Addressing a press conference at Negarkhaney Sadabad (Sadabad Gallery), she said as heritage buildings and properties are often in private ownership, the role of private individuals and institutions in protecting these vulnerable sites is paramount. Recognizing this, UNESCO seeks to encourage private sector involvement and public-private collaboration in conserving the region’s rich cultural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.
“This is why we established the Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in the year 2000, in recognition of excellent achievements in the conservation and restoration of heritage buildings by the private sector”, UNESCO officials said during the media briefing.
She talked about the background of the award, the different award categories and the award criteria by saying that the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards recognize the quality of the conservation process, the technical achievements through the use of appropriate conservation techniques and the social and policy impacts of the projects.
In 2005, a new award category was added for “New Design in Heritage Contexts”, which focuses on newly built structures that demonstrate outstanding design well-integrated into historic contexts.
Since 2002, four Iranian projects have won the prestigious UNESCO Award. In 2012 Polsheer House in Isfahan won the Award of Merit; in 2005 an Honourable Mention went to Zargar-e-Yazdi House in Yazd; in 2005 Zain-ad-din Karavansara in Yazd received an Honourable Mention; and in 2014 Saryazd Citadel –also in Yazd- won the Award of Distinction.
Three of the previous Iranian award laureates attended the media event and talked about their projects and their motivations to get involved in the restoration of cultural buildings. Alongside the media event, there was a photo exhibition to showcase their impressive achievements
The deadline for submissions for the 2015 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation is 30 April 2015.
The UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office encourages all Iranian individuals and institutions involved in the restoration and conservation of historical buildings or sites to submit their materials before the deadline.
To apply for the 2015 Awards, please see:
http://www.unescobkk.org/culture/heritage/wh/heritageawards/
Details on the 2014 winners can also be found on the website:
www.unescobkk.org/culture/heritage/wh/heritageawards/previous/2014ha
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UNIC
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