World Heritage Day

Edinburgh World Heritage celebrated World Heritage Day with a seminar which looked at the public value of the World Heritage Site. Speakers included Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage; John Graham, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland; and Jenny Dawe, the leader of the City of Edinburgh Council.

In his speech Adam Wilkinson called Edinburgh, “Scotland’s front office - an historic city that effortlessly exudes quality and class through its historic built environment”. He drew parallels with Geneva and Stockholm, as European cities that have successfully developed but with their historic townscape still intact.

The leader of the City of Edinburgh Council Jenny Dawe said: “Edinburgh has a rich architectural heritage and is proud of its city centre UNESCO World Heritage Site status. We do not want to see that status compromised”.

She went on to quote Renzo Piano, the Italian architect who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Talking about designing new architecture in historic environments he said:

“When you work in a historical city centre, instead of worrying about the lack of freedom you should be grateful for the restrictions. Creativity doesn’t need freedom, it needs rules.”

Download Adam Wilkinson's speech...Read more

Download Jenny Dawe's speech...Read more