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Historic Centre of Riga

Latvia
Factors affecting the property in 2008*
  • Housing
  • Legal framework
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) High-rise building projects located in the buffer zone threating the visual integrity of the property;

b) Regulations for building permissions and guidelines for new construction projects within Riga and its buffer zone

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2008

Total amount provided to the property: France-UNESCO co-operation Convention expertise missions activities in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 – 45,000 Euros

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2008
Requests approved: 5 (from 1996-2002)
Total amount approved : 99,500 USD
Missions to the property until 2008**

March 2008: Joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2008

The State Party’s report, prepared by the Latvian State Inspection for Heritage Protection, dated 20 December 2007 responds to the request by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session to provide details on progressmade with the “Conception Project” for the left side of the river Daugava and toprovide detailson any projects which may have an impact on the visual integrity of the property, forexamination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008 in view of the possibility of inclusion of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The report was completed by additional information dated 14 April 2008 by the State Inspection and the municipality.

Concerning the World Heritage Committee’s request to implement the results of the visual impact analysis of proposed high-rise buildings in the buffer zone to prevent any negative impact on the outstanding universal value of the property and its buffer zone, as well as on important views to and from the property, the State Inspection reports that planning measures for the Historic Centre of Riga and its buffer zone territory were approved by the City Council on 7February 2006.

The report also notes that a plan developed by the State Inspection for Heritage Protection postpones the developmentof high-rises on the right bank of the Daugava River until the left-bank urban landscape draft concept can befinalized, and that high-rises can be built only in those locations identified by previous planning documents, including the Detailed plan of Ķīpsala, the only exclusion being the Hansabanka building. The State Inspection notes that other projects that failed to comply with cultural monument protection requirements have been halted in the early stages, and that they have urged the City Council to rely on these requirements and continue improvement work on Daugava River Left-bank development concept.

Concerning the World Heritage Committee’s urging the State Party to “further reinforce the current law on the preservation and protection of the Historic Centre of Riga by limiting the height of new constructions in the World Heritage core and buffer zones, and beyond, if necessary”, the State Inspection report notes that the “Law on the Preservation and Protection of Riga’s Historical Centre” and subsequent regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers support the State Inspection’s insistence that taller buildings be located away from the Historic Centre, and not have an impact on views to the Historic Centre.

Concerning the World Heritage Committee’s request to review all current and future projects in the core area and its buffer zone, and in particular to “halt ongoing high-rise projects and further inappropriate planning for the left side of the river Daugava, until a thorough and independent analysis of potential impacts on the values, authenticity and integrity of the Historic Centre has been undertaken and the Conception Project has been thoroughly revised,” the State Inspection report notes that it has set conditions on the Daugava River left bank urban landscape draft concept that respects the value of the World Heritage property, and has put pressure on the progress of future projects. The State Inspection report notes that in 2007, initiatives of Riga’s city architect to negotiate with landowners and developers concluded in providing for the harmonized “development of Āgenskalns Bay area at the Southern end of Ķīpsala”. Subsequently, following the assessment of impacts on the views to the Historic Centre, all inappropriate high-rise projects were halted with the exception of projects planned for the southern end of Kipsala, whose development plan was in place when Riga was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Concerning the World Heritage Committee’s request that the State Party undertake an “overall visual impact study of the property and its setting in order to provide a framework for proposed new developments to ensure that they fully respect the outstanding universal value of the property,” the State Inspection report refers to earlier assessments of view impacts carried out in 2005 and 2006, and suggests that the monitoring of the site has been reinforced sufficiently for the preservation and protection of its cultural and historic value. The report also notes that similar impact assessments will be continuing for the Daugava River left-bank urban landscape draft concept project.

Concerning the World Heritage Committee’s request that the State Party report on “progress made with the “Conception Project” for the left side of the river Daugava, and to provide details on any projects which may have an impact on the visual integrity of the property, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008 in view of the possibility of inclusion of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger,” the State Inspection notes its belief that the actions of the State Party provide a good example of using various means to protect threatened heritage from the pressures of economic development. The report states unequivocally that “the potential threat to the unique universal value of the World Heritage property has been eliminated”.

The State Party was also requested to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to assess the state of conservation of the property. This mission took place from 25 to 28 March 2008 and the full report is available at https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2008

The mission report draws conclusions in a number of areas:

a) The overall situation with respect to administration, management and conservation of the World Heritage property is improving

The legislative basis for the protection of heritage is relatively stable: a special act for the protection of the Historic Centre of Riga (adopted in 2003), and a Council on Protection and Development of Historic Riga, with representatives of local and national authorities, the UNESCO National Commission and the Architects Union, established (also in 2003) promise to strengthen support for heritage conservation in Riga by assisting the State Inspection for Heritage Protection, overloaded by its current responsibilities to approve all modification projects within the World Heritage site. The mission report recommended that the new legislation be fully implemented and the newly established Council be given increased authority to review projects affecting the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage property.

