Plans in pipeline to protect Swakop’s cultural heritage

THE newly established Swakopmund Residents Heritage Committee has set the wheels in motion to ensure the cultural heritage of the countrys premier holiday resort will in future enjoy better protection.

A public outcry followed the illegal demolition of the middle section of one of the towns oldest buildings by a developer in June. Recently, a petition with more than 400 signatures was handed to the Mayor, while a Swakopmund Residents Heritage Committee was established.The petition expressed concern over the booming building industry that is costing the town its cultural heritage and distinctive character.The committee met with the CEO of the Municipality, Eckart Demasius, and suggested that proper guidelines be drawn up that would respect and conserve the towns heritage.At its meeting in August, Councils management committee decided to support the initiative.In a letter written to the committee, Demasius asked that clear directives and guidelines be drawn up and submitted to Council.It was also decided “that the final guidelines for conservation and development in the conservation area form part of the Town Planning Scheme in order to be a statutory binding document”.The heritage committee last week called a press conference to request interested people to contact them.”As there is hardly anyone with expertise in this field in the country, we are specifically looking for people with experience in the maintenance of old buildings,” said Robert Pohl, legal representative of the committee.He said architects, historians, artists, graphic designers and anyone else with an interest in the field was welcome to contact them.”I think this will be the very first document of its kind to be compiled in Namibia,” said Pohl.The group has obtained similar documents from historical towns in South Africa, such as Franschhoek, to get an idea of what the project would entail.Already, recent news reports on the demolition of the heritage house have sparked a lot of public interest.Pohl said an artist and qualified conservationist had expressed interest in getting involved.”It is going to be a time consuming process to conduct proper research,” he said.Pohl said hoped to have a draft document ready by the end of the year.Another committee member, Margit DAvignon, said it was a matter of urgency to get the guidelines in place as Swakopmund was experiencing a building boom and more old building could end up being demolished.* People interested in assisting with the project are welcome to contact Robert Pohl at tel 064 – 400942, or Margit DAvignon at tel 064 – 405821.Recently, a petition with more than 400 signatures was handed to the Mayor, while a Swakopmund Residents Heritage Committee was established.The petition expressed concern over the booming building industry that is costing the town its cultural heritage and distinctive character.The committee met with the CEO of the Municipality, Eckart Demasius, and suggested that proper guidelines be drawn up that would respect and conserve the towns heritage.At its meeting in August, Councils management committee decided to support the initiative.In a letter written to the committee, Demasius asked that clear directives and guidelines be drawn up and submitted to Council.It was also decided “that the final guidelines for conservation and development in the conservation area form part of the Town Planning Scheme in order to be a statutory binding document”.The heritage committee last week called a press conference to request interested people to contact them.”As there is hardly anyone with expertise in this field in the country, we are specifically looking for people with experience in the maintenance of old buildings,” said Robert Pohl, legal representative of the committee.He said architects, historians, artists, graphic designers and anyone else with an interest in the field was welcome to contact them.”I think this will be the very first document of its kind to be compiled in Namibia,” said Pohl.The group has obtained similar documents from historical towns in South Africa, such as Franschhoek, to get an idea of what the project would entail.Already, recent news reports on the demolition of the heritage house have sparked a lot of public interest.Pohl said an artist and qualified conservationist had expressed interest in getting involved.”It is going to be a time consuming process to conduct proper research,” he said.Pohl said hoped to have a draft document ready by the end of the year.Another committee member, Margit DAvignon, said it was a matter of urgency to get the guidelines in place as Swakopmund was experiencing a building boom and more old building could end up being demolished.* People interested in assisting with the project are welcome to contact Robert Pohl at tel 064 – 400942, or Margit DAvignon at tel 064 – 405821.