La Maison du Patrimoine - UNESCO World Heritage Site - Luang Prabang http://www.la-maison-du-patrimoine.org/
The Heritage House is a national Lao authority, directly reporting to the Minister of Information and Culture. It has been created in 1996 according to the UNESCO recommendations following the inscription of the Luang Prabang site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Several international projects are embedded into the House of Heritage (see separate information sheets). Luang Prabang was inscribed on the UNESCO World heritage list on the 2 nd of December 1995, at the Lao government's request, because it shows evidence of a unique combination of nature and architecture, an important crossing point of cultural influences on developments in architecture, arts, monuments and town planning. The UNESCO decision says: "Luang Prabang represents, to an exceptional extent, the successful fusion of the traditional architectural and urban structures and those of the European colonial rulers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique townscape is remarkably well preserved, illustrating a key stage in the blending of two distinct cultural traditions." As UDAA-LP (Urban Development Administration Authority of Luang Prabang), one of its main partners, the Heritage House is a young specific institution not existing in all provinces. The Heritage House works with almost all other local agencies. The main missions of the Heritage House are management, conservation and enhancement of the natural, cultural and architectural heritage within the protected area encompassing the old historic city and the banks of both Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. This mission involves controlling, protecting, restoring and embellishing the listed heritage, managing a protection master plan, capitalizing on the restoration techniques and know-how, training conservation specialists, developing skilled professional business (architects, contractors), advising people about renovating or building their houses and giving support to restoration.
