SEE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_by_religion

List of World Heritage Sites by religion

GOOGLE: CHRISTIAN holiest site on world heritage list

The Vatican is a WHS

https://everything-everywhere.com/unesco-world-heritage-sites-vatican-city/

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vatican City

There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vatican City. Both of these sites are cultural. Vatican City is a World Heritage Site itself.

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterrestrial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura (Italy/Vatican City) (1980)
Vatican City (1984)

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterrestrial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura (Italy/Vatican City) (1980)

The city of Rome was founded in 753 BC and served as the capital of the Roman Republic. By the 4th century, it was named as the capital of the Christian world. It was inscribed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vatican City in 1980, but it was extended ten years later to include a few other notable historical monuments. These monuments that were included in the new site listing were The Forums, the Mausoleum of Hadrian, Trajan’s Column and the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the Mausoleum of Augustus, and a few other papal buildings in Rome.

Vatican City (1984)

https://www.tojsat.net/journals/tojsat/articles/v07i02/v07i02-09.pdf

Introducing a new building in a historic city has a dramatic impact on traditional urbanistic structure. High rise building and a historic city is perceived as two contrasting concepts while high rise building concept is fundamentally different from other contemporary building due to their scale and visual impact on the surrounding.

City can have various silhouettes depending on the viewing direction and the viewpoint. Silhouettes of cities possess their personal individuality, gives the first emotion, first perception for that city thus the first image is created in our minds. Key elements, historic -cultural landmarks and its historic characters of the setting can be observed by a viewer and tall buildings have the potential to determine and create a silhouette or to break the existing. Besides forming the built heritage some buildings in historic cities become the symbol of the city [[the gm should be the symbol of mecca not the clt]]

Preserving the free sky and vistas around these specific buildings is directly related to the perception of the image of the city. Lynch specifies three separate components of the city’s image as follows: “identity, structure & meaning” and verifies that “in reality they always appear together” and determines the image. (Lynch, 2010). The Urban identity is created by urban images in long time process through the history and composed of various components. In the historical process cities have been shaped by various factors such as wars, religion and economy. Initially they were designed for defensive purposes then in medieval times religion shaped the city and religious structures became the focal point and identified the silhouette and image of the city. It is an indisputable fact that the image or identity of a city is not merely identified by the silhouette.

The startling development is occured with the construction of 16/9 residential tower complex with 3 buildings of 27, 32 and 37 storeys in the western district of Zeytinburnu which began in 2010 and damaged the silhouette of the highly valued Historic Peninsula when viewed from Bosphorus. Many objections were raised by public before and during the construction of the buildings regarding the negative impacts that they could cause, but somehow the legal procedures have been fitted or changed in order to complete the construction. Despite all these objections and the on-going court processes the buildings were completed. The 3 blocks obstructed the view and caused an adverse impact by changing the background setting of the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. The court ruled that those buildings were illegally built as they “negatively affected the world heritage site that the Turkish government was obliged to protect” (URL 2). According to the expert reportfn3 these 3 buildings located in the buffer zone area and they harm the appreciation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the World heritage Site from different viewpoints. Even though Turkish top administrative court affirmed a decision which imposes the demolition of the buildings it has not been implemented yet.

fn:According to the İstanbul 4th Administrative Court expert report.

the views of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the River Thames were obstructed. Consequently ‘St Paul’s Heights Policy’ (a local view protection policy) was implemented in 1937 to protect and enhance important local views from different directions. Until 1970 during post war reconstruction period some high rise building were built in city as the number increased in 1980s the sensitivity to conservation and heritage considerations and also view protection agenda revived

The free sky space around the White Tower enhances the value of its visual dominance and where this space has been compromised then the visual appearance has been depreciated. Some prominent tall buildings of the late20th and early 21st centuries and earlier periods such as spires of city churches are rising behind the tower

Any proposed building in a historic city has to consider the existing skyline and should not harm the views and the major landmarks of the city.

These building types have the potential to create a powerful image in the context of urban memory, even the potential to change the climate of the region. Technically, architecturally, socially and spatially their impact on the environment is quite strong.. the effect is to say that if the centre of mecca, the very heart of islam, andwhat should be the setting an example for all muslims and muslim cities, is becoming increasingly secular, materialistic, this-worldly, losing affinity with the Prophet saw, gaining adherance to Abdul Wahhab, then so should all Muslims.

https://www.building.co.uk/buildings/tall-buildings-height-vs-heritage/5077472.article

Tall buildings: Height vs heritage

British planning reluctance to enforce the zoned “historic core” concept that exists in several other European cities

And how have other old cities met the challenge of integrating new tall buildings into their own historic fabric and skyline? We may have much to learn by analysing the different approaches other cities have taken when trying to reconcile high-rise with heritage.

