Vienna is at risk of being removed from the UNESCO World Heritage list

Vienna; Krakow - The historic center of Vienna is threatened with removal from the UNESCO World Heritage list. The relevant committee of this organization issued a serious warning to the city at its meeting today in Krakow, Poland, by placing it on the so-called red list of endangered cultural and natural monuments of world significance. According to the Kurier newspaper's website, UNESCO now demands that the Austrian capital changes the parameters of the planned new construction.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is concerned about the massive construction of recent years, which, in its view, is causing Vienna to lose its exceptional and universal value. In particular, the planned construction of a 66-meter high residential building on Am Heumarkt street, located near the historic center, is under criticism.

UNESCO demands that Vienna, which has been on the prestigious list since 2001, modifies the project and adheres to a maximum height of 43 meters during construction. The city should also take measures to protect the world heritage.

Austria has until February 1 of next year to inform the World Heritage Committee about its steps. If UNESCO is not satisfied with them, Vienna could be removed from the World Cultural and Natural Heritage list. Such a step would be very unusual, but not entirely ruled out.

In 2009, the Elbe waterfronts in Dresden lost their prized status due to disputes over a bridge over the Elbe near the local Forest Castle.

Prague has also negotiated with the UNESCO committee in the past, as the world organization was not pleased with the plans for high-rise buildings in Pankrác in 2007 and 2008. It wanted them to be lower.

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