The Influences and Importance of the UNESCO World Heritage List: The Case of Plaošnik, Ohrid

Abstract

The World Heritage List was created as a result of the need to protect and conserve cultural and natural heritage. The Ohrid region is one of only 28 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List that are both cultural and natural sites. Ohrid is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe, boasting exquisite medieval religious architecture, as well as urban architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The site of Plaošnik is a large archaeological and historic location in Ohrid’s old town that witnessed all cultural eras from prehistory to Ottoman, but most importantly it was the location of the oldest Slavic monastery and the first Slavic University in the Balkans. In 2007, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia prepared a controversial plan of activities for the instauration of St. Clement’s University at Plaošnik. The main interest of this study is the position of cultural heritage in the evolution of a town, and the treatment of heritage in this process, shown through the case of Plaošnik; it focuses on the influence of pressure for (re)development projects on the key elements of an area recognized by the World Heritage List, as well as the influence of the World Heritage List, as an international legal instrument, on the preservation of these features.

Fuzzy and Interval AHP Approaches in Sustainable Management for the Architectural Heritage in Smart Cities

“…Some researchers have addressed the improvement of architectural heritage in terms of energy retrofitting [59,60]. In a large number of researches concerning the management of architectural heritage, the authors have dealt with concrete case studies of historically significant units, city centers, or buildings of cultural significance [61][62][63].…”

Restoration of a Historic Building in Order to Improve Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving—Case Study—The Dining Room within the Žiča Monastery Property

“…Planned use of natural resources and protection of cultural monuments are basic preconditions for preserving the resources of sustainable cultural development for future generations. The preservation of cultural heritage implies respect for the principles of authenticity of cultural property, its monumental values and stylistic unity [18]. The use of natural and indigenous materials of stone, brick and wood in historic buildings is a reflection of the local terrain, culture, historical and economic characteristics.…”