Riga could be removed from UNESCO World Heritage List because of "Sun Stone" complex
There is a possibility that if the "Sun Stone" (Saules akmens) business complex project is implemented and a 26-story building is raised in Kipsala, Riga could be excluded from the UNESCO World Heritage List, Mechtild Rossler, the chief of the UNESCO World Heritage Center in the European Region, said today during a meeting with representatives of the Riga City Council, public administration agencies and Saeima.
There is a possibility that if the "Sun Stone" (Saules akmens) business complex project is implemented and a 26-story building is raised in Kipsala, Riga could be excluded from the UNESCO World Heritage List, Mechtild Rossler, the chief of the UNESCO World Heritage Center in the European Region, said today during a meeting with representatives of the Riga City Council, public administration agencies and Saeima.
Latvia has passed the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, and Latvia must adhere to the points in the convention, Rossler stressed. Rossler will report on the situation in Riga at the World Heritage Committee's meeting in Paris, that will be held between June 30 and July 6. The committee will adopt a decision then.
There was a similar situation in Vienna, where four skyscrapers were to be built in the city's historic center, Rossler said. However, after the World Heritage Committee's warning that Vienna could be removed from the World Heritage List if this happened, the project was halted.
The construction company "Merks Ltd." has already raised two floors of the "Sun Stone" building and built a parking lot, "Merks" Director General Ivars Geidans told LETA earlier.
Riga City Council adopted a decision at an extraordinary meeting last week to amend the Kipsala development planning strategy. The amendments are expected to legalize onstruction of the "Sun Stone" complex.
The "Sun Stone" is being built on a territory where, according to the current Riga development strategy, no construction is permitted. The Kipsala development strategy now stipulates that buildings no higher than 15 stories in height can be constructed there.
Martins Kalaus LETA
Copyright © LETA
Latvia has passed the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, and Latvia must adhere to the points in the convention, Rossler stressed. Rossler will report on the situation in Riga at the World Heritage Committee's meeting in Paris, that will be held between June 30 and July 6. The committee will adopt a decision then.
There was a similar situation in Vienna, where four skyscrapers were to be built in the city's historic center, Rossler said. However, after the World Heritage Committee's warning that Vienna could be removed from the World Heritage List if this happened, the project was halted.
The construction company "Merks Ltd." has already raised two floors of the "Sun Stone" building and built a parking lot, "Merks" Director General Ivars Geidans told LETA earlier.
Riga City Council adopted a decision at an extraordinary meeting last week to amend the Kipsala development planning strategy. The amendments are expected to legalize onstruction of the "Sun Stone" complex.
The "Sun Stone" is being built on a territory where, according to the current Riga development strategy, no construction is permitted. The Kipsala development strategy now stipulates that buildings no higher than 15 stories in height can be constructed there.
Martins Kalaus LETA
Copyright © LETA