While restoration and maintenance work on structures in the Historic Centre of Riga is “moving in a positive direction”, the quality of much contemporary infill architecture - in spite of a number of conferences, workshops and seminars organised by the State Inspection on this problem - is less satisfactory, and some projects, concerning scale and concept, do not “fit into the traditional historic fabric and streetscape”.

Responding to general concern for the preservation and enhancement of the wooden heritage in Riga, a special programme for wooden architecture was approved by the authorities in March 2008. The mission report noted that this programme should be fully implemented, adequately supported, and monitored.

The mission report noted the need for improvements in two communication areas:  the need to strengthen existing useful exchanges, co-operation, and consultations among representatives of the Municipality, the State Inspection, and stakeholders, including universities, NGOs, professional associations/ organisations, local inhabitants and representatives of the Civil Society; and the need to continuously strengthen awareness of municipal staff, local citizens and stakeholders about the nature of World Heritage values in Riga.

b) The Daugava Left Bank Conception Project (including the revised plan presented to World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission) remains a major threat; if realised the Conception Project will have a strong negative impact on the visual integrity of the World Heritage property

However, the mission report, recognizing that the overall situation of the administration, management and conservation of the property is improving, recommends that discussion of the possible inscription of the property on the World Heritage List in danger should be postponed until 2009, to allow time for the authorities to implement the mission’s recommendations, and to thoroughly revise the Conception Project for the development of the left bank of river Daugava, in particular in the southern part of Kipsala island.

In summary, the State Inspection deserves to be strongly commended for the many effective long term strategies, planning measures and initiatives designed to strengthen respect for the outstanding universal value of the inscribed World Heritage property. While the State Party report describes initiatives in place before the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee rather than the new actions and commitments as requested, all inappropriate development on the left bank of the Daugava River is reported to have been stopped, but for the already planned projects in Kipsala.

It should also be noted that the State Party submitted a new concept plan for the left bank of the Daugava River for review by the mission. The mission report recorded that the new concept proposal is fundamentally similar to previous concepts and that the potential negative impacts on visual integrity of the World Heritage property remain as threats, in spite of the arguments offered by the State Party that the developments planned for Kipsala were in place at the moment of inscription (1997). The State Party further argues that the World Heritage in subsequent discussions did not take up this issue and that it was also not challenged by ICOMOS.

Given the many strong efforts made by the State Party to deal with the issues raised by the World Heritage Committee concerning development on the left bank of the Daugava River, it is important that the State Party should be requested to reinforce its efforts to reduce the impact of developments planned for Kipsala and to report back in a year’s time.

At this time, given the many positive aspects of the State Party report and the findings of the joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission, it does not seem appropriate to consider the inclusion of the World Heritage property on the World Heritage List in Danger. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2008
32 COM 7B.97
Historic Centre of Riga (Latvia) (C 852)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7B Add.2,

2. Expressing its appreciation to the State Party for the general success of its efforts to halt high-rise developments in the buffer zone of the World Heritage property with the exception of the development plan of the Southern Kipsala zone;

3. Acknowledging the details provided by the State Party of the many effective efforts undertaken over the decade since inscription to strengthen conservation of the World Heritage property,

4. Noting the State Party's contention that the development projects and plans at Kipsala should be accepted given their being in place at the time of inscription in 1997 and in subsequent discussions of the World Heritage Committee since its 27th session in 2003 (Decision 27 COM 7B.69 paragraph 5),

5. Also acknowledging the new Conception Project proposal for the left bank of the Daugava River presented to the joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission of March 2008, regrets that this plan does not deviate greatly from previous submissions, and will result in significant negative impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property;

6. Also regrets the construction of a new 20 storey tower within Kipsala which is now under way;

7. Notes the results of the 2008 joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, endorses its recommendations and requests the State Party to implement them;

8. Decides that the state of conservation of the property is not such as to merit consideration of inclusion of this property on the World Heritage List in Danger at this stage;

9. Also requests the State Party to strengthen its efforts to reduce the impact of projects planned for realisation in Kipsala mainly by reducing considerably the height of any ongoing and new construction, and to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a detailed report on such efforts for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.

