News: international heritage body UNESCO has launched a competition to design a cultural centre on the boundary of the Bamiyan Valley site, which housed two giant seventh-century statues of Buddha that were destroyed by Taliban militants in 2001. More about UNESCO launches competition to design cultural centre in war-torn Afghanistan
News: the Turkish government has approved an order to demolish a series of new skyscrapers in the Zeytinburnu area of Istanbul to protect the historic views of key buildings including the Hagia Sofia. More about Istanbul skyscrapers to be demolished to protect the city's skyline
Dutch creative agency The Stone Twins did away with the usual imagery and photos when asked to design this postage stamp, using only words to tell a short story. More about Dublin UNESCO City of Literature stamp by The Stone Twins
Dezeen Wire: world heritage body UNESCO has called for a crackdown on high-rise development around London's South Bank, reports the Evening Standard. More about UNESCO warns against further high-rise developments on London's South Bank
UNESCO has added Liverpool to the "in danger" list for possible removal of its World Heritage status. In March the city's council approved a £5.5 billion waterfront redevelopment – BBC.
More about Liverpool risks losing UNESCO World Heritage status
Dezeen Wire: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have announced 25 new additions to the World Heritage List, including the Fagus Factory by Walter Gropius as reported yesterday, but deferred an application for the inclusion of 19 buildings by Modernist architect Le Corbusier, referring the decision to the next committee meeting.
See the full list of accepted applications here.
More about Le Corbusier application deferred by UNESCO World Heritage Committee
Dezeen Wire: Spiegel online reports that Walter Gropius' pioneering 1911 Fagus Factory at Alfeld in Lower Saxony, Germany, will be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
UNESCO is still deliberating whether to add works by Le Corbusier to the list. Via Spiegel online
More about "Modernist Icon Joins UNESCO Heritage List" - Spiegel online
Dezeen Wire: a Chinese firm is planning to build an exact replica of the Austrian village of Hallstatt in the Chinese province of Guangdong - Spiegel Online