Paris, France

Up until recently Paris’ tall buildings policy had been very straightforward: it was simply illegal to build anything over 36m, roughly the height of a 10-storey building. This city-wide law was introduced in 1977 when widespread revulsion at the new 210m Montparnasse Tower forced authorities to act. But even before Montparnasse, Paris pursued a rigorously controlled low-rise skyline. As with most aspects of modern-day Paris, it was Haussmann who first introduced this restriction, establishing strict rules that determined building height as a ratio of boulevard width. The edict was only relaxed for the Eiffel Tower as this was intended to be a temporary structure. Today, incredibly, 59-storey Montparnasse remains the only skyscraper within the municipal City of Paris boundary. Others, such as those at La Défense, cluster defensively around the capital’s edge, leaving most of the city’s skyline essentially unchanged over the past 150 years.

Washington DC, USA

Ironically, the US capital

Accordingly, Washington maintains one of the strictest skyline policies of any capital city in the world. The 1899 Heights of Building Act, sparked by outrage at the construction of the 50m, 12-storey Cairo Hotel in 1894, bans any building from being higher than 49m, with residential buildings limited to 27m and commercial buildings limited to 40m. Only a small slice of downtown commercial district is permitted to house buildings up to the “extreme” 49m limit.

St Petersburg, Russia

Like Washington, St Petersburg is a hyper-planned city based on a uniform urban vision. This tightly controlled urban typology is reflected in its skyline which for over 300 years has been dominated, like London’s until the Second World War, by the domes and spires of its historic monuments. Such is the regard in which the city’s neo-classical fabric is held that much of its historic centre is a protected Unesco World Heritage Site, one of the largest in the world. Within this zone buildings are restricted to a height of 40m, a marginal increase on the historic rules that traditionally stated that no building in the city should be higher than the Winter Palace.

But in 2005 this long-standing civic convention was shattered when energy giant Gazprom’s proposals for a twisting RMJM-designed 403m skyscraper stunned conservationists. The tower would have been the first in St Petersburg’s historic centre and was approved despite breaking scores of planning rules. Pandemonium ensued. Protestors mounted legal challenges. Unesco threatened to strip St Petersburg of its coveted World Heritage status.

Happily, common sense prevailed and the proposals were finally abandoned in 2010 when a court ruled that the 40m height limit could not be violated.

---

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/1983061/do-skyscrapers-beautify-city-or-do-they-destroy-historic

According to Antony Wood, executive director of the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat - effectively the global trade organisation for the developers and builders of tall buildings, and the body that moderates all the record-breaking

"Most tall buildings built today are built to create icons, or on a commercial agenda - and no one would spend the many millions on these buildings without the market behind them," he says. "They fulfil a need. The question is whether that need is justified.

Jul 7 , 2016

https://www.novatr.com/blog/skyscrapers-in-europe

According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, as of 2021, Asia has the largest number of skyscrapers in the world, with over 5,000 completed and under-construction buildings taller than 150 meters. North America follows closely with over 1,000 completed and under-construction buildings. While Europe has a few cities with notable skyscrapers, such as London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Paris, and Moscow, the continent as a whole has significantly fewer skyscrapers than Asia and America. It has just over 400 completed and under-construction buildings taller than 150 meters. The key reasons why European cities have restrained themselves from constructing skyscrapers are mentioned below.

Cultural Affinity

The European subcontinent holds immense pride in its rich architectural heritage, and there is often a strong cultural value placed on preserving the historic character of the city. So, there has been resistance to the construction of tall buildings in Europe that might detach its cities from their historic cityscape. This sentiment is particularly strong in cities like Paris and Prague where there is a deep sense of attachment to the city's cultural identity and architecture.

Furthermore, Europeans believe that buildings should not only serve functional purposes but also have a positive impact on the community and environment. This has led to a preference for human-scale buildings that are integrated into the fabric of the city rather than dominating the skyline.

Coupled with stringent building regulations, it has made it challenging to construct skyscrapers in many European cities.

Many cities have zoning laws and building codes that limit the height of buildings and developers must obtain special permits, and undergo a rigorous approval process before constructing tall structures. These restrictions aim to preserve the city's architectural heritage but they also limit the amount of available land for new construction.

Brusselization

Brusselization is a term used to describe a period of rapid urbanization and modernization in Brussels that took place during the 1960s and 1970s. The term "Brusselization'' was coined to describe the widespread demolition of historic buildings and the construction of new high-rise buildings in the city. Many of these buildings were criticized for their architectural style and their negative impact on the city's historic character.

Critics argued that the construction of these buildings destroyed the city's cultural heritage and identity that eventually led to the creation of stricter building regulations in Brussels and other European cities. The legacy of Brusselization remains a cautionary tale for city planners, developers, and policymakers, reminding them of the importance of preserving a city's cultural heritage while also promoting sustainable urban development.

Conservation

The devastation caused by World War II left many European cities in ruins, causing an urgent need for reconstruction. Following the aftermath of the war, there was a strong emphasis on restoring the architectural heritage that had been destroyed. This restoration effort focused on rebuilding historic buildings and urban areas using traditional construction materials and techniques. The restoration to pre-war architecture was seen as a way to preserve cultural identity and rebuild a sense of community after the trauma of war.

This focus on cultural heritage led to the establishment of laws and regulations that sought to protect historic buildings and urban areas. As a result, the construction of new buildings, particularly tall buildings, became subject to strict regulations that prioritized the preservation of cultural heritage.

The future of skyscrapers in Europe is uncertain and dependent on several factors. While some cities have shown an increased interest in building tall structures, others remain reluctant due to concerns about the impact on the city's character and skyline. Additionally, building regulations and public opinion along with well-thought-out policymaking, play a significant role in determining whether skyscrapers will be developed in a particular city.

While the future of high-rise construction in Europe remains uncertain, its cities are witnessing a debate about the need to preserve their cultural heritage and keep up with their people’s opinions. As Europe seeks to balance the demands of the present with the legacy of its past,

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/06/14/paris-says-non-to-tall-buildings-but-whats-behind-the-ban

Paris says "non" to tall buildings - but what's behind the ban?

The French capital has put in place the ‘Plan Local d’Urbanisme’, which limits the height of new buildings to 12 storeys - or 37 metres.

Despite being home to one of the world’s most iconic tall buildings - the Eiffel Tower, what else? - Paris has long fought to remain a low-rise city.

The City of Lights may have finally succeeded in that aim, having adopted a new ‘Plan Local d’Urbanisme’ (or PLU) this month, which its backers say will promote more environmentally friendly construction.

The PLU came into force after Paris’ city council voted in favour of limiting the height of new buildings to 12 storeys - or some 37 metres.

While some developers have attempted to make the French capital look more like its UK counterpart of London, the skyline of which has become more high rise in recent years, but many Parisians have rejected these planning requests.

Paris’ La Défense business district does, in fact, boast a number of skyscrapers and in the 13th and 15th arrondissements, many people call taller residential blocks home; But, in the centre of the city, it’s largely a tall building-free zone.

Certain parts of the city imposed a height limit for new buildings of 37 metres in 1977 after the construction of the controversial 209m-tall Montparnasse Tower, which was completed in 1973. That monolithic building has long been criticised by some Parisians for looking out of place - a blot on the iconic landscape.

The 1977 height limit remained in place until 2010, before being overturned by former mayor Bertrand Delanoë in favour of a limit of 180 metres for office towers and 50 metres for housing blocks.

Paris has now effectively, returned to 1977 - the ban reintroduced as part of mayor Anne Hidalgo's aim to reduce Paris’ carbon emissions, otherwise known as the Local Bioclimatic Urban Plan.

Hidalgo explained her council’s decision, saying the ban is part of a wider "bioclimatic" plan, one that will ensure Paris remains "attractive and pleasant in coming years despite the acceleration in the temperature".

The PLU ban follows a growing global trend in restrictions over building heights. In China, to take one example, the government recently limited the height of skyscrapers to 500 metres, with buildings over 250 metres ‘strictly restricted’, all while establishing the role of chief architects across its cities.

