The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development recently issued a notice requiring all localities to strengthen the protection and utilization of historic buildings, properly carry out the identification, plaque installation, and archiving of historic buildings, maximize the use value of historic buildings, refrain from demolishing or damaging historic buildings, and avoid constructing high-rise buildings in areas where historic buildings are concentrated.
The notice points out that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have always attached importance to the protection of historic buildings. Strengthening the protection and rational utilization of historic buildings is conducive to showcasing the historical features of cities and preserving the architectural styles and cultural characteristics of cities, and is an important task in practicing the new development philosophy and building cultural confidence. All localities should, in accordance with the requirements of the notice, further improve the protection and utilization of historic buildings, protecting not only ancient buildings but also modern buildings, and protecting not only individual buildings but also historical and cultural blocks and urban patterns.
The notice requires, first, properly carrying out the identification, plaque installation, and archiving of historic buildings. It is necessary to accelerate the survey and identification of historic buildings, and retain as many historic buildings of different periods and types as possible. Attention should be paid to the protection of urban modern and contemporary architectural heritage, ensuring that all that should be protected are protected. A list of protected historic buildings and archives of historic buildings should be established, and historic buildings should be protected with plaques.
Second, maximize the use value of historic buildings. Rational utilization of historic buildings should be supported and encouraged. A protection approach different from that for cultural relic buildings should be adopted; on the basis of maintaining the characteristics of historic buildings such as height, volume, appearance, and style, rational utilization, enrichment of business forms, and revitalization of functions should be carried out to achieve the unity of protection and utilization and give full play to the value of historic buildings in cultural display and cultural inheritance. Social forces should be actively guided to participate in the protection and utilization of historic buildings. Localities are encouraged to carry out pilot projects for the protection and utilization of historic buildings and form replicable and promotable experience. At the same time, planning standards and norms and management systems and mechanisms for the protection and utilization of historic buildings should be explored and established.
Third, do not demolish or damage historic buildings. All localities should strengthen strict protection of historic buildings, and it is strictly prohibited to arbitrarily demolish or damage old houses, modern and contemporary buildings, and industrial heritage that have been identified as historic buildings. Do not demolish genuine relics, and do not build fake antiques.
Fourth, do not construct high-rise buildings in areas where historic buildings are concentrated. In historical and cultural blocks and other areas where historic buildings are concentrated, it is prohibited to construct high-rise buildings and large, foreign-style, and bizarre buildings within the scope that affects their historical features. New buildings should be coordinated with historic buildings and their historical environment, protect the historical texture and historical features of the surrounding areas of historic buildings, and strictly control building height in accordance with the requirements of protection planning.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development requires all localities to report the implementation of the notice before the end of 2017, and will organize supervision at an appropriate time.