Since 1975, UNESCO maintains the World Heritage List, which, by today, comprises 878 sites in 145 countries. Besides numerous national and nature parks, archaeological sites and historical monuments, the list also contains 160 old towns as world heritage of humanity. These are not inanimate monuments, but living city centres and quarters, whose protection poses special challenges.
Our exhibition City Insights – Old Towns of the UNESCO World Heritage , which has been developed in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Eckhart Ribbeck, Institute for Urban Development, University of Stuttgart, Germany, deals with the Cultural World Heritage of the old towns protected by UNESCO in Europe, the near and middle East, Asia, Africa as well as Latin and North America. This includes all important historic urban cultures: The ancient cities of Oriental-Islamic realms, the Roman and medieval cities in Europe, the old trade and monarchical cities of central Asia and China, the colonial towns of Latin America as well as the young drawing-board city of Brasilia. However, not only the prominent urban monuments will be in our focus, but also everyday architecture, i.e. the characteristic conditions of building and living and the traditional life style, which can be found in many historic old towns until this day.
An introductory part shows the visitor the history of origins of the UNESCO World Heritage List and explains its most important goals, concepts and criteria. To this end, 36 representative cities from various cultures and eras will be presented by colour photo panels and explanatory texts.
In a second part, the audience is introduced to 15 old towns protected by UNESCO. The visitors learn about the cities’ prominent monuments and characteristic means of building and living and also get a glimpse into the living conditions of its inhabitants. Furthermore, our exhibition will also show the cities’ problems and will examine how their future could look like.
By means of approximately 180 colour photo panels, numerous geographical maps, videos, models, interviews and explanatory texts, the exhibition will offer visitors the possibility to immerse themselves in the exciting and throbbing life of the selected cities and to get to know them in all their facets.
The outstanding photographs are provided almost entirely by OUR PLACE, which is a global photographic project. OUR PLACE has a partnership status with the UNESCO World Heritage Center and is compiling the first official World Heritage photographic databank. Additional photographs are provided by Eckhart Ribbeck.
The exhibition can be booked for a duration of three months during the period from 2011 through 2017.
300 running meters or more are required for a generous installation design.
Upon request, a richly illustrated scholarly catalogue will be published in English and German, in collaboration with a renowned publishing house.
Under the patronage of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO.
All images used by courtesy of:
