Decision 42 COM 7B.18

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Japan, Switzerland) (C 1321rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 8B.31, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Welcomes clarification that the Standing Conference of States Parties takes a pro-active approach to considering the potential impact of development proposals and standards for conservation work across the whole series, and the creation by the Foundation Le Corbusier of a Committee to inform decisions on conservation, restoration and development projects;
4. Noting that although impact assessments of individual proposals are undertaken at the level of component sites, Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) are not used in line with the ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage Properties as impact is only assessed on the components rather than on the whole series, encourages the States Parties to strengthen approaches to impact assessment through using HIAs and through ensuring impacts are considered against the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the series;
5. Also welcomes the creation of Restoration Archives by the Foundation Le Corbusier as a substantial contribution towards the harmonisation of technical and methodological approaches to the conservation of Le Corbusier’s buildings, and specifically in relation to its potential use for reinstatement or replacement of materials and features;
6. Notes the detailed work being undertaken on the Chandigarh Conservation Plan due to be completed by 2020, and specifically its broad scope that includes proposed technical advice on concrete conservation and the rationale for architectural interventions to be used as a basis for detailed conservation proposals for specific aspects of the property;
7. Also notes that work has been undertaken in Chandigarh to complete the original plans of the Geometrical Hill and the proposed work to complete the Martyrs Memorial but regrets that details of these were not submitted in advance in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, and requests the State Party of India to submit detailed documentation on both these projects as soon as possible and by 1 December 2018;
8. Further notes the current lack of specific protection for the Maison Guiette buffer zone and, considering the existing changes to its urban setting and the fact that the recently enlarged buffer zone aimed to protect its integrity from any visual impact, also requests the State Party of Belgium to put in place protection that addresses the specific needs of the component site and augments the current generic protection;
9. Notes furthermore that possible extensions of the series have not been discounted and also encourages States Parties to ensure that the Standing Conference approves in advance any proposal for Tentative List entries before they are submitted by an individual State Party to the World Heritage Centre;
10. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2020, 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 45th session in 2021.