32 COM 8D
Clarifications of property boundaries and sizes by States Parties in response to the restrospective inventory

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/8D,

2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.2 and 31 COM 11A.2, adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006) and 31st (Christchurch, 2007) sessions respectively,

3. Recalls that, as decided at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007) by Decision 31 COM 11A.2, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies will not be able to examine proposals for minor or significant modifications to boundaries of World Heritage properties whenever the delimitation of such properties as inscribed is unclear;

4. Congratulates States Parties in the European Region and the States Parties of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia on the excellent work accomplished in the clarification of the delimitation of their World Heritage properties and thanks them for their efforts to improve the credibility of the World Heritage List,

5. Takes note of the clarifications of property boundaries and sizes provided by the following States Parties in the European and Arab Regions in response to the Retrospective Inventory, as presented in the Annex of Document WHC-08/32.COM/8D:

  • Armenia: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin;
  • Austria: Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg; Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn; Hallstatt-Dachstein-Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape;
  • Belgium: Flemish Béguinages;
  • Bulgaria: Boyana Church; Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak; Rila Monastery; Ancient City of Nessebar;
  • Croatia: Old City of Dubrovnik; Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian; Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč;
  • Czech Republic: Historic Centre of Telč; Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora; Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape; Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž;
  • Denmark: Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church; Roskilde Cathedral;
  • Egypt: Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur; Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis; Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae; Historic Cairo; Abu Mena; Saint Catherine Area;
  • Estonia: Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn;
  • Germany: Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square; Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl; Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin; Town of Bamberg;
  • Greece: Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae; Mount Athos; Medieval City of Rhodes; Archaeological Site of Mystras; Delos;
  • Hungary: Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue; Old Village of Hollókö and its Surroundings; Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment; Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (presented jointly with Slovakia);
  • Ireland: Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Skellig Michael;
  • Italy: Historic Centre of San Gimignano; City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto; Historic Centre of Siena; Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta; The trulli of Alberobello; Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna; Historic Centre of the City of Pienza; Residences of the Royal House of Savoy; Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua; Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto); Costiera Amalfitana; Archaeological area of Agrigento; Su Nuraxi di Barumini; Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia;
  • Latvia: Historic Centre of Riga;
  • Luxembourg: City of Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications;
  • Morocco: Medina of Marrakesh; Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Archaeological Site of Volubilis;
  • Poland: Cracow's Historic Centre; Historic Centre of Warsaw; Old City of Zamość; Medieval Town of Torún; Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork;
  • Portugal: Monastery of Batalha; Cultural Landscape of Sintra; Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley;
  • Romania: Danube Delta;
  • Slovakia: Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity; Spišský Hrad and its Associated Cultural Monuments; Vlkolínec; Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (presented jointly with Hungary);
  • Spain: Garajonay National Park;
  • Tunisia: Ichkeul National Park;
  • Ukraine: Kiev: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra;
  • United Kingdom: Durham Castle and Cathedral; Ironbridge Gorge; Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites; Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd; Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church; Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church; Maritime Greenwich;

6. Requests the European and Arab States Parties which have not yet answered the questions raised in 2005, 2006 and 2007 within the framework of the Retrospective Inventory to provide all requested clarifications and documentation as soon as possible and by 1 December 2008 at the latest.

Draft Decision: 32 COM 7B.97

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7B Add.2,

2. Expressing its appreciation to the State Party for the general success of its efforts to halt high-rise developments in the buffer zone of the World Heritage property with the exception of the development plan of the Southern Kipsala zone;

3. Acknowledging the details provided by the State Party of the many effective efforts undertaken over the decade since inscription to strengthen conservation of the World Heritage property,

4. Noting the State Party’s contention that the development projects and plans at Kipsala should be accepted given their being in place at the time of inscription in 1997 and in subsequent discussions of the World Heritage Committee since its 27th session in 2003 (Decision 27 COM 7B.69 paragraph 5),

5. Also acknowledging the new Conception Project proposal for the left bank of the Daugava River presented to the joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission of March 2008, regrets that this plan does not deviate greatly from previous submissions, and will result in significant negative impacts on the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage property;

6. Also regrets the construction of a new 20 storey tower within Kipsala which is now under way;

7. Notes the results of the 2008 joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission, endorses its recommendations and requests the State Party to implement them;

8. Decides that the state of conservation of the property is not such as to merit consideration of inclusion of this property on the World Heritage List in Danger at this stage;

9. Also requests the State Party to strengthen its efforts to reduce the impact of projects planned for realisation in Kipsala mainly by reducing considerably the height of any ongoing and new constructions, and to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a detailed report on such efforts for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009. 

Report year: 2008
Latvia
Date of Inscription: 1997
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 32COM (2008)
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.