Pampulha Modern Ensemble

Threats identified at the time of inscription of the property in 2016:

• Lack of implementation of the work set out in the Intervention Plan
• Need to augment the Management Plan
• Need to strengthen the protection and planning controls of the 1st block of houses and the protection of the buffer zone

On 30 November 2017, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1493/documents/, and responds to some of the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee at the time of the inscription of the property on the World Heritage List (40 COM 8B.33), as follows:

• Works set out in the Intervention Plan for the restoration of the Yacht Club building and its designed landscape are underway, as are works to restore the original entrance to the Ballroom;
• New designs for the restoration of Dino Barbieri Square to reflect Burle Marx’s designs have been submitted for review; these are based on analyses of the original design by Burle Marx, the way it was implemented in the 1940s and its subsequent alterations. The proposal is to restructure the whole area to reflect the Burle Marx design, including the removal of public services such as the cafeteria and restrooms, and the reconstruction of green areas, trees, flower beds and a rose garden;
• A first stage of the recovery process to improve the water quality of Lake Pampulha has been implemented; the water quality has now reached class 3 of the national standards. A second stage of the recovery process has been initiated;
• The property’s Management Plan is being improved with the development of a tourism strategy led by the municipal tourism company of Belo Horizonte, BELOTUR, and further involvement of local communities in the management process;
• A specialized consultancy has been commissioned with the aim of producing a Strategic Management Plan for the property, which should be completed by July 2018, ensuring compatibility between touristic and cultural economic activities and the conservation of the property;
• Several actions, including the development of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the tourism development of the municipality of Belo Horizonte and institutional strengthening, among others, are being implemented in the framework of an Integrated Sustainable Tourism Development Plan;
• The Management Committee is being restructured in order to strengthen participation of local communities, including the municipality of Contagem (to which 55% of the lake belongs);
• Strengthening protection and planning controls for the Ensemble and its Buffer Area will be addressed in the framework of the Strategic Management Plan.

The progress reported on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee is welcomed.

Details of the agreed Intervention Plan’s scope to restore the interior of the Yacht Club and its designed landscape, as well as the entrance to the Ballroom, were discussed at the time of inscription. Once completed, documentation of these restoration works needs to be provided to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies.

The proposal for restoration of the gardens at the Dino Barbieri Square and around the Church based on detailed research of its original layout and landscaping is welcomed. A Technical Review of this project was conducted by ICOMOS and provided to the State Party, which recommends recovery, to the extent possible, of some of the features that were part of the original design, such as the sinuous walking roads, but that were modified during the execution phase. It also suggests that public awareness activities should be implemented on the relationship between the Pampulha architecture and the landscape, as well as a communications strategy that explains the reasons for restructuring the square, now that it has been declared a World Heritage property.

The improvement to the water quality of Lake Pampulha as a result of phase 1 of the remediation project is noted. However, further details should be provided regarding how the water quality will be maintained beyond the second phase of the project, as well as a revised timetable for connecting 98% of outlets to sewers, as it is assumed that the original end date of the end of December 2016 has been extended. 

Progress with developing a Strategic Management Plan for the property and an Integrated Sustainable Tourism Development Plan is noted, which aim to strengthen protection and planning controls for the Ensemble and its Buffer Zone. Attention should be given to the complete set of recommendations of the Committee in this regard during the Management Plan’s elaboration. The approach being used in the development of the above-mentioned Tourism Development Plan consists, inter alia, in recognizing the importance of local citizens’ sense of belonging and the appropriate adaptation of the property’s uses accordingly, which should be encouraged as an essential condition for the sustainable conservation of the property. The completion and adoption of these revised plans, as well as the development of monitoring indicators that relate to the attributes of the Outstanding Universal Value, are urgently needed in order to ensure that the property is adequately managed and protected.