Cities and regions are subject to change on a daily basis and have different basic conditions. As a result, the safeguarding and sustainable development of cultural heritage requires precisely adapted concepts with regard to planning and implementation processes of projects. The office therefore links scientific and practical planning know-how in order to develop tailor-made and practical solutions for safeguarding cultural heritage in urban and regional development.

The focus of our activities is expert evaluations of transformation processes in and around UNESCO World Heritage properties through Heritage Impact Assessments, the creation of master plans and management plans as well as the facilitation and control of participatory processes, and the mediation of conflicts. Other areas of activities include supervising World Heritage nomination processes as well as preparing feasibility studies regarding the potential inscription of sites in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Below is an overview of a selection of projects realized by the office and the UNESCO Chair in World Cultural and Urban Landscapes.