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Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

Germany
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
  • Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
  • Housing
  • Legal framework
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Urban pressure
  • Current traffic planning 
  • Need to review the legal protection of the site
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998

22nd extraordinary session of the Bureau in 1998:

The Minister of Science, Research and Culture of the Land of Brandenburg has submitted the fourth state of conservation report as per the request of the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-first session (see WHC-98/CONF.202/INF.7). A summary of the report is provided herewith. Very detailed maps regarding the planning guidelines for the Potsdam cultural landscape have also been submitted.

Extension of the World Heritage site:
The application for the extension of the World Heritage site of Potsdam has been received by the World Heritage Centre and has been transmitted to the advisory body, ICOMOS, for evaluation. It will be presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in June/July 1999.

Planning Guidelines:
The drawing up of planning guidelines for the Potsdam cultural landscape is in progress. The working group drawing up the guidelines has also taken into account the current development plans. No irreversible construction work was undertaken. The planning guidelines contribute to the effectiveness of the requirements for the protection of the World Heritage site. It also provides the conditions for determining, at an early stage, the effects any plan may have on the World Heritage site. The planning guidelines will be transmitted to the World Heritage Committee at the end of 1998. The Committee will be informed of progress made and results of the implementation of the guidelines.

Green centre – Alter Markt/Lustgarten:
The town planning competition for the “green centre” (Alter Markt/Lustgarten), in preparation of the Federal Garden Exhibition in 2001, has been completed. The overall guidelines for town planning in this area will be presented to the town council at the end of 1998.

Quartier am Bahnhof:
The results of the “Quartier am Bahnhof “ town planning competition, which were considered by the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-first session, ensure the integration of the project into the Potsdam cultural landscape. The building areas 9-12 were reconsidered in the light of the results of the town planning competition in March 1998. Since the proportions and location of the structures are felt acceptable, the construction can be executed as planned.

Other building projects:
In response to the recommendation formulated by the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-first session with regard to other building projects, the town administration and the Prussian Castles and Parks of Berlin Brandenburg have discussed the layout and colouring of the Gewoba-Bau (Alt Nowawes) and have agreed on an acceptable solution. Furthermore, the “Potsdam Windows” project, which aims at improving the housing quality, is not felt to have an impact on the World Heritage site. With regard to the Ribbechstrasse in Bornstedt, no planning application has been received. The town of Potsdam will be controlling any planning in this area.

In conclusion, the Minister of Science, Research and Culture of the Land Brandenburg feels that the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee have been well taken into account in the drawing up of planning guidelines, and the corrections in town development and other development projects. So far, 150 million DM have been invested in the preservation and restoration of the World Heritage site.

The state of conservation report was transmitted to ICOMOS for advice. ICOMOS suggests that the ICOMOS expert mission that will visit Potsdam early in 1999 to evaluate the proposed extension to the World Heritage site, should also be requested to examine the planning guidelines with the competent authorities and to submit a report to the Bureau at its session in June/July 1999.

Action Required
Decision required:
The Bureau may wish to examine the above information and take appropriate action thereupon.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998

The Minister of Science, Research and Culture of the Land of Brandenburg has submitted the fourth state of conservation report as per the request of the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-first session which was made available to the Bureau as an information document.

The report refers to the proposed extension of the World Heritage site, the Planning Guidelines, town planning competitions for the Green centre Alter/Markt Lustgarten and the Quartier am Bahnhof, as well as other specific building projects.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 COM VII.34/31
SOC: Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (Germany)

VII.34 Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (Germany)

The Minister of Science, Research and Culture of the Land of Brandenburg submitted the fourth state of conservation report as per the request of the World Heritage Committee at its twentyfirst session. This report was made available to the Committee as Information Document WHC-98/CONF.203/INF.15.

The report referred to the proposed extension of the World Heritage site, the Planning Guidelines, town planning competitions for the Green Centre - Alter Markt/Lustgarten and the Quartier am Bahnhof, as well as other specific building projects.

The Committee took note of the report. It commended the authorities of the Land of Brandenburg for the actions taken in response to the recommendations made by the Committee at its twenty-first session.

The Committee welcomed the submission of the proposed extension to the World Heritage site and requested the Bureau to examine this proposal at its twenty-third session in the light of the discussions and recommendations made by the Committee at its twentieth and twenty-first sessions.

