Evaluation of state of cultural and historical objects in Jekabpils city in context of sustainable development

Abstract

Cultural and historical objects are an important part of our history bringing different evidence about the history of the nation. Dealing with the problems of sustainable development of the territories, it is essential to ensure sustainability of these objects to be able to evaluate them also in the future. In the Republic of Latvia, the aims and priorities of long-term sustainability are included in the Strategy of Spatial Development, where one of the three main objectives is defined-to ensure maintenance of Latvian originality, which includes various nature, cultural heritance and unique landscapes. Jekabpils is one of the cities of the Republic of Latvia, where there is a wide range of cultural and historical objects; they are mainly living houses and buildings of social significance having historical importance. Nevertheless, their condition is very different. The aim of the present article is to evaluate the condition and importance of the cultural and historical objects for promoting sustainable development of the territory of Jekabpils city. Within the range of the research, tracing and visual evaluation of the physical condition of the cultural and historical objects has been carried out according to the criteria suggested by the authors. Identity of the cultural and historical objects has also been determined. It has been stated that in general the condition of the cultural and historical objects is satisfactory and even good; still for about one fourth of these objects the physical condition is not satisfactory what often creates an impression of a degraded territory. Most part of these are living houses that are the property of physical persons.