AY: HOW OTHER COUNTRIES CARE FOR THEIR NATIONL TREASURES;

NEED TO UNSTRIKE ALL THIS SECTION, THE COPY AND PASTE, THEN STRIKE

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/14/how-protected-views-shaping-cities-heritage-development

protected views

Oxford [m. home of uni of thesame name] is under threat. In recent months, the council has been responding to widespread concerns that the city of “dreaming spires” was about to be swamped by a rash of tall new buildings. As a result, alongside English Heritage and other agencies, the council has devised policies that create a series of protected views, triangular sections that cut across the map in order to preserve the vertical skyline of the city.

A selection of city panoramas from particular points of historic or local interest have been protected, taking in not just individual historical buildings but also the topography, the city as a landscape of natural features, variegated heights and forms, combining into a pleasing image. As the interim report for the Oxford Views study says, this harmony is constantly in jeopardy, facing “the continuing challenges of building within the city to meet the demands of a modern society.”

SEE PHOTO: The Oxford skyline is preserved by a set of protected views.

This is a question that underpins the policy of protected views today. Since the 1960s, different city governments have looked at the preservation of views as a way of controlling the shape, in particular the vertical outline, of cities. How tall should a building be and where should it fit in? Are skyscrapers only for downtown? What kind of building – office, monument, apartment block – should be allowed to rise into the sky? What can it obscure and what must it not overshadow?

They are losing their character and being replaced by an ubitquitous glass and steel architecture that offers no sense of location.

A similar commitment to preserving London’s heritage with the development of “sightlines” was included in the 2004 London plan, published by mayor Ken Livingstone, and based around the aspects and panorama that include historical sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster Palace.

For example, are protected views the best way to preserve the heritage of the city? The 2006 Street View study conducted by Edinburgh city council noted some places were “fundamental” to the city, and key views were “precious” and even “sacrosanct” in providing a “sense of the city”. Nine significant locations were then identified, with a series of views from multiple angles drawn on to the map and a calculation for the “sky space” around the sites in order to allow its view to remain unhindered.

The city’s strategic view policy was first proposed in mayor Livingstone’s 2005 London plan, with a list of 26 views. Notably, this was the year after the completion of 30 St Mary’s Axe, the Gherkin, that heralded the vertical turn in London planning. The policy was intended to preserve some of the low level but historically significant aspects of the city; both places and scenes.

WHAT MECCA MEANS TO MUSLIMS

IF THESE POLICIES ARE REGARDED BY HUMANITY - BOTH MUSLIM AND NON-MUSLIM- IN THE 21ST CENTURY AS THE BEST WAY TO CARE /DEA WITH HISTORIC OR SACRED SITES: TO PRESERVE THE SITE AND TO PRESERVE THE ATMOSPHERE AND VIEWS AROUND IT, THEN FROM AN ISLAMIC VIEWPOINT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ULEMA, MECCA, WHICH IS REGARDED AS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD, SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE FORFRONT OF INCOPORATING THESE POLICIES, SO THAT THE PILGRIMS FROM I50 COUNTRIES WOULD APPRECIATE... AND THEY WOULD DISCHARGE THEIR DUTY TO GOD AND THE PROPHET SAW TO AR ALL TIMES MAINTAIN MECCA IN THE BEST STATE POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES

IF IT IS THE BEST POLICY FOR DIRIYAH, THEN IT MUST ME THE BEST POLICY FOR MECCA, SIMILAR NUMBERS OF VISITORS, BOTH ISLAM RELATED SITES,

FOR EWS, IT IS NOT THE PILGRIMS RELIGIOUS NEEDS THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN, BUT THE THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM.

https://www.ribaj.com/culture/book-review-value-in-the-view-tom-brigden-unesco-robert-tavernor

Tom Brigden explores well in his stimulating book, Value in the View: Conserving Historic Urban Views. As he explains, when the balance favours commercial expansion at the expense of heritage, Unesco has stepped in to exert its considerable international influence on governments, threatening to place cities on the ‘in danger’ register and having their World Heritage Status removed where it is perceived that urban growth has inflicted ‘visual damage’ on their settings. In an attempt to maintain and demonstrate equilibrium in London, a complex and technical ‘View Management Framework’ has been developed that identifies key views requiring protection, and a network of viewing corridors that criss-cross the central area from vantage points on hills and along the River Thames, whereby new development is strictly controlled or corralled into ‘clusters’:

Unesco is among those which consider that the settings of the Palace of Westminster and the Tower of London are being harmed by tall buildings, [[M. IT IS THE SAME UNESCO WHICH BERATES STATES ABOUT TALL BUILDINGS, AND THREATENS TO TAKE AWAY.. WHO THE SAUDIS CHASE TO GET APPROVAL, BUT NOT IN MECCA

https://medium.com/@ShannonWuUK/londons-protected-views-the-real-city-planners-8f940e6662c3

Protected views shape and control a city, particularly its skyline. The hope is that by preserving the picturesque, you maintain character and tradition during inevitable modernisation.

