Itchan Kala

• Management activities
• Restoration works conducted using non-traditional building material (issue resolved)

Total amount granted: 2019: USD43,115 UNESCO/Netherlands Funds-in-Trust project for Building capacity in managing World Heritage properties, interconnection of development and heritage preservation in Uzbekistan

On 31 January 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/543/documents/ and sets out progress with several issues highlighted by the Committee at its previous sessions, as follows:

• The Master Plan and the overarching Project of Detailed Planning of Historical Centre of Khiva (PDP) are reported to be implemented within the framework of the ‘Programme for integrated development of tourism potential of Khiva and Khoresm region’, and its associated Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is underway and will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review;
• Amendments to the Management Plan to include measures that encompass the historic urban environment for both the property and its proposed buffer zone are under review and will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
• The moratorium on demolition and reconstruction in Dishan Kala is still in place;
• The conservation of distinctive traditional architecture will be addressed by measures in the PDP, the Master Plan and the Management Plan, while proposals for the rehabilitation of destroyed mahallas in Dishan Kala will be reflected in the Master Plan and PDP;
• Several initiatives supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are outlined, such as an Integrated Cultural Heritage Framework (ICHF) to diversify tourist routes and activities. This includes ‘transformative project proposals’ for the central area of the property such as the Itchan Kala public space upgrade, Mahalla upgrade, and a detailed masterplan for mixed use development to diversify the tourist routes and activities in Khiva and in Khorezm Region;
• The inaugural meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) took place in 2021;
• Conservation challenges are highlighted, such as addressing termite damage to structural timbers in old structures, including the Khan’s palace, and deterioration of ceramic tiles as a result of salinity in walls.

In April 2021, the State Party submitted a consultant’s report on the proposed way forward for the revision of the PDP. Attached to this were a presentation on the historical development of Khiva, an analysis of its buildings and urban form, and proposed plans for new residential developments within certain areas of the property and its buffer zone. ICOMOS’ February 2022 Technical Review of the report has been presented to the State Party..

In October 2022, the State Party submitted revised documentation for the Mevaston Hotel project and in April 2023 an additional design document, both in response to an ICOMOS Technical Review of 2021, following which ICOMOS submitted a second Technical Review in June 2023.

The State Party’s confirmation that the moratorium on demolition and reconstruction within Dishan Kala, the outer city beyond the boundaries, shall remain in place until the PDP and the Master Plan have been reviewed and approved by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies and the proposed buffer zone has been approved by the World Heritage Committee, in line with Decision 40 COM 8B.42, is welcome.

The State Party reports that work is progressing on the revision of the PDP, taking into account the recommendations of the Committee, but the final draft revised PDP has yet to be submitted, despite the fact that the consultant’s draft report of April 2021 presented a detailed way forward for parts of this revision. The presentation annexed to the State Party’s report contains information on the history and analysis of the property and its proposed buffer zone to cover Dishan Kala as well as proposed plans for redevelopment, which appear to be proposing complete redevelopment of certain neighbourhoods. However, as this presentation did not include any descriptive text or explanation, it is not possible to understand the status of these proposals.

Dialogue has not yet been initiated by the State Party in relation to the request for a phased dialogue with the Advisory Bodies to support the development of a revised PDP. Instead, reference is made to the IAC, which had its inaugural meeting in September 2021 and the first technical session took place in July 2022. The role of the IAC is clarified by its Mission Statement, adopted by the session of July 2022. The Committee may wish to welcome the launch of the IAC in September 2021 for the World Heritage properties in Uzbekistan and the organisation of its first technical session in July 2022, for which the contribution of the late leading expert Dr Michael Jansen, should be deeply thanked. The Committee may also emphasize that this mechanism should continue advising the national authorities on the conservation of cultural heritage properties and the implementation of Committee decisions and previous mission recommendations, with a reviewed membership.

In relation to tourism development, no reference is made to the development of a Tourism Destination Management Plan, though the State Party refers to the “Programme for integrated development of tourism potential of Khiva and Khoresm region” and indicates that the high-speed rail link to Bukhara and Samarkand was constructed, but not yet launched due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The transformative project proposals for the central area of Khiva included in the ICHF includes a mahalla upgrade, which is said to relate to two mahallas, one of which is in Dishan Kala, where the houses have been totally demolished. It would be helpful to understand how these projects’ relevance and appropriateness are being evaluated, especially in view of the current moratorium on demolition and reconstruction.

The ICHF also includes a concept plan for infrastructure improvements in the city of Khiva and a project to assess links between infrastructure development and tourism growth. All these development projects highlight the urgent need to complete and gain approval for the PDP, so that it may act as a regulative framework for these extensive and important projects.

Although it is reported that the draft Management Plan is being reviewed, might be considered during the next IAC meeting, and will subsequently be submitted for consideration to the World Heritage Centre, no update is provided on the establishment of a Property Management Unit or the appointment of a Property Manager. The Committee may wish to welcome the launch of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) in September 2021 for the World Heritage properties in Uzbekistan and emphasize that this mechanism should advise the national authorities on the conservation of cultural heritage properties and the implementation of Committee decisions and previous missions’ recommendations. Its recommendations on Khiva, concerning the buffer zone boundaries, PDP preparation, land management in mahalla areas and moratorium on the demolition and modification to the townscape should be considered.

To reinforce the management of the property in the context of its urban environment, it is recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to submit the proposed buffer zone for review by the Advisory Bodies and subsequent approval by the Committee, in line with Decision 40 COM 8B.42.

The State Party highlights the ongoing problem of termite attacks on wooden beams, notably in the Friday Mosque and the Khan's Palace, and of the negative consequences of salinity in the walls of monuments. If termites are widespread within the property, and since they have been the stated reason for the demolition of some vernacular structures, there is an urgent need to develop an overall conservation approach to set out how damage might be prevented and controlled before new projects are being developed. The same applies to salinity issues and their impact on ceramic tiles. In conclusion, it is reassuring to note that progress is being made with the revision of both the PDP and the Management Plan, although no timeframe has been presented and no dialogue initiated so far to accompany these processes. The context within which this work is being undertaken is clearly dynamic and fast moving, as illustrated by the range of projects on tourism and infrastructure that are being supported by the EBRD. Therefore, it is urgent to make progress with these planning documents, that should align with the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL), in order not to hold up other initiatives. Meanwhile, it is essential to strictly maintain the moratorium on demolition and reconstruction, put in place a Management Unit for the property, and appoint a Property Manager to strengthen management structures and support the approval of a buffer zone. Until these overall structures are in place, the property remains extremely vulnerable.

Construction of phase I of the Mevaston Hotel in Dishan Kala on areas of demolished mahallas had started before the moratorium was in place and documentation had been submitted. The revised plans for phases I and II have been reviewed by ICOMOS. These address the recommendations of the first ICOMOS Technical Review and overall can be considered acceptable, subject to certain detailed conditions. But support in principle for this project should not be seen as justifying the destruction of а historic neighborhood to make way for а hotel complex.