Kathmandu, December 22
UNESCO has announced the winners of the 2023 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
Sikami Chhen, in Bhaktapur, was awarded the Special Recognition for Sustainable Development for their transformative heritage practices which contribute to larger principles of sustainable development during the Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
A statement from UNESCO said that the jury, in a deliberation process conducted in November 2023, selected a total of 12 projects. These selections were made based on the projects’ comprehension of place, technical accomplishments, and adherence to sustainability and impact, as outlined in the Awards Criteria.
Sikami Chhen is an old Newa home that has been reconstructed following the 2015 earthquake. This 200-year-old home has been carefully restored, using traditional brick and timber-frame techniques that seamlessly integrate ancient wisdom with contemporary craftsmanship.
The restoration of Sikami Chhen not only preserves the structural heritage but also serves as a tribute to the woodcarving traditions of the Kathmandu Valley and the cultural opulence of Bhaktapur.
UNESCO introduced the new category, ‘Special Recognition for Sustainable Development’, in 2020, together with an updated set of Awards Criteria to acknowledge the role and contribution of cultural heritage to sustainable development within the broader framework of the UN 2030 Agenda.
The awarded projects serve as a testament to how cultural heritage can be successfully preserved whilst at the same time mobilised to be integrated into various local development strategies.
