Unesco recognises Sam Chuck conservation efforts

Dr Molly Lee, head of Unesco's AsiaPacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development, will be presenting the award as well as giving certificates of recognition to project participants and the Sam Chuk Community Committee.

The jury praised the project, by saying: "Once in serious socioeconomic decline, the Sam Chuk community and its old market have been revitalised through the farsightedness and cooperation of local residents. The project will have a major impact in raising awareness about grassrootsheritage conservation and is an important model for empowering other communities."

Some 48 entries from 14 countries in the AsiaPacific region were submitted for consideration. The entries included hotels, offices, cultural institutions, educational institutions, religious sites, public institutions, residential buildings and urban districts.

Sangiin Dalai Monastery in Mongolia won this year's award for excellence in culture heritage conservation, while the three awards of distinction went to the M24 midget submarine wreck in Sydney, Australia; the Ali Gohar House in Hunza, Pakistan; and Hanok Regeneration in Bukchon in Seoul, South Korea.

The four Awards of Merit include the Huai Hai Lu 796 in Shanghai, China; the YMCA Students Branch in Mumbai, India; the Waterworks Building in Auckland, New Zealand; and the Samchuk Community and Old Market District in Suphanburi, Thailand.

Four Honourable Mentions were also announced. They are the Academy of Visual Arts (Former Royal Air Force Officers' Mess) at Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong SAR, China; the Heritage Buildings in Cicheng Historic Town in Zhejiang Province, China; the YWCA Lady Willingdon Hostel in Mumbai, India; and the Tang Family Chapel in Hoi An, Viet Nam.

The 2009 Heritage Awards Jury Commendation for Innovation was awarded to the Maosi Ecological Demonstration Primary School in China. The Jury Commendation recognizes newlybuilt structures which demonstrate outstanding standards for contemporary architectural design which are well integrated into historic contexts. The 2009 Jury Commendation submissions include four projects (an educational institution, a mausoleum, an urban district and a residential development) from three countries in the region.

Through these awards, Unesco recognises efforts made to restore and conserve structures of high heritage value in the region. To be eligible, projects should be more than 50 years old, be restored within the past decade and have been in viable use for at least one year from the date of the awards announcement. Unesco believes that recognising efforts to restore historic structures will encourage property owners to undertake conservation projects.

Thailand has already won Unesco conservation awards for six other projects including Wat Pongsanuk; Crown Property Bureau Building; Amphawa Canal Community; Tamnak Yai Devavesm Palace; Phra Racha Wang Derm; and Wat Sratong.