Protected views not only halt developments across the immediate line of sight, but behind it too. Constructions that could mar the backdrop of one of these viewing spots is given the cut, or in the case of the Cheesegrater, cut in half. It’s an architectural minefield and a mission for the LVMF to manage, especially when some views are incredibly long.

The vista from Richmond Park to St Paul’s is 10 miles, not including the background area. This is the only view legally protected by an Act of Parliament. When you think about the scale of that across prime London real estate, it’s mind-blowing. It’s also reassuring that there is still some place for the picturesque in cities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_view#:~:text=The%20effect%20of%20a%20protected,the%20place%20or%20building%20concerned.

1] Protected View

A protected view or protected vista is the legal requirement within urban planning to preserve the view of a specific place or historic building from another location. The effect of a protected view is to limit the height of new buildings within or adjacent to the sightline between the two places so as to preserve the ability to see the landmark as a focus of the view. The protection may also cover the area behind the place or building concerned.

In London, high-rise development is restricted at certain sites if it would obstruct protected views of St Paul's Cathedral and other historic

buildings from various prominent locations around the city.[1][2] This policy, known as 'St Paul’s Heights', has been in operation by the City of London since 1937.[3] In Edinburgh, a 2005 skyline study compiled a list of almost 170 key views which are protected.[4]

In the US, protected views exist in places such as San Francisco;[5] Portland, Oregon where the size of downtown blocks is kept low to maintain the views of Mount Hood from the West Hills;[6] and in Canada the city of Vancouver, British Columbia has protected "view cones".[7][8] New York City only has a single protected view, at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade,[9] and Austin, Texas, has protected views of the State Capitol.[10]

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/21/world/st-pauls-london-protected-views/index.html

SEE PIC OF ST PAULS

Gwyn Richards, the City of London’s head of design, tells CNN that when proposals are suggested for new buildings, the viewing corridors always come under consideration.

“It would be difficult to argue that you could breach the foreground of the view,” says Richards, “But there’s more of a debate to be hand when buildings breach the background. You need to assess whether or not that proposal affects your ability to see [St Paul’s]”.

M:SOME COUNTRIES GO STILL FURTHER:

Certain views are protected from certain angles but from South London much less so,” Weiss says, noting that the viewing corridors tend to emanate from wealthier parts of London.

The Shard exists in the background area of the Hampstead Hill viewing corridor.

Developers and London officials had to make a judgment call as to whether or the Shard’s presence would impede views.

After much debate, it was considered acceptable.

So, The Shard dominates the vista from Parliament Hill and Kenwood House – not blocking the view, but certainly changing it

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/Services-Environment/planning-spd-protected-views-spd-2012.pdf

Views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Monument, the Tower of London World Heritage Site and other historic landmarks and skyline features are protected and managed by planning policies in the City’s Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy 2011 and the Mayor’s London Plan 2011. The purpose of this Supplementary Planning Document is to provide further guidance to the public and developers on the operation of these view protection policies in the City of London.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is an internationally recognised landmark in the London skyline. Since 1938 the City of London Corporation has operated a unique policy known as the “St Paul’s Heights” to protect and enhance important local views of the Cathedral from the South Bank, Thames bridges and certain points to the north, west and east. The long-term consistent implementation of the Heights policy has enabled the protected views to be preserved and enhanced for more than seventy years for the enjoyment of Londoners and those who visit London.

4 The Heights were devised in the 1930s by W. Godfrey Allen, Surveyor to the Fabric of St Paul’s, in response to growing concern that important views of the Cathedral would be obscured by the “lofty structures” being erected in its vicinity.

8 The St Paul’s Heights operate by defining a series of inclined planes between the viewpoints and the Cathedral which form a ceiling on development through which no building can be allowed to rise if the views are to be preserved. The viewpoints protected by the St Paul’s Heights are from the Thames bridges and south bank between Hungerford Bridge and London Bridge, together with a number of views from streets to the west, north and east (see Figure 3).

