World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme
(WHEAP)
© UNESCO
Earthen architecture is one of the most original and powerful expressions of our ability to create a built environment with readily available resources.
It includes a great variety of structures, ranging from mosques, palaces and granaries, to historic city centres, cultural landscapes and archaeological sites. Its cultural importance throughout the world is evident and has led to its consideration as a common heritage of humankind, therefore deserving protection and conservation by the international community. In 2011, over 10% of the World Heritage properties incorporate earthen structures. The availability and economic quality of the material mean it bears great potential to contribute to poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
However, increasingly threatened by natural and human impacts (e.g. floods and earthquakes, industrialization, urbanization, modern building technologies, disappearance of traditional conservation practices, etc.) earthen structures deserve particular attention in terms of conservation and maintenance; about ¼ of the sites inscribed on the World Heritage List in Danger are earthen sites.
The World Heritage Programme on Earthen Architecture (WHEAP) aims for the improvement of the state of conservation and management of earthen architecture sites worldwide. Pilot projects on earthen architectural sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, or included in States Parties’ Tentative Lists, will help identify best practices and set examples for the development and dissemination of appropriate methods and techniques in conservation, management, and capacity building. Scientific research will further the endeavor to ameliorate know-how in the field. Expected results include a better understanding of the problems facing earthen architecture, the development of policies favoring its conservation, the definition of practical guidelines and the organization of training and awareness activities, particularly in local communities through workshops, exhibitions, conferences and technical publications to raise the recognition of earthen architecture, as well as the creation of an active global network for the exchange of information and experience.
At its 31st session (New Zealand, 2007), the World Heritage Committee approved the initiation of the integrated World Heritage Programme on Earthen Architecture (2007-2017) (decision 31 COM 21C, working document 31 COM 21C). Donors and States Parties were invited to provide financial support for the implementation of the activities, structured in four phases and progressively expanding over the globe. Accordingly, the preparatory phase concluded in 2008, is followed by three phases, each focusing on two regions or sub regions: Phase 2 (2009-2011) focuses on Africa and the Arab States, Phase 3 (2012-2014) on Latin-America and Central Asia, and Phase 4 (2015-2017) on Europe and Asia.
Phase 1 (2007-2008)
saw the following activities implemented
- A consultation meeting of renowned international experts in earthen architecture conservation was held in November 2007 at UNESCO Headquarters, and developed final substantial orientations for the operational framework and the programme strategy.
- The World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP) was officially launched on the occasion of Terra 2008, the 10th International Conference on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architecture (1-5 February 2008, Bamako, Mali), organized by the Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Culture of Mali.
- Launching of the Inventory project of the earthen architecture sites (supported by the France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement) (ongoing)
Phase 2 (2009-2011)
included a series of activities in Africa and Arab States
Africa
- The four-years Conservation Project for Africa (2008-2012), achieved a range of activities at earthen World Heritage sites in Africa e.g.: study on the traditional earthen buildings for the sustainable conservation of the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, in Ethiopia; development of a draft building regulations for the Old Towns of Djenné and Timbuktu, in Mali; Rehabilitation and Revitalization of the Youth House of Djenné, in Mali, including the publication of illustrated technical specifications; Regional site managers workshop and tourist guides meeting; Development of didactic material for the regional training institutions EPA (School of African Heritage, Porto Novo, Benin). and CHDA (Centre for Heritage Development in Africa, Kenya) (supported by the Italian Funds-in-Trust).
Arab states
- UNESCO Consultation Meeting on the Implementation of the World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP) in the Arab States - Strategies and Approaches (11 January 2010) (supported by the private joint initiative Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohammad Al-Kalifa Centre for Culture and Research/ARCAPITA Bank B.S.C from Bahrain).
- The Safeguarding Project of Hassan Fathy's New Gourna Village, in Egypt (financed through the Special account for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Egypt).
Phase 3 (2012-2014)
Latin-America and Central Asia
- Launching of Phase 3 at Terra 2012, 11th International Conference on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architecture Heritage (22-27 April 2012, Lima, Peru)
- Strategic planning with the UNESCO Category II Centre Lúcio Costa in Brazil for implementation of the programme in the region (2011)
- Workshop on Earthen Artisans in Latin America and the Caribbean in Tlaxcala, Mexico (2009, supported by the Spanish Funds-in-Trust).
