April 18 – International Day for Monuments and Sites (aka Heritage Day)
“The International Day for Monuments and Sites was proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on 18 April 1982 and approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983. The aim is to promote awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage of humanity, their vulnerability and the efforts required for their protection and conservation.” [Thanks Wikipedia]
READ: “Подарки к Дню наследия” (Presents for Heritage Day) by Archnadzor
And on the neighboring street of Arbat shakes another world famous monument – the Melnikov House. Nearby, on the site of last year’s demolition of an old Arbat house, a pit is being dug and construction work goes on. The Moscow City Government has allowed this construction of a 4-5-story multi-functional complex in a protected zone with all the necessary papers. International and domestic experts shout out loud, and Moscow City Hall is silent. Happy Heritage Day to you, experts! (translation)
(Considering the situation in Moscow, it’s the developers, the investors, those getting away with demolishing buildings of heritage, those getting away with building in “government” protected areas, that are celebrating…)
WATCH: “Construction on Arbat is destroying a monument of the avant-garde – the Melnikov House”
International scientific committee for the protection of heritage sites [ICOMOS] launched action “Heritage Alert”. Its goal – to stop the construction work near the famous Melnikov House on Krivoarbatsky alley. A Russian avant-garde masterpiece, built in the 20s of the twentieth century, has already started to crack and, according to experts, may collapse if excavation will continue next to it. (translation)
(in the video you get to see а representative of the developer “Trust-Oil” denying being responsible for any damage to the house. Again claiming, “the house does not fall in the zone of influence” & “the house has not had proper maintenance in 83 years.”)
READ: ICOMOS Heritage Alert