2]Backdrop and Skyline Setting of the Cathedral 2.17 Core Strategy Policy CS13 (Protected Views) seeks to protect and enhance the setting and backdrop to the Cathedral. While the St Paul’s Heights limitations protect the foreground of the Cathedral from obstruction to the views, they do not extend to the backdrop of the views. It is therefore important to consider how the Cathedral’s backdrop and skyline setting within the views protected by the Heights should be maintained. Core Strategy Policy CS14 (Tall Buildings) is particularly relevant as tall buildings are more likely to feature in the backdrop. Policy CS14 defines the areas that are inappropriate for tall buildings.

The materials and architectural form and details of tall buildings should respect the historic significance of St Paul’s Cathedral and its setting.

2. St. Paul’s Heights Introduction 2.1 St. Paul’s Cathedral is an internationally recognised landmark in the London skyline. Since 1938 the City of London Corporation has operated a unique policy known as the “St Paul’s Heights” to protect and enhance important local views of the Cathedral from the South Bank, Thames bridges and certain points to the north, west and east. The long-term consistent implementation of the Heights policy has enabled the protected views to be preserved and enhanced for more than seventy years for the enjoyment of Londoners and those who visit London.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-taking-in-the-view-cities-grapple-with-how-to-balance-iconic-views/

Because Old Quebec is designated as a World Heritage site by the United Nations, UNESCO “invites” governments to let the agency know about new construction “which may affect the outstanding universal value of the property.” Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley was removed from the UNESCO list in 2009 after the country built a four-lane bridge.

https://theconversation.com/how-can-a-city-keep-its-character-if-its-landmark-views-arent-protected-55928

Landmarks identify and define cities. Town-planning instruments usually protect these landmarks from development that does not respect the setting.

In London, it was realised as the Shard Tower was being constructed that it would affect the view of St Paul’s Cathedral. Lord Mayor Boris Johnson thus moved to protect views of the cathedral from specific vantage points with a clear viewshed diagram to ensure the dome can still be seen from identified locations. This demonstrates how best to pre-empt what may happen in the future, prevent unsuitable outcomes and protect views of landmarks.

Brisbane’s city plan has prescribed a heritage precinct around Customs House and the adjoining land to the north to ensure views of it are protected.

Views of the building from various points in the city and river are possible and intended.

The city plan should include a diagram of the protected viewshed for each landmark in the city to prevent unsuitable developments that could have a detrimental impact on a landmark’s setting.

[m. it is not enough that a historic site exists, it must beable to be seen and appreciated.

the 17th-century canal ring area of Amsterdam was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. World Heritage listing is a specific instrument that protects the structure of historic areas by defining the boundaries of the buffer zone and core zone.

In addition to national policies and regulations, the 17th-century canal ring area of Amsterdam was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. World Heritage listing is a specific instrument that protects the structure of historic areas by defining the boundaries of the buffer zone and core zone.

Amsterdam municipality has imposed regulations to control the growing number of tourists. One of them is the hotel ban in the city centre which caused an increase in the number of Airbnb facilities.

Considering the historic city centre of Amsterdam as a world heritage site

check which parts of amsterdam on whs list

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-taking-in-the-view-cities-grapple-with-how-to-balance-iconic-views/

https://theconversation.com/how-can-a-city-keep-its-character-if-its-landmark-views-arent-protected-55928

Landmarks identify and define cities. Town-planning instruments usually protect these landmarks from development that does not respect the setting. But inappropriate development is placing one of Brisbane’s most important landmarks in danger. A proposed 47-storey tower threatens Customs House, on Queen Street, from being seen as it was intended to be.

The “Toaster” apartment building has compromised the view of the Sydney Opera House. Mecca is a sanctuary and should like one...

The Customs House case study

Brisbane’s city plan has prescribed a heritage precinct around Customs House and the adjoining land to the north to ensure views of it are protected.

Views of the building from various points in the city and river are possible and intended.

The city plan should include a diagram of the protected viewshed for each landmark in the city to prevent unsuitable developments that could have a detrimental impact on a landmark’s setting.

St Paul’s Cathedral is built for the glory of God, as a witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. Everything we do here has this faith at its heart.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6323711/Could-Londons-protected-views-St-Pauls-Tower-London-threat.html

SEE THEIR PHOTO, ALSO PHOTO 511 OR 512

Emily Gee, planning director of Historic England, also told the Times that the view of St Paul's was important as a symbol, particularly during the Second World War.

