Historic Areas of Istanbul
Factors affecting the property in 1994*
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Need to monitor movements which could affect the structure of the building
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Need for information on the Urban development Plan
- Need to monitor the structure of the buildings
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1994
Total amount approved : 269,000 USD
| 1994 | Historic Areas of Istanbul - Restoration of the mosaics ... (Approved) | 80,000 USD |
| 1994 | Restoration of the mosaics of Aghia Sophia, Istanbul (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1994 | Purchase of material and funding of international ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1992 | Carrying out analytical studies on materials and ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1991 | Restoration works of the mosaics of the dome of St ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1987 | Equipment for Istanbul (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1987 | Contribution to a training course on wood and stone ... (Approved) | 12,000 USD |
| 1986 | Training and equipment for the safeguarding of Istanbul (Approved) | 47,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1994**
November 1993: expert mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1994
Hacrhia Sophia
Parallel to the important restoration work on the mosaics of the dome which should resume shortly, after an interruption of several months due to problems with the project's financing, work has begun on the facades and roofs.
Although considerable means have been mobilized by the Turkish authorities, UNESCO's experts present on the site have expressed their regret to the authorities responsible for the work that, in spite of their recommendations, the metallic covering of the building was executed with a material which was too thin and therefore fragile.
Roman and Byzantine walls
UNESCO has received several protests against the reconstruction of long portions of the Roman and Byzantine walls using new stones. This work, which was undertaken by municipal services without taking account of the advice of archaeologists and art historians, appeared to the experts at the site as a threat to the authenticity of these constructions.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1994
The Committee may wish to recommend to the Turkish authorities to take the necessary steps to speed up the transfer of funds approved under the World Heritage Fund for the restoration of the mosaics in the Haghia Sophia to those responsible for its conservation.
The Committee may also wish to request that the Turkish authorities immediately stop this reconstruction of the Roman and Byzantine walls, and to undertake their restoration, in accordance with principles accepted by the international community, and in collaboration with the Turkish antiquities services which apparently have not been consulted.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1994
18 COM IX
SOC: Historic Areas of Istanbul (Turkey)
Historic Areas of Istanbul (Turkey)
The Committee was informed that problems with the project's financing had caused some delays in the restoration of the mosaics and that UNESCO's experts present on the site had expressed their regret to the authorities responsible for the work that, in spite of their recommendations, the metallic covering of the Haghia Sophia was executed with a material which was too thin and therefore fragile.
Furthermore, it was informed that, according to the UNESCO experts on site, reconstruction of long portions of the Roman and Byzantine walls was being undertaken using new stones without taking account of the advice of archaeologists and art historians.
The Committee recommended to the Turkish authorities to take the necessary steps to speed up the transfer of funds approved under the World Heritage Fund for the restoration of the mosaics in the Haghia Sophia to those responsible for its conservation.
The Committee also requested that the Turkish authorities immediately stop the reconstruction of the Roman and Byzantine walls, and that they undertake their restoration, in accordance with principles accepted by the international community, and in collaboration with the Turkish antiquities services.
18 BUR IX.2.B.1
Requests for International Assistance - Requests approved - Cultural heritage - Technical Cooperation
Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda (Brazil) - US$19,000: for a tourist study which would form part of the Urban Development Plan.
Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo Monastery and Monastery of Rila (Bulgaria) - US$21,000: of which US$16,000 will be earmarked for the purchase of equipment and US$5,000 for advisory services on the nature of conservation measure to be undertaken.
Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia) - US$8,000: for the restoration of mural paintings in the 18th century Baroque Festival Palace, which was severely damaged in 1991. ICCROM will supervise the project in collaboration with the Croatian Institute for Restoration. However, Croatia should first pay its outstanding dues to the World Heritage Fund.
Joya de Ceren (El Salvador) - US$25,000: to define an integral development for the site of Joya de Ceren in the context of a wider area of archaeological imporance (including sites such as would be representatives of all national institutions involved, with a limited number of external experts).
Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala) - US$20,000: for the purchase of equipment.
National History Park Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers (Haiti) - US$17,510: for the purchase of exhibition panels, climate control equipment and other allied costs.
Given the international embargo and the socio-economic situation, the UNDP Resident Representative in Haiti is requested to cooperate in the implementation and supervision of this assistance.
Authenticity Conference (Japan) - US$30,000: to cover the travel costs of participants from Africa and Latin America attending the Conference, which will propose a draft text on the "test of authenticity" to the World Heritage Committee for World Heritage nominations, revising and enlarging the definition of the different aspects and criteria of authenticity as contained in the Operational Guidelines.
Medina of Marrakech, Morocco (Restoration of the Medersa Ben Youssef) - US$30,000: to contribute to the restoration of the monument (rehabilitation, water-proofing, follr coverage, decoration and in particular the sculptured laster and "zellij" tiles as well as the protective mortar).
Historic Zones of Istanbul, Turkey (Restoration of the Mosaics of Hagia-Sophia) - US$30,000: to continue the restoration work of the mosaics of the dome (purchase of materials and equipment and travel per diem and remuneration of restoration experts).
18 EXT.BUR V.B.2.1
Examination of requests for International Assistance - Cultural Heritage - Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee - Technical cooperation
1. Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia) - US$50,000
The Bureau recommended the approval of the full requested amount of US50,000 for, inter alia, the purchase of equipment for the documentation centre; expertise for the development of a tourism development plan; promotional and educational material and activities on World Heritage in Dubrovnik.
