Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
State of Conservation Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt 2023

Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt

Germany
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
  • Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
  • Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Factors identified at the time of inscription of the property:
  • proposed visitor centre
  • impact of vehicular traffic on sightlines
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023

N/A

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**

N/A

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023

On 26 January 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1614/documents/. The report shows some progress towards implementing the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription, as follows:

  • The new location of the visitor centre will be outside the boundaries of the property, in the buffer zone, and is to be defined through the ongoing process of the amendment of Building Plan O32. No specific timeframe or details are given in the report;
  • The new design specifications for the visitor centre have been issued by the architectural company, which is preparing a new design. The specifications follow ICOMOS’ recommendations, by reducing the building mass, respecting the sightlines and visual connections from and to the property, ensuring that the new building does not impact on the integrity of the property and its attributes, and strengthening the visual connections to the Studio Building with the Studio Garden. Coordination and on-site meetings have been held and further updates will be sent to UNESCO once concrete plans are available;
  • The pressure from vehicular traffic on the property has been reduced thanks to a series of measures. Public parking spaces within the property have been eliminated and controlled parking with ticket machines and high parking fees introduced in the entire area around Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt. Alexandraweg has been turned into a pedestrian zone. A new shuttle bus service connects the property with the city centre, the Main Station and the East Station, and a drop-off area for coaches has been designated at the East Station. The new location of the visitor centre means that it should have no impact on vehicular traffic, nor should it be possible to access it directly by motorised private transport or coaches;
  • The State Party assures that no measures are planned that could have a negative impact on the state of conservation or the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and states that the City of Darmstadt and the State of Hesse have taken note of the World Heritage Committee’s recommendations and consider them in their daily work.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023

The State Party has undertaken some steps towards resolving the major issues highlighted by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription: the relocation of the planned visitor centre and the need for vehicular traffic reduction. The new design specifications are based on ICOMOS’ recommendations to ensure the harmonious integration of the forthcoming visitor centre in the buffer zone, outside the property’s boundaries. The new design parameters should guide the selection of an appropriate new location for the visitor centre. This process implies the amendment of Building Plan O32. No timeframe has been provided for the amendment and approval of the revised Building Plan, based on which the new visitor centre shall be designed, nor for the submission of the new visitor centre designs and location.

The State Party reports on the introduction of further measures for the reduction of vehicular traffic in the area of the property by encouraging pedestrian access with the help of shuttle buses, pedestrianising Alexandraweg and removing parking within the property while increasing fees and tightening regulations for parking in the buffer zone. While these measures could positively impact the perception of the property and eliminate risks associated with the vehicular traffic pressure linked to increasing visitation, no specific illustrative material has been submitted to demonstrate their positive impact on the sightlines to and from the property.

No specific information has been submitted on the implementation of the recommendations specified by the World Heritage Committee in paragraph 4 of Decision 44 COM 8B.18. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide updates on the implementation of these measures.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7B.55
Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt (Germany) (C 1614)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
  2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 8B.18 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
  3. Acknowledges the positive steps undertaken by the State Party to resolve the issues raised by the Committee at the time of inscription;
  4. Requests the State Party to provide updates on the implementation of its recommendations with regard to the following:
    1. Developing a conservation management plan to guarantee a consistent conservation approach and strategy for all buildings of the property,
    2. Strengthening the link between the private owners and conservation services,
    3. Ensuring an appropriate balance between development and conservation activities in budget allocations,
    4. Including in the interpretation and presentation of the different buildings of the property, the history of their conservation;
  5. Reiterates its requests to the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre the new project developed for the relocation of the visitor centre, the amended Building Plan O32, and detailed information on the impact of vehicular traffic on sightlines to and from the property, including illustrative materials;
  6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.
Read more
45 COM 8B.76
Statements of Outstanding Universal Value of properties inscribed at previous sessions and not adopted by the World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/8B,
  2. Adopts the Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for the following World Heritage properties inscribed at previous sessions of the World Heritage Committee:
  • Chile, Settlement and Artificial Mummification of the Chinchorro Culture in the Arica and Parinacota Region
  • Côte d’Ivoire, Sudanese style mosques in northern Côte d’Ivoire
  • France, Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera
  • Gabon, Ivindo National Park
  • Germany, Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt
  • India, Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana
  • Iran (Islamic Republic of), Trans-Iranian Railway
  • Netherlands, Dutch Water Defence Lines
  • Republic of Korea, Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats
  • Russian Federation, Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea
  • Saudi Arabia, Ḥimā Cultural Area
  • Spain, Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences
  • Thailand, Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex
  • Türkiye, Arslantepe Mound.
Read more
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7B.55

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
  2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 8B.18, adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/Online, 2021),
  3. Acknowledges the positive steps undertaken by the State Party to resolve the issues raised by the Committee at the time of inscription;
  4. Requests the State Party to provide updates on the implementation of its recommendations with regard to the following:
    1. Developing a conservation management plan to guarantee a consistent conservation approach and strategy for all buildings of the property,
    2. Strengthening the link between the private owners and conservation services,
    3. Ensuring an appropriate balance between development and conservation activities in budget allocations,
    4. Including in the interpretation and presentation of the different buildings of the property, the history of their conservation;
  5. Reiterates its requests to the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre the new project developed for the relocation of the visitor centre, the amended Building Plan O32, and detailed information on the impact of vehicular traffic on sightlines to and from the property, including illustrative materials;
  6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.
Report year: 2023
Germany
Date of Inscription: 2021
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/23/45.COM/7B
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2022) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2022
arrow_circle_right 45COM (2023)
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.


top