Preservation guidelines as an instrument for the protection of urban- architectural heritage

Abstract

According to Article 5 of UNESCO's Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, each State Party should "take the appropriate legal (…) measures necessary for the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and rehabilitation of the world's heritage". An evaluation of Argentinean preservation guidelines, and their comparison with similar ones, evidence certain wants in their formulation, among which can be mentioned: 1. What assets are to be preserved? Where are they located? The identification of cultural heritage and the legal considerations about their immediate environment. 2. Whose responsibility is it: city, state or federal authorities? Are the institutions directly involved of a cultural or urban nature? The authority of enforcement. 3. How to secure the protection of landmarks? Available incentives respecting their protection. The present paper presents a justified proposition for a legal frame concerning the elaboration of guidelines for the recognition and protection of urban- architectural heritage at city level, considered to be the basic legal tool in order to achieve the above mentioned commitment.