'Everything was focused on protecting that mighty monument,' she said. 'As long as St Paul's stood, the nation's morale would withstand the war.'

There are 13 protected views in London of landmarks like St Paul's Cathedral
However, planners believe that the rules are contributing to the housing crisis
Under the rules, you can't build buildings above a certain height in some areas

The protected views system was first introduced in 1938 and ensures that views of historical buildings like St Paul's Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster are protected.

But critics claim that these 'sightlines'

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263524000165

The new structures should be compatible with the character of the existing site while causing the least possible damage to the historical context. They also should not dominate the HS or significantly change the nature of the site. Meanwhile, if the new addition reflects the historical site's attributes and becomes compatible with them, it can strengthen the site's value

M. When undertaking development of a historic structure or its surroundings, planners particularly consider the following factors...

The design process should commence by recognizing the site's physical and semantic values associated with its function. This allows the architect to materialize these semantic values through tangible elements like shape, color, and pattern. In this context, architecture acts as a medium for transforming intangible elements into tangible ones.

The intervention must not impose its forms and meanings on the HSs and should respect them; the HSs must be valued for their integrity. It is not to be restored, but it should be kept for what it is. HSs should speak their architectural language

VALUE RECOGNITION. Any intervention ... analyze and evaluate its historical background to identify the essential values constituting a historical site's character. This process is called value-based recognition.

The value-based recognition approaches ... From this point of view, this issue has been emphasized under various titles: “The meanings and values of HSs are the main reason for their conservation”, and “The reason for the conservation of HSs by societies is that these sites are valuable to people of those communities”, and “are preserved because they have values”. Nowadays, value recognition plays a leading role in HS conservation ...pointed out, recognizing and prioritizing HS values is the first step in the conservation process.

FUNCTION.Another influential item on the character of a historical site is the existing dominant functions; therefore, the function of the new proposed structure should not weaken the current functions but also strengthen them while being compatible. In terms of functionality, it is crucial to examine the existing functions from a cultural, social, economic, and utility point of view in order to determine the coming structure's function THE CLOCK TOWER MINARET TAKES AWAY ONE OF THE RIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE MINARETS OF THE GM, THE GM MINARETS ARE THE MINARETS OF MECCA, NOT THE CLT MINARET.

SCALE. The new addition's volume is considered to respect the historic building, so it should never surpass the scale and size of the historic building. It communes to the historical monument and always be subordinate to it. Therefore, an addition with the same height or shorter than the main historic building is always desired in order to reduce its visual impact

FORM.The shape of a new structure is more sensitive when it comes to standing alongside a historical building. The form of new buildings in a historical context should be compatible with the dominant form of nearby buildings. The shape of the new building does not need to copy its neighboring building, but it should be in harmony with it in a proper way. In form finding, it is crucial to identify a connection between the new structure and the historical context (Ching, 2023). Incorporating cultural and architectural symbols, along with contextual values with contemporary expression, can facilitate establishing this relationship. If the new addition has a repetitive and unrecognizable shape from the historical part, it may not be possible to distinguish the old building from the new one. Although the new structure's form must be in harmony with the historic building and preserve its character, on the other hand, it should be effortlessly distinguishable from the historical one. So that the historical evolution on the site can be understood, and in this case, the visual identity of the historical building is not compromised by the new building. However, the new addition must not be that different, prominent, and noticeable in the eyes of the public to get the center of attention. One of the most suitable methods that meet global instructions is employing abstract forms. The abstraction approach tries to extract the essence and nature of historical buildings and convert them to a definite form. It represents latent meaning, sophisticated ideas, and classical concepts in an explicit way (Guzmán-Torres, 2009). It may also reflect historical architectural features in a simplified way. Still, at the same time, it does not copy them and seeks to recreate the character of the historic building by expressing them in a contemporary style (Sun et al., 2022).

In many cases, a modern style with an abstract form represents the new and contemporary building using a distinctive shape to reach clear exterior visibility (Penn, 2007; Semes, 2009). Also, the general form is designed so that it is subordinate to the historical context, not dominant to it.

Material

The proposed materials do not have to be precisely similar to the materials of the historical monument, but they should be harmonious with the monuments. On the other hand, they should not be so distinct that they stand out from the historical monument and divert the view to itself . ... In some cases, the glass can draw attention too much due to its unwanted reflection in the historical context and takes its toll.