Other regions
- The 1st Mediterranean Conference on Earth Architecture, Mediterra 2009 under the aegis of UNESCO World Heritage Centre, ICCROM, ICOMOS-ISCEAH International Scientific Committee on Earthen Architectural Heritage and the Getty Conservation Institute, (13-16 March 2009).
- Restoration Project for Bam and its Cultural Landscape (supported the Italian Funds-in-Trust).
The WHEAP involves the technical support of the main international conservation institutions: the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the earth conservation institute CRAterre-ENSAG as well as of the regional institutions School of African Heritage (EPA, Benin), Centre for Heritage development in Africa (CHDA, Kenya), and Centre for Conservation and Restoration of Atlas and Subatlas Architectural Heritage (CERKAS, Morocco).In 2009, Udine University (Italy) also became a programme partner. In the course of the activities, the programme seeks further cooperation and partnerships with other specialized institutions, as well as national and local governmental authorities.
The programme activities are made possible thanks to the financial support granted by the World Heritage Committee through the World Heritage Fund, the UNESCO Special account for the safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Egypt, the France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement, the Italian Funds-in-Trust, the Spanish Funds-in-Trust, and the Shaikh Ebrahim Mohammad Al-Kalifa Centre for Culture and Research/ARCAPITA Bank B.S.C from Bahrain.
Global TERRAFIBRA Award
in Contemporary Earthen and
Plane Fibre-based Architectures
The opening of applications for the third edition of the Global TERRAFIBRA Award in Contemporary Earthen and Plane Fibre-based Architectures took place on 3 November 2020, up until 3 Mars 2021.
This award promotes the mix of materials in contemporary architecture and aims to highlight the most innovative constructions in this division. Open to new or renovated buildings on all continents, with a significant amount of soil and/or plant fibers, this award is comprised of 10 categories, and in September 2021, the honorary jury will choose a winning project in each category.
For more information, please visit the dedicated webpage:
- Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada
- Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
- Ancient City of Damascus
- Ancient City of Ping Yao
- Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
- Angkor
- Antigua Guatemala
- Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro
- Archaeological Site of Carthage
- Archaeological Site of Volubilis
- Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes
- Asante Traditional Buildings
- Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)
- At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah
- Bahla Fort
- Bam and its Cultural Landscape
- Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba
- Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
- Canal du Midi
- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
- Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville
- Chaco Culture
- Chan Chan Archaeological Zone
- Changdeokgung Palace Complex
- Churches and Convents of Goa
- City of Cuzco
- City of Potosí
- City of Quito
- City of Safranbolu
- Classical Gardens of Suzhou
- Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons)
- Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia
- Complex of Koguryo Tombs
- Coro and its Port
- Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley
- Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)
- Fortifications of Vauban
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire
- Fujian Tulou
- Gyeongju Historic Areas
- Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks
- Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town
- Hatra
- Himeji-jo
- Historic Centre of Bukhara
- Historic Centre of Camagüey
- Historic Centre of Cordoba
- Historic Centre of Évora
- Historic Centre of Guimarães
- Historic Centre of Lima
- Historic Centre of Morelia
- Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán
- Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar
- Historic Centre of Puebla
- Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia
- Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
- Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox
- Historic Centre of São Luís
- Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz
- Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina
- Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás
- Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda
- Historic Centre of Zacatecas
- Historic City of Meknes
- Historic City of Sucre
- Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa
- Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
- Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
- Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
- Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento
- Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso
- Historic Site of Lyon
- Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines
- Historic Town of Ouro Preto
- Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns
- Historic Town of Zabid
- Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong
- Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
- Island of Mozambique
- Itchan Kala
- Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
- Jongmyo Shrine
- Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
- Kasbah of Algiers
- Kathmandu Valley
- Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba
- Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
- Kunya-Urgench
- León Cathedral
- M'Zab Valley
- Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
- Medina of Fez
- Medina of Marrakesh
- Medina of Sousse
- Medina of Tunis
- Meidan Emam, Esfahan
- Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam
- Mogao Caves
- Mount Wutai
- National Archeological Park of Tierradentro
- Old City of Sana'a
- Old Havana and its Fortification System
- Old Town of Cáceres
- Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
- Old Town of Ghadamès
- Old Town of Lijiang
- Old Towns of Djenné
- Old Walled City of Shibam
- Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
- Parthian Fortresses of Nisa
- Persepolis
- Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena
- Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan
- Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco
- Proto-urban Site of Sarazm
- Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs
- Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis
- Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun
- Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela
- Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
- Royal Palaces of Abomey
- Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
- Ruins of León Viejo
- Ruins of Loropéni
- Sacred City of Caral-Supe
- Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures
- Samarra Archaeological City
- Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas
- Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
- Shrines and Temples of Nikko
- Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
- Soltaniyeh
- State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv”
- Sukur Cultural Landscape
- Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex
- Takht-e Soleyman
- Taos Pueblo
- Tchogha Zanbil
- The Great Wall
- The Persian Garden
- Timbuktu
- Tomb of Askia
- Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi
- Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios
- Viñales Valley
- Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower
- Yin Xu
Documents
- 00 - Rapport Atelier Grains d'Isere 2012
- 01 - WHEAP intermediate report 2007-2012
- 02 - INVENTORY World Heritage Earthen Architecture April 2012 - ENGLISH
- 03 - INVENTAIRE de l'architecture de terre du patrimoine mondial avril 2012 - FRANCAIS
- 04a - WHEAP Leaflet Earthen Architecture Programme
- 04b - WHEAP Depliant programme sur l'architecture de terre
- 05a - WHEAP progress report 2011 English
- 05b - WHEAP rapport d'avancement 2011 francais
- 06 - WHEAP info 2010
- 07a - WHEAP Project document
- 07b - WHEAP Document de projet
- 08 - Specifications techniques illustrees, rehab Djenne 2012
- 09a - Rehabilitation et revitalisation de la Maison des jeunes, Djenne, rapport final, OCT11
- 09b - Réhabilitation et revitalisation de la Maison des jeunes de Djenné : rapport intermédiaire 2°, mars 2011
- 10 - Réhabilitation et revitalisation de la Maison des jeunes de Djenné : LIVRET de détail, février 2011
- 11 - Réhabilitation et revitalisation de la Maison des jeunes de Djenné : LIVRET des plans, janvier 2011
- 12 - Réhabilitation et revitalisation de la Maison des jeunes de Djenné : rapport de la mission de démarrage, juillet 2010
- 13 - Teaching material, phase I, mission report to Benin, August 2010
- 14 - Earthen Architecture on the Lalibela World Heritage Site, July 2010
- 15 - Rapport de mission pour l'élaboration d'un projet de règlement d'urbanisme pour Djenné, juin 2010
- 16 - Meeting Report on WHEAP for Arab States, 11 January 2010
- 17 - Rapport Atelier Djenné décembre 2010.pdf
- 18- Etude sur les mausolées de Tombouctou
- 19- Manuel pour la conservation de Tombouctou
- Mission Report: Earthen architecture on the Lalibela World Heritage Site, 4 – 11 July 2010
News (6)
- [in French only] Bakonirina Rakotomamonjy : La terre à la reconquête de l'architecture 05-Jul-2016
- Another Fire at the Royal Palaces of Abomey World Heritage site in Benin 18-Jan-2015
- UNESCO publishes a conservation manual and a study on the mausoleums for the Rehabilitation of Timbuktu 24-Jun-2014
- UNESCO publishes proceedings of the International Colloquium on the World Heritage Earthen Architecture Programme (WHEAP) 18-Dec-2013
- UNESCO holds the first International Colloquium on the Conservation of World Heritage Earthen Architecture 07-Jan-2013
Events (12)
- TERRAFIBRA Global Award in Contemporary Earthen and Plant Fibre-based Architectures 02-Dec-2020-03-Mar-2021
- BASEhabitat International Summer School 18-Jul-2016-01-Aug-2016
- Terra 2016: XIIth World Congress on Earthen Architectures 11-Jul-2016-14-Jul-2016
- Abstract Deadline 10 Feb 2015 for Terra 2016: XIIth World Congress on Earthen Architectures 01-Jan-2015-10-Feb-2015
- 1st Call for communications: Terra 2016 – XIIth World Congress on Earthen Architectures 30-Oct-2014-10-Jan-2015