The Valley of Kathmandu and its historic urban landscape: a new concept for the caretaking of cultural heritage

Abstract

The urban landscape of the historic areas under the care of UNESCO is an element whose integrity physical, visual and functional should be entirely protected. In these most recent years projects of contemporary architecture, particularly in developing countries, have destroyed the urban scenario of sites which are on the list of the World’s Cultural Heritage. The Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site, which represents an unparalleled example of artistic flowering in the Himalayan region, has been threatened by a continual economic development and by a great increase in population and hence a progressive loss of its “cultural heritage” and hence of its value. From this case arises the need for new methods of integration of contemporary architecture within the historical context and effective and sustainable strategies for safeguarding the oldest areas of the developing countries.