Seville World Heritage

Since 2008, the development project of Seville Expo’s southern bank, conceived by the city as part of its Urban Plan, has been the subject of passionate debates. Although reviewed and approved by the public, the tower to be erected as per the approved plan was far from wining unanimous support.

The architectural concept includes a hub with ample parking, commercial space, public gardens, the redevelopment of the river banks, a bridge, the refurbishment of the maritime museum and an office tower for the administration. The later has been criticised by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-Spain) on the grounds that such high rise building would have a negative impact on the city centre’s monuments, all of which are registered as UNESCO World Heritage.

The project developer – the city’s savings bank CAJASOL – commissioned GAIA-Heritage to study the impact of the project on World Heritage and its conformity with international laws and conventions. GAIA-Heritage conducted an audit based on World Heritage texts and local legislation; it also carried out a reflection on historical landscapes and their application in Seville. As such, GAIA-Heritage guided the University of Seville in a study aimed at examining the impact of the tower on the vision cone. In 2010, GAIA-Heritage assisted Seville in the elaboration of studies and reports necessary for putting together a file to be submitted to the World Heritage Committee.