Bukhara: A Living Central Asian Silk Roads City. Application of the Historic Urban Landscape Approach

Bukhara, an ancient city along the Silk Roads in Uzbekistan, is undergoing dramatic change – an increase in visitation, introduction of new materials, and construction techniques – along with a growing awareness of the need for protection. It has been recognized, in Bukhara and other historic cities, that there must be a new approach to urban heritage, balancing conservation along with development and change. The HUL recommendation proposed such an approach, taking into account diversity of stakeholders, management, and planning tools. With this vision, the World Heritage property of the Historic Centre of Bukhara has been preparing its Integrated Management Plan. The preparatory process has prioritized and integrated cultural heritage into the urban planning agenda. The process is not yet complete, but, despite its own challenges, it has already achieved success by bringing together for the first time different partners to envision a heritage city as cultural living capital on the path of protecting while developing this unique Central Asian medieval city.