The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement

• Management systems / management plan (Need to introduce Heritage Impact Assessment procedures for proposed development at all component sites; Lack of monitoring indicators for all component sites and of agreed overall conservation approaches and procedures for the series (issue resolved); Need to complete the Management and Conservation Plans for Chandigarh)
• Governance (Need to refine the power of the Standing Conference to allow full understanding by all States Parties of major development proposals in all component sites, in relation to their potential impact on the overall series) (issue resolved)
• Legal framework (Unclear protection of the buffer zone for Maison Guiette; Unclear implications of the new Heritage Law in France (issue resolved))

On 9 December 2020, the States Parties submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1321/documents/. Progress with a number of conservation issues identified by the Committee at its previous session is presented in this report, as follows:

• A number of States Parties are now using Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) to analyze possible impacts of development on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
• Through its Secretariat, the Foundation Le Corbusier, the Standing Conference has continued to expand the Restoration Archives and set up a forum to exchange knowledge and documentation between States Parties. The Secretariat participates in local and national steering committees for monitoring and is consulted whenever development projects may have an impact on the OUV of the property;
• India has submitted architectural plans and photographs of the Geometrical Hill project, completed in 2015. Work is still in progress at the Martyrs Memorial, where sculptures will be installed in line with Le Corbusier’s original drawings, and for which India submitted a status report;
• The Chandigarh Conservation and Preservation Plan, initially scheduled for completion in 2020, is still in progress. India has submitted an updated timeline with respect to the monitoring indicators;
• The restoration of the Maison Guiette is being prepared, based on the 2019 approved management plan. The relevant authorities are continuing their discussions with a view of revising the buffer zone. To date, the protection regime for the buffer zone does not include any measures based on the OUV of the component;
• A Management and Public Use Plan for the Casa Curutchet is in preparation. A Draft Ordinance of Areas of Historical Protection for the District of La Plata was prepared by the Government of the City of la Plata, and its pending for final approval. Works on the neighbouring property have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
• In line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, States Parties have reported on a number of major restorations and/or new constructions which may affect the OUV of the property:
  • France: Additional information regarding the construction of a heritage interpretation space in the vicinity of the Saint-Dié Manufatory will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre. Planned development in the vicinity of the Unité d’habitation has been put on hold and a feasibility study is in preparation. An impact assessment for the Corbusier Museum in the buffer zone of Villa Savoye is in preparation,
  • India: A number of interventions are planned within the property and buffer zone of the Capitol Complex, including an underground multi-level parking structure,
  • Switzerland: Visitor information facilities have been set up in a former keeper’s lodge at the Immeuble Clarté,
  • Japan: The renovation of the JR Ueno Station is being carried out, following exchanges with ICOMOS and the World Heritage Centre, and is scheduled for completion in 2021.

The initiative of the Standing Conference to further expand the Restoration Archives and to create a forum of knowledge and documentation exchange is welcomed, as it further strengthens the capacity of the Standing Conference to inform decisions on monitoring, conservation and potential impacts of development projects.

While a number of States Parties are now using HIAs to analyze potential effects and consequences of development on the OUV of the property, the use of HIAs is not yet universally adopted for all components of the property. It is therefore recommended that the Committee encourage the States Parties to strengthen and harmonise approaches across all components by introducing HIA procedures, in line with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage Properties, to assess potentially adverse impacts on the OUV of the series as a whole. The Standing Conference could play a significant role in advocating for a consistent approach by all States Parties.

It is noted that a number of interventions are planned within the boundaries and buffer zone of the Capitol Complex component (India), such as the construction of an underground multi-level parking structure. Although some project documentation has been provided by the State Party through its state of conservation report, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit any additional available information on these projects, namely on the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Ancillary Structure, the “Holistic development of the Punjab and Haryana High Court” and the mulitilevel basement parking, by 1 February 2022 for review by the Advisory Bodies, and prepare an HIA to assess the potential cumulative impacts of all planned developments within the boundaries and buffer zone of the Capitol Complex, including a multi-level parking, on the OUV of the property, and submit it to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before any final decision is taken concerning these proposals. In this regard, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that the World Heritage Committee should also encourage the finalization of the Conservation Plan for Chandigarh.

The approval of the management plan of Maison Guiette (Belgium) is welcomed. However, the continued lack of protection measures in the buffer zone specifically focused on the attributes of the Maison Guiette to the OUV of the series should be addressed. The options that are currently being considered by the local authorities should target a protection tailored to the specific needs of the component.

Given that several development or restoration projects are being considered in or near components of the property, it is recommended that the Committee request the States Parties to inform the World Heritage Centre of ongoing or planned projects or activities within and surrounding the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, and to submit associated documentation for review by the Advisory Bodies before making any decision that would be difficult to reverse.