Star architecture landing in UNESCO sites: Local frictions and regulations

Abstract

This chapter analyses the interplay between the preservation of cultural heritage, especially in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the development of star architecture projects in Europe. It will stress the way projects are accepted, conflicts are raised and World Heritage rules and narratives influence the project realisation. The methodology will be based on two main approaches. The first approach is a survey crossing a database of 420 projects designed by star architecture firms since the 1990s in cities and towns with World Heritage Sites, permitting to identify the scenarios of the interplay between star architectures and UNESCO. The second approach consists in a comparison of two case studies of World Heritage Sites that had to face the issue of the integration of star architecture projects: Liverpool and the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin. The comparison is based on the conflicts, assessments and regulations developed in relation with star architecture.