legislation which have protected Toledo and its landscape since 1940”. A number of special laws have offered special protection to Toledo and its surrounding environment ever since. The development plan would change the current legislation, modifying classification of most of the low and high meadows on the Tagus river, on which presently no construction is allowed. The city council describes its plans as sustainable development to justify the building on land, which, until now, was considered part of Toledo’s historic legacy.Mr Navascués stresses that the Academy was not opposed to economic growth. “We only ask that the city council considers alternative sites for expansion,” he said. The Academy also suggests that the Huerta del Rey and Vega Baja areas should be developed as “green lungs”, which would attract tourism and would allow citizens to enjoy the city without destroying its physiognomy. Another reason against POM is the presence of archaeological remains in Vega Baja, dating back to the Visigothic period, which are in danger of being damaged or destroyed if the development plan went ahead.The academy is aware that there is a lot of money at stake. Deputy Director Navascués was surprised to learn that even though POM had not been finally agreed, land had already been allocated. He fears that if the plan goes ahead Toledo’s World Heritage listing could be under threat. The UNESCO delegate in Castile-La Mancha, Fernando Redondo, said that the city council acted rather too hastily in drawing up POM. “The council should have consulted the International Council of Monuments and Sites, an organization part of UNESCO,” he explained.The Royal Academy has sent its report to superior authorities including Spain’s Ministry of Culture, the regional government of Castile-La Mancha and, of course, to Toledo’s city council.Toledo was the first capital of the Visigothic Hispania, after the fall of the Roman Empire. It was declared an imperial city during the reign of Cahrles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of its amazing beauty, the city has been immortalized in many literary and pictorial works, including paintings by El Greco, who lived in Toledo from 1579 until his death in 1614.
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