Historic Centre of Riga
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
- Housing
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Total amount approved : 99,500 USD
| 2002 | Restoration of the Columns in the Column Hall, Riga (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 2000 | Digitizing Works on Computers for all existing ... (Approved) | 27,000 USD |
| 2000 | Carrying out Archeological and Historical ... (Not approved) | 0 USD |
| 1999 | Restoration of the Interior of the Reutern House, Old ... (Approved) | 25,000 USD |
| 1997 |
Inventory of the Old town of Riga (NOT IMPLEMENTED)
(Approved)
Reapproval: 25 Mar, 1998 (n°2530 - 20,000 USD)
|
20,000 USD |
| 1996 | Preparatory assistance request to prepare the ... (Approved) | 7,500 USD |
Missions to the property until 2003**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003
The Centre received a letter dated 2 April 2003 from the National Commission of Latvia and the State Inspection for Heritage Protection providing information on a 26-storey building project of a tower located on the left bank of the River Daugava. The construction site is located on the opposite side of the Riga Historic Centre, within the buffer zone of the World Heritage site. The information was provided to ICOMOS for review.
The Ambassador of Latvia to UNESCO furthermore provided a translation of the Law on the Preservation and Protection of the Riga's Historical Centre, which was adopted by the Parliament (Saeima) on 16 April 2003.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7B.69
Historic Centre of Riga (Latvia)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Noting the information provided by the Latvian authorities on the construction project within the buffer zone,;
2. Recalls the protective provisions of the World Heritage Convention and its Operational Guidelines;
3. Acknowledges the adoption of the Law on the Preservation and Protection of Riga's Historical centre in April 2003; and urges the State Party to implement it;
4. Considers that any high-rise development at the waterfront is not appropriate for Riga's flat urban situation, and that currently one construction project is ongoing, and its complete halt could produce severe economic consequences for the whole city of Riga;
5. Therefore requests the State Party to review the construction project and to fully guarantee the respect of the approved detailed plan of Kipsala in order to protect the World Heritage property and its visual integrity;
6. Further requests the State Party to provide in this regard a report to the World Heritage Centre by the 1 February 2004 and to submit a report in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 28th session in 2004.
Draft Decision: 27 COM 7 (b) 69
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Noting the information provided by the Latvian authorities on the construction project within the buffer zone of the site,
2. Recalls the protective provisions of the World Heritage Convention and its Operational Guidelines,
3. Acknowledges the adoption of the Law on the Preservation and Protection of Riga's Historical Centre in April 2003; and urges the State Party to implement it,
4. Requests the State Party to continue to inform and collaborate with the Centre and ICOMOS concerning the review of the construction project in order to protect the World Heritage site and its visual integrity,
5. Further requests to provide a report thereupon by 1 February 2004, to be examined by its 28th session.
Latvia
* :
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.
