BACKGROUND

Cities tell the story of humanity. The combination of history, culture, nature, and heritage makes cities a unique and integral part of the world's diversity. This multi-layered "urban landscape" is important for understanding the role of economic and social drivers in creating a livable, viable, and human-centered city.

The 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) proposes a new perspective on cities in which urban development and heritage conservation are considered complementary elements for sustainable urban futures, rather than conflicting interests.

This approach considers both World Heritage cities and non-World Heritage cities within a new paradigm for achieving a more sustainable and human-centered urban future. The goal of this international panel is to amplify efforts to raise awareness and incorporate this UNESCO Recommendation into the daily life of all types of cities.

 

CONTEXT

The historic urban landscape has become an emerging category of paramount importance for the conservation of historic cities with their diverse heritage values, stakeholders, and cultural identity, particularly in World Heritage cities. This methodology occupies a central place in the current international debate on cultural heritage due to its interaction with built heritage, urban perspectives, natural resources, and the historical identity of each city—elements that, together, constitute the exceptional nature of a site and give it a sense of belonging for its inhabitants.

Understanding the concept of historic urban landscape, discussing its specific characteristics, grasping the importance of its identification and protection, and integrating it into land-use plans for heritage sites, particularly historic city management plans, is fundamental. Furthermore, generating indicators for evaluation and ongoing monitoring that contribute to the protection of historic urban landscapes and their harmonious evolution in World Heritage cities and other historic sites, in accordance with the guidelines of the Vienna Memorandum on World Heritage and Contemporary Architecture, is an essential task for developing a comprehensive system for the conservation and management of historic cities.

 

OBJECTIVE

To identify analytical methodologies, based on research experiences and case studies, to develop conservation and management indicators for World Heritage cities, thereby promoting their recognition and protection—as a key concept—in regulatory instruments at different levels of government.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE

Organizations, institutions, authorities, and stakeholders involved with World Cultural, Natural, and Mixed Heritage. The participation of women, youth, and communities is also encouraged to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. Students, faculty, and researchers; community leaders; cultural managers; public servants; and service providers are welcome.