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Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Ukraine
Factors affecting the property in 2013*
  • Housing
  • Legal framework
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Urban development pressure;
  • High-rise buildings that could compromise the panorama of the historical monastic Dnieper river landscape;
  • Lack of legal protection and planning mechanisms;
  • Lack of management system and mechanisms of coordination between all stakeholders including the City Municipality.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2013
Requests approved: 3 (from 1998-2009)
Total amount approved : 44,720 USD
Missions to the property until 2013**

May 1999: ICOMOS expert mission; April 2006: expert mission (Italian Funds-in-Trust); November 2007: World Heritage Centre information meeting for site managers; March 2009 and November 2010: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring missions.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013

On 1 February 2013, a report on the state of conservation of the property was submitted by the State Party in response to Decision 36 COM 7B.90 (Saint-Petersburg, 2012). A joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission was invited to visit the property from 15 to 19 April 2013, regrettably too late to allow its observations and recommendations to be included in this state of conservation report. The mission report will be available online at the following Web address: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/527/documents

In addition, on 8 October 2012, a project dossier for a new building at No. 10 Mikhailivska Street in the buffer zone of the World Heritage property was submitted by the State Party, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines. On 14 February 2013, ICOMOS comments on this project dossier were transmitted to the State Party.  

a)   High-rise and non-conforming buildings

The World Heritage Committee had requested the State Party to impose a moratorium on all high-rise and non-conforming buildingsuntil a survey has been conducted of the overall monastic river landscape panorama, and to implement, in coordination with the City Administration, all necessary measures to reduce their adverse effect by modifying projects and by demolishing constructed levels to an appropriate scale. The State Party reports that the question of a moratorium has been discussed by Kiev City Council, and a draft decision is under consideration. On 26 November 2012, the Ministry of Culture requested the city authorities to impose a moratorium on the construction of new houses and the reconstruction/expansion of existing buildings within the property’s buffer zone.

The State Party reports that in order to reduce the negative impact of the proposed tall building at Klovsky descent, it has considered requesting the proprietor to provide a plate glass façade ‘to make the building less materialized’.  

b)   Monastic river landscape panorama

The World Heritage Committee requested the State Party to undertake a survey of the visual perspectives and panorama of the property in the wider context of the overall monastic Dnieper river landscape as a basis for planning and impact assessment. The State Party reports that in January 2013 the Ministry of Culture requested an independent expert assessment of the monastic panorama of the right bank of the Dnieper river, and an analysis of high-rise buildings that could affect the attributes that maintain the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property.

c)   Protective, regulatory, urban planningand practical mechanisms

The State Party note the envisaged new urban development Master Plan for the development of Kiev until 2025. The specified land use in the buffer zone and historical areas will come into force upon approval of this Master Plan.

d)  Management plan, and unified system of management

The State Party reports that in November 2011 the two components of the World Heritage property were placed under the direct control of a single State authority, the Ministry of Culture. This move, according to the State Party, was the most effective in terms of the available organizational, technical, and budgetary resources, and the management system will gradually be improved. It also reports that the Ministry of Culture agrees with the necessity of forming a special council to review all major construction projects and the proposed planning control mechanisms. The Ministry will appeal to the concerned authorities to form such a joint council.

e)   Ongoing projects, including the Varangian caves

The State Party reports that a Conservation Program concept was approved by an Order of the Ministry of Culture dated 14 November 2012. The concept states that conservation measures should be carried out in two stages from 2012 to 2015, and involve scientific research, planning and survey work, urgent emergency measures, and engineered drainage networks to ensure preservation of the caves and the historical landscape above them.

f)   A national strategy for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Ukraine

 

No progress has been reported on this initiative.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2013

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that a moratorium on all high-rise and non-conforming buildings in the buffer zone is under consideration by Kiev City Council, and is supported by the Ministry of Culture. They also note the decision by the State Party to undertake an independent expert assessment of the overall monastic Dnieper river landscape, and request the State Party to complete and submit this assessment on an urgent basis.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies recall that the 150 m high-rise building in the buffer zone on Klovsky descent was mentioned in the 2010 reactive monitoring mission report. At that time it was stated that, as this threatened the dominance of the property’s silhouette along the river, the Scientific Methodical Council of State Cultural Heritage had passed a resolution to review the project. This building was one of the reasons why the Committee in 2011 requested a moratorium on all high-rise buildings along the Dnieper River until a survey had been undertaken. In 2012 the Committee urged the State Party to take all necessary measures to reduce their adverse effects of tall buildings such as the one on Klovsky descent, by modifying projects and by demolishing constructed levels to an appropriate scale. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are of the view that cladding the 150 m tall building in glass cannot be seen as eliminating its adverse impact.