When the new buildings are positioned on the outer layer of the historical site and impact its exterior, it is essential to harmonize the final material and color with the historical site. This approach minimizes any unfavorable and distinct visual impact that the new addition may have on the exterior of the historical site.

Skyline

If the new buildings are located within the historical site, efforts have been made to minimize their impact on the area's skyline. The height of the new addition is intentionally kept lower than that of the historical site components. However, if the new buildings are situated on the outer layer of the site, they inevitably affect the skyline visible from outside the site. In such cases, the volume and skyline of the new addition are designed to coordinate with the overall complex. For example, the Hambach Castle Restaurant is subordinated to the historical site in terms of its skyline.

However, if the new buildings are situated on the outer layer of the site, they inevitably affect the skyline visible from outside the site. In such cases, the volume and skyline of the new addition are designed to coordinate with the overall complex. For example, the Hambach Castle Restaurant is subordinated to the historical site in terms of its skyline.

Viewpoint

The second type of viewing experience is an architectural feature that connects the interior of the building with the surrounding environment. ...aim to offer visitors a unique perspective on the historical site and its surroundings. They provide an opportunity to appreciate the site from new perspectives. The design and implementation of these viewing experiences require careful consideration, as the way in which visitors view the site can significantly influence their overall experience and appreciation of the site's historical significance.

The ultimate goal is to achieve harmony between the new structure and its surroundings while maintaining the integrity of the historical site

The new construction's interior design, furniture, and decor should draw inspiration from the geometric pattern, motifs and decorations of the historical site rather than resorting to mere replication (Ranjazmay Azari et al., 2023). This approach, often overused in new buildings under the pretense of paying homage to the historical site, can lead to an oversaturation of imitations, thereby diminishing the site's value and authenticity due to a lack of innovation and new representation.

Compatible design

The central theme of the fourth factor is the notion of compatible design. This concept implies that any new construction should be designed in a way that harmoniously blends with the historical site, thereby enhancing its value. A critical aspect of this process is ensuring the reversibility of any alterations made, thus safeguarding the authenticity of the historical site for the long term. The function of any new construction should not undermine the existing uses of the historical site. Instead, it should complement and enhance them.

The second step necessitates identifying the site's contextual value, which encompasses physical and semantic values, in order to preserve them. In the design and construction of the new building, these values act as the cornerstone, inspiration, and cautionary signals for any procedure, guiding what should or could be done for sustainable development. New constructions at HSs require meticulous consideration of the site's contextual value derived from the site's identity, local culture, and vernacular architecture. This approach ensures the new addition integrates with the existing historical context, preserving the site's authenticity and cultural relevance. HSs are more than mere physical spaces; they serve as repositories of a community's history, culture, and identity. Neglecting these elements in new constructions risks damaging the site's historical integrity and disconnecting it from the community it represents. However, designs that respect and preserve these elements can enhance the site's value, foster a sense of continuity with the past, and strengthen the bond between the site and the community.

The integrity of a HS can be compared to a symphony orchestra's performance, where every instrument contributes to the overall performance. In this analogy, if one instrument is out of tune, it can disrupt the entire performance. Similarly, any new building or changes made at a HS must harmonize with the rest of the site to maintain the overall integrity. The findings of this research emphasize the importance of location, function, scale, form, material, skyline, viewpoint,

M oF THE GM is the most important mosque in the world, and the biggest place of woeship on the world, then it should show it, look the part.. .

How comes, mosques such as Fasal Mosque Dubai mosque, other national mosques, have such planning, greenry no higher buildings, no hotels, no businesses, no cramped spaces, no roads, wide area, yet they are lesser mosques. The GM is the supereme mosque, yet its surroundings and overshadowing looks inferior mosque.

These other mosques, unlike the GM, are not a 1400 year old site, they are new sites, but designed to look majestic, and and more important than other uses... if structures dedicated by man to mankind, such as government buildings house, to business, to intelligence, then sureky one dedicated to God, should be the most imposing, these new mosques manage to achieve this... their government understood the eventual sacredness of the building they were building and planned so no worldly stuff... that's like putting a macdonalds nex to the Taj Mahal, with its gardens, spaces, separation.... Thet made their buildings as the GM should be...

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The Fourth Holiest Site In Islam