The reconstruction of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, following the fire of 2019, illustrates the enduring relevance of World Heritage – a precious legacy that transcends time, unites people and reflects our collective commitment to preserving these treasures for future generations. The immediate mobilisation that followed this painful event revealed the depth of public attachment to such exceptional sites. Cultural and natural heritage recognised by UNESCO goes far beyond the tangible; it encompasses a living reflection of our shared history and common responsibility.
Today, heritage sites and the ancestral knowledge that gave rise to them face multiple threats, including fires, armed conflicts, natural disasters and climate change. Heritage conservation is not only about restoring iconic structures – it also represents a commitment to the communities that safeguard them. In Uganda, the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001, rose from the ashes after a devastating fire thanks to the traditional knowledge held by communities. This highlights the importance of an integrated approach, where knowledge transmission, local community engagement and international support come together to ensure long-term preservation.
Among the most pressing threats, the risk of fire calls for heightened vigilance. In 2024, UNESCO released its Fire Risk Management Guide, highlighting essentialstrategies such as adopting advanced detection systems, training local communities and integrating cultural practices into safety protocols. Such an approach can only be effective if built on close cooperation between experts, national authorities, and communities who are true custodians of their heritage and the traditions that sustain it.
In the face of these challenges, architecture plays a central role. How can we build in harmony with our environment and culture while ensuring the resilience of heritage? This question guides the work of Francis Kéré, the Burkinabe architect and laureate of the 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize. His approach, deeply rooted in local traditions and future-oriented, demonstrates that preserving heritage does not mean freezing the past but rather protecting it through a lens of sustainable conservation. In an exclusive interview with Ernesto Ottone R., the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, he shares his vision of an architecture that bridges heritage and innovation in the service of a more inclusive future.
Throughout these pages, we will explore the strategies and initiatives implemented to safeguard our shared heritage. To preserve these treasures is to protect our collective memory – an unbreakable link between past, present and future. It is up to us to be both guardians and transmitters.
Lazare Eloundou Assomo
Director of World Heritage
