Every two (2) years, the Jean-Paul-L’Allier Prize for Heritage is awarded by the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) to one of its member cities in good standing.

The award highlights a project, a program or a policy related to the conservation, enhancement or good management of a living urban ensemble or property within an urban context thanks, in part, to the commitment of its local communities. The urban ensemble or property must be located within the territory of an OWHC member city inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With this prize, the OWHC seeks to reward exemplary urban cultural heritage conservation and its capacity for resilience; community engagement through the involvement of local stakeholders; concrete outcomes of the project on local communities; and the learning experience upon which the international community might draw.

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

For the first time, two member cities were awarded as the Grand Prize winners of the Jean-Paul-L’Alllier Prize for Heritage, 2021 edition. Congratulations to George Town and Melaka for the development of their respective projects:

• George Town, Malaysia – Creating public spaces through the revitalisation of backlanes in the world heritage city of George Town. Read More >

• Melaka, Malaysia – Improvement and Conservation of Historical Urban Environment in the Historic City of Melaka. Read More >

The Grand Prize winners of the Jean-Paul-L’Allier Prize for Heritage were announced during the Award Ceremony held on September 9, 2021, as part of the virtual General Assembly of the members of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC).

The interventions carried out by both cities testify to a shared management, in which each city worked for the best interests of the World Heritage serial property as a whole “Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca”, inscribed in the World Heritage List in 2008. These initiatives stood out for their people-centred project to improve and conserve their historic urban environment. They implemented concrete interventions aimed at redeveloping back alleys and public spaces, as well as greening their historic centre. All these actions were carried out in collaboration with local communities, who were actively involved in the implementation process and aim to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, such as: creation of more green spaces, promoting good health and well-being of the people, gender equality, employment and economic growth as well as sustainable cities and communities.

Like its previous editions, the Jean-Paul-L’Allier Prize for Heritage generated great interest and eleven finalists were selected for this seventh edition: Cidade Velha (Cape Verde), Cuenca (Ecuador), George Town (Malaysia), Hue (Vietnam), Krakow (Poland), Kutna Hora (Czech Republic), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Melaka (Malaysia), Mexico City (Mexico), Querétaro (Mexico), and Safranbolu (Turkey).

The evaluations of the projects and the selection of the Grand Prize winners were carried out in a professional and objective manner by a jury of six (6) internationally renowned experts in the field of heritage: Prof. Mike Turner, Adviser to the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Mr. Samir Abdulac, Vice-President, Committee of Towns and Historic Villages (CIVVIH) of ICOMOS; Mr. Joseph King, Director, Partnership and Communication, ICCROM; Mr. Francisco García Chávez, World Heritage Director of San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) ; Mr. Michał Krasucki – Regional Coordinator of the OWHC, Director of the Department of Heritage Protection (City of Warsaw); and Ms. Lee Minaidis, Interim Secretary General of the OWHC (ex-officio).

Once again, congratulations to the cities of George Town and Melaka!

Past Winners

2019 – St. Petersburg (Russian Federation)
Redevelopment of industrial cultural heritage sites and their grounds for public projects

2017 – Quito (Ecuador)
Investment programs and projects for the rehabilitation of public space on private heritage property in the Historic Center

2015 – Cordoba (Spain)
The urban project and the cultural landscape: heritage, culture, trade and tourism – renovation of Cruz Conde street

2013 – Cuenca (Ecuador)
Integral rehabilitation project of the Tres de Noviembre Walkway, the de la Madre Park, the stairway, and the footbridge facing the University of Cuenca

2011 – Tunis (Tunisia)
Restoration and beautification project of a street circuit entitled “From Zitouna to Sidi Ibrahim”

2009 – Warsaw (Poland)
Lighting of the walls of the Historic Centre