8 Nov, 2011 @ 10:59
1 min read

UNESCO officials arrive in Sevilla to assess controversial skyscraper

UNESCO officials have descended on Sevilla to assess the impact a controversial skyscraper will have on the city’s world heritage status.

The delegation – which will be in the city until Wednesday – has met with the ministers for planning, environment and culture, and paid a visit to the site to assess firsthand the impact the 41-storey Pelli Tower will have on the ‘historical landscape.’

In addition, the body told Spain it must deliver a report on the conservation status of Sevilla’s three world heritage monuments – the Cathedral, the Alcázar and the Archivo de Indias – by February next year.

If it decides Sevilla should be included on the World Heritage in danger list, the Andalucian capital could lose its world heritage status.

It comes after UNESCO already threatened to withdraw the city’s status if it continued to allow the 178m building to be built on the Isla de la Cartuja.

The tower, designed by the Argentinean architect César Pelli to house the offices of Cajasol bank, is currently a third of the way through completion.

The final report will be analysed at the World Heritage Committee next summer.

Wendy Williams

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6 Comments

  1. well aussie I am super positive that Cajasol will create serious employment – much more then tourism ever will in Seville.

    throw another shrimp on the barbie will ya …..

  2. I will throw two shrimps in the barbie!! Do you want them well done?? Both can exist perfectly side by side. one creating construction employment
    and the other tourism. Without this drongo of UNESCO telling us what to build and what not to build.
    stiffen the lizards, mate!!

  3. Right aussie, thats why Benidorm get so many cultural tourist …. Seville isn’t a beach resort grease spoon like Benidorm, Benalmadena or Torremolinos where the culturally interested visitor gives a rats ass about the architectural surroundings ………. as long as the booze is cheap and the woman or men are nervous

    In Seville you get the jamon chewing, old church lookylooky kind …..

    Trust me Spain doesn’t need more construction, there is around a million finished and half finished monstrosities rotting away throughout the country already.

    Re. the shrimps … only a brit would ask how you want your shrimp ……… I prefer lizard stuffed with shrimp – not to stiff mind

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