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Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Ukraine
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
  • High impact research / monitoring activities
  • Housing
  • Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Requests approved: 1 (from 1998-1998)
Total amount approved : 19,750 USD
1998 Equipment to preserve ancient wall paintings, ... (Approved)   19,750 USD
Missions to the property until 1998**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998

In May 1997 the Secretariat was informed by letter about hotel projects near the World Heritage site. In the letter it was argued that these projects would disturb and diminish the balance and integrity of the historic architectural and landscape complex of this site. The Secretariat requested the State Party a report on this project.

In response, the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO stated that in this regard a wide range of restrictions and construction demands will be taken into consideration and that that the authors of the project will be requested to consider additional work at the hotel design stage to harmonize as far as possible with the existing historical constructions and natural environment. Furthermore, it was stated that the design team was recommended to keep the balance and integrity of the historic architectural and landscape complex.

An ICOMOS expert reported after his visit at the building site in February 1998 that the original height of the project of fourteen stories will be reduced to 8 to 10 stories. But this height is still greater than the height of six floors, built during the post-war period (up until 1945 this site was surrounded by three-story buildings). Already in 1990, ICOMOS recommended that in future “building standards which are in keeping with the extraordinary quality of St. Sophia be respected.”
Action Required
The State Party may be requested to reconsider its hotel-building policy and to submit a report on this project to the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998

At its twenty-second ordinary session, the Bureau requested the Government of Ukraine to reconsider its hotel-building policy and specific hotel projects in respect of their historical context. It requested the authorities to submit a report on this matter by 15 September 1998 at the latest.

The State Party informed the Secretariat on 14 September 1998 that the above-mentioned projects were repeatedly considered by the experts of Ukraine and were discussed by the local and central authorities as well as by ICOMOS Ukraine. As a result, the project of the hotel “Kiev-International” was decreased in height to the level of the existing surrounding buildings. Furthermore, the construction of the nearby “Laboratory House” project, which did not correspond to the surrounding architectural environment of the Cathedral, was suspended pending the preparation of a new proposal.

On 31 August 1998, the State Party also informed the Secretariat on the proposed reconstruction of the Dormition Cathedral in Pechersk-Lavra that, according to other sources, could cause problems to the surrounding buildings due to the unstable and geologically difficult terrain. It was stated that the reconstruction project would be carried out on the basis of a complex geological and engineering research, which offers the opportunity to select the optimal engineering and constructive solution. The State Party asked the Secretariat for advice in this matter.

 ICOMOS stated that the final designs of the hotel buildings should still be reviewed and confirmed that open excavation pits at the site of the Cathedral, undertaken to research the geology of the soil, now pose dangers to the stability of the area. Expert assistance on the rehabilitation of the subsoil should be obtained without delay. Any further excavation in this area should be carried out according to accepted archaeological principles.



The Bureau took note of the information provided by the State Party on the projects for the construction of hotels in the city of Kiev and the proposed reconstruction of the Dormition Cathedral in Pechersk-Lavra. It also noted the advice of ICOMOS that the final designs of the hotels should be verified and depth hydro-geological studies should be undertaken at the site of the Dormision Cathedral. The Bureau requested ICOMOS to field an expert mission to this effect.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 BUR V.B.69
Kiev: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings (Ukraine)

The Bureau requested the State Party to reconsider its hotel-building policy and specific hotel projects in respect of their historical context. It requested the authorities to submit a report on this matter by 15 September 1998 for consideration by the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau.

22 COM VII.43
Reports on the State of Conservation of Cultural Properties Noted by the Committee

VII.43 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-98/CONF.203/5) and included in Annex IV of this report on the following properties:

Rapa Nui National Park (Chile)

The Mountain Resort and Its Outlying Temples in Chengde (China)

The Potala Palace, Lhasa (China)

Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (China)

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (China)

City of Quito (Ecuador)

Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur (Egypt)

Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (Egypt)

Islamic Cairo (Egypt)

Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn (Estonia)

Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town in Quedlinburg (Germany)

Historic Centre of Florence (Italy)

Quseir Amra (Jordan)

Luang Prabang (Laos)

Baalbek (Lebanon)

Tyre (Lebanon)

Vilnius Historic Centre (Lithuania)

Old Towns of Djenné (Mali)

City of Cusco (Peru)

Archaeological site of Chavin (Peru)

Historic Centre of Lima (Peru)

The Baroque Churches of the Philippines (The Philippines)

Historic Centre of Porto (Portugal)

Island of Gorée (Senegal)

Sacred City of Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka)

Ancient City of Polonnaruva (Sri Lanka)

Ancient City of Sigiriya (Sri Lanka)

Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic)

Historic Areas of Istanbul (Turkey)

Kiev: Saint Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings (Ukraine)

Complex of Hué Monuments (Vietnam)

Old City of Sana'a (Yemen)

No draft Decision

Report year: 1998
Ukraine
Date of Inscription: 1990
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2023-present
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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