There are numerous frameworks made in order to preserve cultural capital, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) being the most well-known. Their list of World Heritage sites consists of numerous cultural and natural sites, chosen for being of great cultural value and importance. In this post, we will visit a handful of them and revise why they have earned their spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the words of Broadman (2014): “In all this, nationalism need and should play no part”. While UNESCO does not choose their heritage sites based on nationalistic pride, their list of qualifications carries a certain universal sense of importance, meaning, they are chosen for a reason. Let us visit a few of these sites below and see why.
Old City of Berne
The Old City of Berne is the federal and de facto capital of Switzerland, situated on the Swiss plateau between the Jura and the Alps. The city was founded in 12th century and saw large advances urban structures including wide streets, utilized for marketplaces, infrastructure for water transportations and extraordinary building structures that have been built from sandy limestone. The Old City of Berne is a great example of a UNESCO World Heritage site as it has conserved its medieval urban structure over time, to the gradually diverse utilities of a capital city of the modern State. The site includes all urban ancient constructions from 12th to the 19th century. During the first century, protection of the city was most through appearance of the buildings, large majority of historic buildings demonstrating extensive periods in time that have retained their interior structures. The Heritage site aids from a legislation from 1908, which has been changed many times to aim towards the protection of the urban landscape, putting constraints on any possible interventions. The supervision of the site is safeguarded by an administrative system that include the authorities of the federal government of the Swiss Confederation. The intensive amenity of city for historic monument is responsible for conservation of the built heritage. Long term challenges comprise concentrated preservation of the original substance whilst taking into account the people who inhabit the center are mainly for work and commerce (Whc.unesco.org, n.d.). It is of importance to preserve the Old City of Berne as it was one of the rare cities that was developed over the centuries with coherent planning concepts. The fountains date back to the 16th century and the arcades to the 15th century. Although most of the medieval town was reinstated during the 18th century, it has nevertheless retained its unique nature (vom Hove, n.d.).
Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna fortress is arguably one of the most popular cultural sites in Helsinki. It is situated on multiple islands south of the city center and draws attention from both local and international visitors for its unique architecture and historical value. It has served for military purposes under three separate eras: Kingdom of Sweden, Imperial Russia, and finally, modern Finland. It has earned its spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list as a “unique monument of military architecture” (suomenlinna.fi). But what makes this fortress so unique?
Built in 1747, Suomenlinna Fortress was meant to be a Bastion style sea fortress, made to defend the city from possible maritime attacks (suomenlinna.fi). It is built on a rocky, irregular cluster of islands: as a matter of fact, its construction was never fully completed, partially because of the challenging landscape.
A Bastion fort, or a Star fort, is a type of fortress originating from medieval Italy that is strategically built to protect from attacks. It resembles a star- like shape, often built into a regular pentagon or hexagon, with bastions providing added defence from strategical angles (castlesandmanorhouses.com).
The Suomenlinna fortress made it on the UNESCO World Heritage list because of the following criteria: “In the history of military architecture, the Fortress of Suomenlinna is an outstanding example of general fortification principles of the 17th and 18th centuries, notably the bastion system, and also showcases individual characteristics” (whc.unesco.org).
Wouda Pumping Station
The Wouda Pumping Station (Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal) is the largest and most powerful steam-driven installation for hydraulic purposes ever built, and is still successfully carrying out the function for which it was designed. It’s significance in hydraulic engineering has provided models and set the standards for the whole world for centuries, and has enabled the Woudagemaal it’s position in the world heritage list.
The components of the pumping station are authentic and still in very good condition. It’s state is virtually identical to what it was at the time of opening and it is still an important componant of the pumping system that keeps the province from being flooded. In order to preserve the building and protect the important views from the building, construction projects for tall structures in the vicinity of the pumping station are closely monitored.
The pumping station including its boiler house, chimney and coal storage depot are designated as a monument under UNESCO’s 1988 Monuments and Historic Buildings Act and all interventions require official authorization (UNESCO, n.d.). According to Boardman, the use of the word ‘national’ carries with it the implication that the modern nation has a responsibility to protect it’s heritage (Boardman, 2014). It is therefore also not only listed as UNESCO World Heritage, but is also protected under the Dutch ‘Erfgoedwet’ (Heritage Law), to ensure it’s preservation.
Syrian-German collaboration on protecting Syrian heritage sites
The collaboration between Syrian and German institutions working together to preserve Syrian cultural heritage endangered by the Syrian (civil) war, shows that cultural heritage management does not in fact always have to stay national. The cultural heritage sites in Syria include the ancient cities of Damascus, Aleppo and Bosra as well as the ancient oasis city of Palmyra. The sites have been frequently targeted by Islamic State (IS) as well as illegal excavations. Documenting and preserving Syria’s cultural heritage is an enormous task and cannot possibly be accomplished by Syrian archeologists alone. The German Archeological Institute (https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/culture/arts-architecture/syrias-cultural-heritage), therefore started helping digitizing photos, plans and drawings as well as sending specialists to Syria to train and further educate Syrian colleagues for fields such as excavating, museum work and conservation. The federal foreign office planned to invest 2.65 million euros each year into Syrian heritage conservation and documentation, starting in 2016.
Before and After of the ancient city of Palmyra (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/palmyra-syria-photos-new-palmyra-photos-show-devastation-of-artefacts-ruined-by-isis-a6964766.html)
Such an example of cooperation and solidarity raises hope in a world where, according to Boardman (2014), many countries have rather poor reputations when it comes to providing international scholars with records of national heritage, often motivated by jealousy and concern about ‘copyright’.
Food for thought: Is the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites truly expanding cultural capital beyond the nationalistic "copyright"?
Written by Jesse, Marie, Saru and Sandra
Written by Jesse, Marie, Saru and Sandra
List of references:
Boardman, John. “‘National’ Heritage and Scholarship,” in Cultural Heritage Ethics. Between Theory and Practice, edited by Constantine Sandis, 231-234. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers, 2014.
Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Fortress of Suomenlinna." UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Accessed February 20, 2018. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/583.
"Fortress and history - Suomenlinna Official Website." Suomenlinna. Accessed February 20, 2018. https://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/fortress/.
International, American. "Types of Castle and The History of Castles." Types and History of Castles - Star Forts. Accessed February 20, 2018. http://www.castlesandmanorhouses.com/types_10_star.htm.
UNESCO. (sd). Ir.D.F. Woudagemaal (D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station). Opgehaald van whc.unesco.org: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/867
vom Hove, T. (n.d.). City Mayors: Historic Cities in Western Europe. [online] Citymayors.com. Available at: http://www.citymayors.com/culture/historic_weurope2.html [Accessed 19 Feb. 2018].
Whc.unesco.org. (n.d.). Old City of Berne. [online] Available at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/267 [Accessed 19 Feb. 2018].
