02/09/2017 Discussion: Is UNESCO worthwhile?

02/09/2017 Class

Is UNESCO worthwhile?

UNESCO led to World Heritage Convention, Center, Committee

ICOMOS, advisory bodies for cultural sites
IUCN, advisory bodies for natural sites

DOCOMOMO, international committee for the documentation of the modern movement, save modern architecture

TICCIH

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Selection Process

·         International significance

·         Transcend national boundaries and be of common importance for present and future generations of humanity

·         To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius

·         To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design

·         To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared

·         To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage(s) in human history

·         To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change

·         To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance

·         To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance

·         To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features

·         To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals

·         To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations

We Don’t Really Need a World Heritage Program

The economic resources in any given society—moderately capitalist United States, the moderately social-welfare state Western European nations, and the social-welfare state dominated South American nations, such as Venezuela, while not a zero-sum game, trend toward a fixed level of monetary, natural, and human capital at any conjecture in time. As resources are not limitless, sites that are chosen as “heritage properties,” must be chosen carefully regarding adaptive re-use. Churches can be utilized as condos/residential housing such as the apartments including the Elmwood Presbyterian, or the cultural, concert center and brewery in Ridgeway, Ontario. Why is the economic viability of the projects not even considered?

·         Representatives NOT necessarily trained in natural and cultural landscapes

·         Career diplomats and bureaucrats from the Foreign Service make these decisions

·         Tourism doesn’t necessarily benefit the local economy

·         It brings mass tourism

Let’s start with a definition. Zero-sum game means that the amount of economic resources in a society is fixed. I believe dynamic, market-based economies such as the United States do not inhabit a zero-sum environment. However, economic, natural, and human capital is not unlimited (although the Federal Reserve prints money haphazardly, without regard for natural constraints which has the potential to debase our currency). Today’s takeaway is that there IS a limited amount of resources that can be expended to protect, preserve, and revitalize cultural sites. Thus, the onus should be on focusing on a limited quantity of important sites that have the potential for adaptive reuse that can generate economic activity—to be used as workplaces, schools, recreational facilities, or as residential housing. Economic viability is not a criterion for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Selection Process but should be the primary criteria.

We Do Really Need a World Heritage Program

·         For developers, it is cheaper to knock down a historic property than to renovate.

·         There are limitations to the market-driven paradigm because 5-story apartment buildings DC have a charming human-scale than Manhattan skyscrapers will never have

·         There is a conflict between the market paradigm and aesthetics

·         Market paradigm #1 Can re-novate this site put people in the local community at meaningful good-wage jobs (community benefit)

·         Market paradigm #2 There is a tendency for developers to maximize rents—build a 20-story building to maximize 20 floors of rents versus keeping a 5-story building.  (developer greed)