Decision 29 COM 7A.29

Cologne Cathedral (Germany)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,

2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.70, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Notes that the State Party of Germany has provided a detailed report on the current situation at the property and the visual impact study requested by the Committee;

4. Further notes the results of the Vienna Conference on “World Heritage and Contemporary Architecture” (May 2005) in Document WHC-05/29.COM/5, and refers to its decision 29 COM 5.3;

5. Recalls paragraphs 116 and 192 of the Operational Guidelines;

6. Expresses its serious concern about the high rise construction project around the ICE-terminal and in particular about the architectural solutions and the height of the proposed towers;

7. Recognizes the need to develop and rehabilitate the area around the ICE terminal to ensure economic and social development for the City of Cologne;

8. Regrets the construction of the RZVK tower and reiterates its request that the State Party reconsider current building projects around the ICE-terminal as to their visual impact on the property and that any new construction should respect the visual integrity of the property;

9. Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2006 detailed information demonstrating that the recommendations made by the Committee at the time of inscription and in its decision 28 COM 15B.70 have been taken into account. In case the State Party cannot provide the assurance for an acceptable solution, which conforms with the Committee’s recommendation, the Committee will start the process of delisting the property in accordance with the established procedures;

10. Recalls the urgent need for a clearly designated buffer-zone that extends on both sides of the river, and takes into account the protection of the visual integrity of the property, as requested at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004);