The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s 2023 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, also known as Heritage Awards, were awarded to a total of 12 projects from India(6), China(5), Nepal(1).
- Rambagh Gate and Ramparts in Punjab(India), has won the “Award of Excellence”, the highest honour of UNESCO heritage awards.
- Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple, Kerala, India have won the 2 awards. It was recognised with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development category and Award of Distinction.
The awards were announced by UNESCO Regional office in Bangkok, Thailand(UNESCO Bangkok), the Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education as well as a Cluster Office in the Asia-Pacific region of the UNESCO.
Winners of 2023 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation:
| Project | Location |
|---|---|
| Award of Excellence | |
| Rambagh Gates and Ramparts | Punjab, India |
| Award of Distinction | |
| Fanling Golf Course | Hong Kong SAR, China |
| Dongguan Garden Residences | Yangzhou, China |
| Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple | Kerala, India |
| Award of Merit | |
| Yan Nan Yuan in Peking University | Beijing, China |
| Pan Family Residence | Suzhou, China |
| Church of Epiphany | Haryana, India |
| David Sassoon Library and Reading Room | Mumbai(Maharashtra), India |
| Bikaner House | New Delhi(Delhi), India |
| Special Recognition for Sustainable Development | |
| Pipal Haveli | Punjab, India |
| Sikami Chhen | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Karnikara Mandapam, Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple | Kerala, India |
| Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts | |
| Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital | Luoyang, China |
2023 winners from India:
i.Rambagh Gate and Ramparts has been recognised for its commitment to preserving the essence of the site while fostering inclusivity and community access.
- The project demonstrates an exceptional model for inclusive and resilient urban revitalization.
- It is located at the crossroads of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s city wall and modern Amritsar.
ii.Karnikara Mandapam is a a semi-open, wooden-pillared prayer hall in the Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple complex in Kerala.
iii.Church of Epiphany, located in Gurugram, was initiated by the Church Committee with Parish support. The church’s restoration project stands as a testament to the commitment to preserving local history.
- The refurbished church is a model conservation project which aims to catalyse a multiplier effect in the area.
iv.David Sassoon Library and Reading Room, a 19th-century Gothic architectural structure located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
v.Bikaner House in New Delhi was constructed in 1930s. It has also served as bus terminal, a tourism office, and government offices.
vi.Pipal Haveli is a contemporary community-centered, multi-use educational building rooted in time-honoured principles of sustainability. It is located in Rural Punjab, within a gated ‘haveli.’
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation:
i.The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, establsihed in 2000, recognise efforts of private individuals and organizations to restore or conserve structures, places, or properties of heritage value in the Asia-Pacific region.
ii.The Awards programme has been supported by a partnership between UNESCO and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation (NTFCF) since 2021.
iii.The Projects were selected on the basis of their understanding of place, technical achievements, and sustainability and impact, as specified in the Awards Criteria.
iv.Award of Special Recognition for Sustainable Development, introduced in 2020 to acknowledge noteworthy achievement in overall criteria and promise a significant contribution to sustainable development.
- It is an additional award (which may be won separately or in addition to another).
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Santiniketan in West Bengal and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Founded in– 1945 (came into force in 1946)
Members– 194 Members and 12 Associate Members
