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Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores

Portugal
Factors affecting the property in 1999*
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Marine transport infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Marina project

International Assistance: requests for the property until 1999
Requests approved: 2 (from 1984-1988)
Total amount approved : 25,290 USD
Missions to the property until 1999**

October 1998: ICOMOS mission

Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1999

Summary of previous deliberations: The Committee at its twenty-second session expressed concerns and preoccupation about the location and impact of a marina that was planned for construction in the Bay of Angra do Heroismo. While recognizing the economic need for a marina, it was of the opinion that this should be considered in the context of an overall conservation plan for the site. It encouraged the State Party to continue its dialogue with ICOMOS and the Committee in order to find the best solution.

New information: On the request of the Portuguese authorities, a joint WHC-ICOMOS mission was undertaken to Angra do Heroismo from 28 to 31 January 1999. The mission examined the progress made in the preparation and adoption of the protective measures planning mechanisms for the city and its surroundings and noted the need for these to be further integrated.

The mission requested the authorities to submit by 1 May 1999: (1) a detailed report about the measures taken for the protection of the World Heritage site and the insertion of the marina in the overall development and preservation of the city, as well as a timeframe and coordination mechanisms for the preparation and adoption of different planning and regulatory instruments; and (2) a substantive report on the marina, including justification for its proposed location (alternative locations; historical, cultural, urbanistic and technical considerations; analysis of impact of the marina including traffic flow, infrastructure); proposals for the improvement of the plan for the marina (separation of the dam from the waterfront; revitalisation and restoration of the contact area between city and bay; location of services away from the old quay – preferably to the Pipas harbour).

At the time of preparation of this document, no reports had been received from the Portuguese authorities. The Secretariat was informed, however, that a meeting was scheduled for 17 and 18 May 1999 at the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering in Lisbon with an invitation for the participation of an ICOMOS expert.

Action Required

The Bureau may wish to examine information that will be provided/ may be available at the time of its session and take the appropriate decision thereupon.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1999

Previous deliberations:

Twenty-second session of the Committee, Chapter VII.39

Twenty-third session of the Bureau, Chapter IV.76

 

New information: The Portuguese authorities submitted in July and September 1999 substantive documentation on the project for the marina and the rehabilitation of the waterfront of Angra do Heroismo:

·          On the marina it is stated that historical, cultural, functional and urban planning considerations led to the choice to build the marina, including a dam to protect it from the sea, in the Bay of Angra. The authorities informed that, following the advice of an ICOMOS expert, laboratory tests were done on various alternative solutions for the connection of the dam to the city’s waterfront. The result of these tests is that the level of the dam at the connection can be lowered if at the same time the existing beach would be expanded.

·          The rehabilitation of the waterfront is presented in two sections. The first one refers to the areas east and west of the town; the second one deals with the central part of the waterfront, including the area where the town and the Bay meet (square and historic quay).

The documentation was reviewed by the ICOMOS expert who submitted the following observations:

·          The justification for the location of the marina has been provided. He specifically notes that one of the justifications is that the marina gives the opportunity for the protection and restoration of the old quay and historic entrance to the city. He is in agreement with the solution proposed for the connection of the dam to the waterfront of the city.

·          The expert agrees with the proposals for the western and eastern parts of the bay area with the exception that the area around the S. Sebastiao Fort should be further developed (e.g. free area in front of the fort, re-establish connection between the Fort and the harbour) and that no demolition of structures within the fort should take place before a rehabilitation plan for the fort be approved.

·          For the central part of the waterfront the expert considers that: new construction at the actual garden (Jardines de Corte-Reais and Antigo Mercad do Peixe) should be reconsidered; that the square/quay area (Patio da Alfandega) should be re-designed in order to fully take advantage of and respect the historical remains (staircase, archaeological remains of city entrance, historical quay); new construction in the Encosta do Cantalgo area (a natural cliff) would seriously affect the values of the waterfront.

·          It is furthermore noted that a general urban development plan is still missing and that an integration of the marina/waterfront project in the city plan is not shown.

To conclude, the ICOMOS expert observes that the construction of the marina will have a visual impact on the Bay and the waterfront of the city and that this should be accompanied by a rehabilitation that should fully respect, and with minimal change, the structure and characteristics of the waterfront. Particular attention should be given to the area between the city and the proposed marina (Patio da Alfandega).

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1999
23 BUR IV.B.76
Angra do Heroismo (Portugal)

At the request of the Portuguese authorities, a joint WHC-ICOMOS mission was undertaken to Angra do Heroismo from 28 to 31 January 1999. The mission examined the progress made in the preparation and adoption of the protective measures and planning mechanisms for the city and its surroundings and noted the need for these to be further integrated. The mission requested the authorities to submit by 1 May 1999 detailed reports on the measures taken for the protection of the World Heritage site and the insertion of the marina in the overall development and preservation of the city, as well as on the marina, including justification for its proposed location (alternative locations; historical, cultural, urbanistic and technical considerations; analysis of impact of the marina including traffic flow, infrastructure); proposals for the improvement of the plan for the marina (separation of the dam from the waterfront; revitalisation and restoration of the contact area between city and bay; location of services away from the old quay –preferably to the Pipas Harbour).

Since this mission, the ICOMOS expert participated in several meetings at the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering in Lisbon to study the models for the marina.

The Bureau took note of the dispatch to the World Heritage Centre by the Portuguese authorities of the report requested by the ICOMOS-WHC mission.  This report will be presented to the Bureau at its twenty-third extraordinary session. 

23 COM X.B.44
SOC: Central Zone of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (Portugal)

X.44 Central Zone of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (Portugal)

The Committee recalled the reports from the twenty-third ordinary and the twenty-third extraordinary session of the Bureau on the state of conservation of this property and adopted the following decision:

"The Committee took note of the information provided by the State Party on the marina project in the Bay of Angra do Heroismo and the opinions expressed by ICOMOS. The Committee endorsed the views of ICOMOS regarding the proposed rehabilitation of the waterfront and urged the Portuguese authorities to take these into account in reconsidering the plans for this area, more particularly for the area of the Patio da Alfandega, Jardim dos Corte-Reais and Antigo Mercado do Peixe, the Encosta do Cantagalo and the S. Sebastiao Fort.

The Committee took note of the wish of the Portuguese authorities to continue its collaboration with ICOMOS on the further development of the plans for the marina and the waterfront and their integration into the overall urban plan for Angra do Heroismo.

It requested the authorities to submit a report on the above matters by 15 April 2000 for consideration by the Bureau at its twenty-fourth session."

The Bureau may wish to transmit the above report to the Committee for examination and recommends the following for adoption:

“The Committee takes note of the information provided by the State Party on the marina project in the Bay of Angra do Heroismo and the opinions expressed by ICOMOS. The Committee endorses the views of ICOMOS regarding the proposed rehabilitation of the waterfront and urges the Portuguese authorities to take these into account in reconsidering the plans for this area, more particularly for the area of the Patio da Alfandega, Jardines de Corte-Reais and Antigo Mercad do Peixe, the Encosta do Cantalgo and the S. Sebastiao Fort.

The Committee requests the authorities to continue its collaboration with ICOMOS on the further development of the plans for the marina and the waterfront and their integration into the overall urban plan for Angra do Heroismo.

It requests the authorities to submit a report on the above matters by 15 April 1999 for consideration by the Bureau at its twenty-fourth session.”

Report year: 1999
Portugal
Date of Inscription: 1983
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iv)(vi)
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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