The Committee noted the completion of the urban competition for the Green Centre -Alter Markt/ Lustgarten. As to the town planning competition for the Quartier am Bahnhof, the Committee regretted that the reconsideration of the building blocks 9 to 12 in the context of the results of the competition had not led to a major revision of the programme or design of these blocks and had therefore not resulted in an entirely satisfactory solution. It noted, however, with satisfaction the information provided by the Observer of Germany that the height of the building had been reduced and no longer would interfere with the visual lines of the components of the World Heritage site. It considered that their volume and monotony constitute a negative element in the urban context. A revision of their design could still diminish their negative impact.

The Committee encouraged the municipal authorities to continue the process of urban planning and the development of planning guidelines to this effect. It appreciated the commitment of the authorities to transmit the planning guidelines for the Potsdam cultural landscape to the World Heritage Committee by the end of 1998. It requested ICOMOS to examine these guidelines in the context of the evaluation mission it will undertake to Potsdam in early 1999 and to submit its findings to the Bureau at its twentythird session.

With reference to the 'German Unity Transport Project No 17' (improvement of waterways), examined by the Committee at its twentieth session, the Committee commended the Federal Government for the efforts to find an alternative solution that would avoid any interference in the Babelsberg Park or other components of the Potsdam cultural landscape.

In conclusion, the Committee requested the State Party to submit by 15 September 1999 for examination by the Committee at its twenty-third session, a fifth state of conservation report particularly on the following matters:

- Final version of the planning guidelines and information on their adoption and enforcement;

- Progress in the implementation of the winning project for the Quartier am Bahnhof as well as on measures taken to diminish the negative impact of building blocks 9-12 on the architectural and urban environment;

- Results of the consideration of alternative routes for the waterways under 'German Unity Transport Project No 17' and their possible impact on the integrity for the World Heritage site.

The Bureau recommended the Committee to adopt the following:

“The Committee takes note of the fourth state of conservation report on the Palaces and Parks of Markt/Lustgarten and Berlin. It commends the authorities of the Land of Brandenburg for the actions taken in response to the recommendations made by the Committee at its twenty-first session.

The Committee welcomes the submission of the proposed extension to the World Heritage site and requests the Bureau to examine this proposal at its twenty-third session in the light of the discussions and recommendations made by the Committee at its twentieth and twenty-first sessions.

 The Committee notes the completion of the urban competition for the green centre Alter Lustgarten. As for the competition for the Quartier am Bahnhof, the Committee regrets that the reconsideration of the building blocks 9 to 12 in the context of the results of the competition has not led to a major revision of the programme or design of these blocks and has therefore not resulted in an entirely satisfactory solution. It notes, however, with satisfaction the information provided by the Observer of Germany that the height of the building had been reduced and no longer interferes with the sight-lines of the components of the World Heritage site. It considers that their volume and monotony constitute a negative element in the urban context. A revision of their design could still diminish their negative impact.

The Committee encourages the municipal authorities to continue the process of urban planning and the development of planning guidelines to this effect. It appreciates the commitment of the authorities to transmit the planning guidelines for thecultural landscape to the World Heritage Committee by the end of 1998. It requests ICOMOS to examine these guidelines in the context of the evaluation mission it will undertake toin early 1999 and to submit its findings to the Bureau at its twenty-third session.

With reference to the ‘German Unity Transport Project No 17’ (improvement of waterways), examined by the Committee at its twentieth session, the Committee commends the Federal Government for the efforts to find an alternative solution that would avoid any interference in the Babelsberg Park or other components of The cultural landscape.

In conclusion, the Committee requests the State Party to submit by 15 September 1999, a fifth state of conservation report on the following matters:

·         Final version of the planning guidelines and information on their adoption and enforcement;

·         Progress in the implementation of the winning project for the Quartier am Bahnhof as well as on measures taken to diminish the negative impact of building blocks 9-12 on the architectural and urban environment;

·         Results of the consideration of alternative routes for the waterways under ‘German Unity Transport Project No 17’ and their possible impact on the integrity on the World Heritage site.’

 

Report year: 1998
Germany
Date of Inscription: 1990
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iv)
Documents examined by the Committee
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (1998) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 22COM (1998)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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