 

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies also note the continuing progress in the development of an urban development Master Plan for Kiev, and urge the State Party to finalise, approve, and submit it, on an urgent basis. They recommend that the Committee welcome the placement of the World Heritage property under the direct control of a single State authority in order to create a unified system of management. They note however that no unified management plan has been provided, and underscore the need to address this issue as a matter of urgency. They also take note of the proposal to create a special national council in order to enhance collaboration between all stakeholders concerned.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2013
37 COM 7B.88
Kiev: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Ukraine) (C 527 bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,

2.  Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.90 , adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),

3.  Notes that a moratorium on all high-rise and non-conforming buildings is under consideration by Kiev City Council and supported by the Ministry of Culture and reiterates its request to the State Party to implement such a moratorium and to take all necessary measures, including the development of appropriate regulations to ensure that there are no adverse impacts to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property from future developments;

4.  Also notes the decision by the State Party to undertake an independent expert assessment of the overall monastic Dnieper river landscape, including studies on visual perspectives, as a basis for planning and impact assessment, and requests the State Party to complete and submit these assessments to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 ;

5.  Expresses its regret that the building on Klovsky descent has been completed despite the requests made at its 35th and 36th sessions, notes with concern that proposals are being considered to clad in glass the 150m building rather than modify its height and also reiterates its request to the State Party to reduce its adverse effect by demolishing constructed levels to an appropriate scale;

6.  Further notes the continuing progress in the development of an urban development Master Plan for Kiev, and urges the State Party to finalise its approval process and to begin implementation as soon as possible;

7.  Notes furthermore the progress made in defining a protected historic urban area and related conservation master plan for central Kiev and urges the State Party to continue with the development of strengthened protective and planning mechanisms, including special Area Plans for the property, its buffer zone and its setting, with particular attention on the preservation of the urban fabric at the buffer zone;

8.  Welcomes the placement of the World Heritage property under the direct control of a single State authority in order to create a unified system of management, but regrets that no unified management plan has been fully developed yet, and also urges the State Party to address this issue as a matter of urgency and to submit the management plan to the World Heritage Centre for review prior to approval;

9.  Also welcomes the State Party’s proposal to create a special national council in order to enhance collaboration between all stakeholders concerned and the work carried out for the development of a Strategy for the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention ;

10.  Takes note of the results of the April 2013 reactive monitoring mission to the property and further urges the State Party to implement its recommendations with particular attention to the following:

a)  Finalise the approval process for the Law on cultural heritage to harmonise the legal frameworks at the local and national level and to strengthen the role of the heritage authorities,

b)  Finalise the development of regulatory measures for the integrated buffer zone that was recently created to improve the protection of the conditions of integrity of the property,

c)  Develop detailed regulatory measures for the buffer zone in accordance to the specificities of each sector and in response to the analysis of the characteristics of the urban fabric,

d)  Continue with the development of the conservation and rehabilitation for the Grottes Varègues and ensure the systematic monitoring of the geological and hydrological factors to inform the decision-making process;

11.  Urges furthermore the State Party, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines , to make available detailed information on major restorations projects or new constructions, which may affect the attributes that maintain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property before making any decisions that, would be difficult to reverse;

12.  Reminds the State Party, in line with Paragraph 110 of the Operational Guidelines and in conformity with the ICOMOS Guidelines on Heritage Impact Assessments for World Heritage cultural properties, that impact assessments for proposed interventions are essential for all World Heritage properties;

13.  Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 , an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014.

Draft Decision: 37 COM 7B.88

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,

2.  Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.90, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),

3.  Notes that a moratorium on all high-rise and non-conforming buildings is under consideration by Kiev City Council and supported by the Ministry of Culture and reiterates its request to the State Party to implement such moratorium and to take all necessary measures to reduce their adverse effect by modifying projects and by demolishing constructed levels to an appropriate scale;

4.  Also notes the decision by the State Party to undertake an independent expert assessment of the overall monastic Dnieper river landscape as a basis for planning and impact assessment, and requests the State Party to complete and submit the assessment to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014;

5.  Expresses its concern that proposals are being considered to clad in glass the 150m building on Klovsky decent rather than modify its height as requested by the Committee at its last session and also requests the State Party to immediately halt its construction and to reduce its adverse effect by demolishing constructed levels to an appropriate scale;

6.  Further notes the continuing progress in the development of an urban development Master Plan for Kiev, and urges the State Party to finalise and approve soon as possible;

7.  Regrets the apparent lack of progress in defining a protected historic urban area and related conservation master plan for central Kiev, and in developing special Area Plans for the property, its buffer zone, and its setting, and also reiterates its request to the State Party to complete and submit such strengthened protective and planning mechanisms, as a matter of urgency;

8.  Welcomes the placement of the World Heritage property under the direct control of a single State authority in order to create a unified system of management but also regrets that no unified management plan has been provided, and also urges the State Party to address this issue as a matter of urgency;

9.  Also welcomes the State Party’s proposal to create a special national council in order to enhance collaboration between all stakeholders concerned;

10.  Further urges the State Party, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, to make available detailed information on major restorations projects or new constructions which may affect the attributes that maintain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;

11.  Reminds the State Party, in line with Paragraph 110 of the Operational Guidelines and in conformity with the ICOMOS Guidelines on Heritage Impact Assessments for World Heritage cultural properties, that impact assessments for proposed interventions are essential for all World Heritage properties;

12.  Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014.

 

Report year: 2013
Ukraine
Date of Inscription: 1990
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2023-present
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 37COM (2013)
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.


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