ART-UNESCO Heritage Site

Students Name

Course Name

Date of Submission

Question 1

You have been asked to propose a new site or object for inclusion in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Please justify your selection according to at least one of UNESCO’s ten Criteria for Selection and explain why this particular site is worth protecting. You are permitted to choose any site or object, from any country, provided it is not already included on the list.

What range of meanings does your chosen heritage site or object have, and for whom? Explain the cultural significance of your site or object concerning the various people who value it.

The UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites features different historical city centers from various countries across the world. However, Stockholm's Old Town also known as Gamla Stan (Figure 1) is missing from list[1]. Around the Stockholm region, UNESCO has Woodland Cemetery, Drottningholm, and Birka as heritage sites that are judged to be invaluable to all of humanity. During the thirteenth century, Gamla Stan was surrounded by a protective wall inside it had narrow streets that weaved across the island. The city center is located at "Stadsholmen" an island that is quite difficult to be traced on a map. Today, Stockholm’s Old Town still maintains the same layout as it reflects a medieval settlement. The poor documentation of the city centers, oldest streets and buildings, has played an essential role to Gamla Stan being snubbed by UNESCO. It is argued that the buildings in the city center are older than officially recorded. For that reason, due to the richness of history surrounding the area, it proves to be an essential and excellent choice for those individuals touring Sweden.

Figure 1: Stockholm’s Old Town[2]

            Presently, talks are ongoing to determine the acknowledgment of Gamla Stan as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO. The city center meets various selection criteria compiled by the World Heritage Committee. It is required that for an area to be recognized as a heritage site then it must possess an exceptional illustration of architectural or a type of building that reflects a particular stage in the history of humankind[3]. The group of buildings in the city center stands out because of the homogeneity and architecture; therefore, possessing universal value as they reflect the medieval times. The city center still maintains a medieval settlement layout. Consequently, this makes the city center a historic heart of Stockholm. The Royal Palace stands as one of the most significant buildings in Gamla Stan because of its appealing medieval architectural structure and appearance. Today,...