2. Wielizska Salt Mine (Poland) - US$100,000
The Bureau recommended, after considerable debate, the approval by the Committee of this request for US$100,000 to purchase the dehumidifying equipment required for the preservation of the salt sculptures of this World Heritage Site in Danger.
3. Kathmandu Valley (Nepal) - US$52,000
The Bureau recommended approval by the Committee of the requested US$52,000 for the deployment of a UNESCO international technical advisor for 6 months in view of the serious and urgent need for strengthen measures to redress the present state of conservation of the Kathmandu Valley.
4. The Complex of the Hue Monuments (Vietnam) (Upgrading of the Hue Conservation Laboratory) - US$108,000
The Bureau recommended the approval of the amount of US$108,000 to meet the cost of laboratory equipment purchase (US$72,700) and related short-term training to enable the Hue authorities to have the basic facilities to overcome the present obstacles to conservation. The World Heritage Centre should, however, be consulted on the list of equipment, and approve the detailed specification and cost estimate, as well as the selection of the international experts.
5. Historic Areas of Istanbul (Turkey) (Restoration of the mosaics of Hagia-Sophia) - US$80,000
The Bureau recommended approval by the Committee of an amount of US$80,000 to complete the final phase of this restoration project.
18 COM XII.3
Requests for International Assistance: Technical Cooperation - Cultural heritage
The Committee noted that the Bureau in examining the ten technical cooperation requests for cultural properties, two submitted by ICCROM and eight by States Parties, gave priority to activities for properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger and to those having a catalytic affect rather than for the funding of specific restoration works, in accordance with previous decisions taken by the Committee.
Reauests approved by the Bureau:
- The Historic Town of Ouro Preto (Brazil) - US$20,000
The Bureau approved US$20,000 out of the total amount of US$50,000, subject to obtaining assurance that the balance of US$30,000 for the construction of five houses for the relocation of the affected inhabitants is funded by other sources. - ICCROM Technical Assistance - US$25,000
The Bureau approved this financial support to the ICCROM Technical Assistance Programme to supply institutions of State Parties, free of charge, with basic documentation, scientific and didactic equipment and conservation products. - Printing of Management Guidelines for World Cultural Heritage Sites, by B.M. Feilden and J. Jokilehto - US$6,900
The Bureau approved this request to support the printing cost of the French-language edition of this publication if other sources, notably of the Fra-ncophone community cannot be identified.
Requests approved by the Committee:
The Committee approved the following requests on the basis of the recommendations of the Bureau:
- Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia) - US$50,000
The Committee approved the full requested amount of US$ 50,000 for, inter alia, the purchase of equipment for the documentation centre; expertise for the development of a tourism development plan; promotional and educational material and activities on World Heritage in Dubrovnik. - Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland) - US$100,000
The Committee approved this request for US$100,000 to purchase the dehumidifying equipment required for the preservation of the salt sculptures of this World Heritage Site in Danger. - Kathmandu Valley (Nepal) - US$52,000
The Committee approved the requested US$ 52,000 for the deployment of a UNESCO international technical advisor for 6 months in view of the serious and urgent need for strengthen measures to redress the present state of conservation of the Kathmandu Valley. - The Complex of the Hue Monuments (Vietnam) - US$108,000
(Upgrading of the Hue Conservation Laboratory)
The Committee approved the amount of US$108,000 to meet the cost of laboratory equipment purchase (US$ 72,700) and related short-term training to enable the Hue authorities to have the basic facilities to overcome the present obstacles to conservation. The World Heritage Centre should, however, be consulted on the list of equipment, and approve the detailed specification and cost estimate; as well as the selection of the international experts. - Historic Areas of Istanbul (Turkey) - US$80,000
(Restoration of the mosaics of Hagia-Sophia)
The Committee approved an amount of $80,000 to complete the final phase of this restoration project.
Requests not approved by the Committee:
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area (United Republic of Tanzania)
(International Conference on Ngorongoro, in Bellagio, Italy)
The Committee endorsed the Bureau's view not to approve this request although the value of the proposed international conference in Italy for the Tanzanian conservators is recognized, and in view of the fact that other funding sources are available for this Conference at the Rockefeller Foundation in Italy. - Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic)
The Committee did not approve this request for US$90,000 but suggested that the Syrian authorities submit an alternative request to prepare a global and coherent conservation programme for this site in accordance with the recommendations of the UNESCO expert mission which took place in December 1993.
The Committee was informed that problems with the project's financing had caused some delays in the restoration of the mosaics and that UNESCO's experts present on the site had expressed their regret to the authorities responsible for the work that, in spite of their recommendations, the metallic covering of the Haghia Sophia was executed with a material which was too thin and therefore fragile.
Furthermore, it was informed that, according to the UNESCO experts on site, reconstruction of long portions of the Roman and Byzantine walls was being undertaken using new stones without taking account of the advice of archaeologists and art historians.
The Committee recommended to the Turkish authorities to take the necessary steps to speed up the transfer of funds approved under the World Heritage Fund for the restoration of the mosaics in the Haghia Sophia to those responsible for its conservation.
The Committee also requested that the Turkish authorities immediately stop the reconstruction of the Roman and Byzantine walls, and that they undertake their restoration, in accordance with principles accepted by the international community, and in collaboration with the Turkish antiquities services.
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* :
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.
