France: Historic Cities, World Heritage

And ICOMOS - The Case of Nancy

Denis Grandjean,
 Section Française de l'ICOMOS
 

Introduction : a heritage that makes up a town

Situated in eastern France, near Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg, Nancy owes its position as Capital of Lorraine to its history.

Up until the 18th century, this eastern province had a near independent status: the Duke of Lorraine was allied with the Germanic empire (Halsbourg branch, stemming from the former Lorraine dynasty) unifying several countries surrounding and including Austria.

The city has kept intact a quarter dating from the Middle Ages:  its sinuous street layout evoking the former fortifications and certain important monuments recalling the city's strategic and political role such as the Craffe Gateway (dating from the 14th century) and the Ducal Palace (15th, 16th, and 17th centuries), siege of Lorraine's autonomous rule.

In the 17th century, Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, continued the city's development, constructing a "new city" that continues to exist through its urban layout as well as its buildings.

In the 18th century, Stanislas, ex-King of Poland, invested by the King of France to control the Lorraine region, constructs a new quarter that links the medieval city with the "new city".  Then in 1850, with the arrival of the railroad and the economic development of the late 19th century, the city expands and new quarters start to appear, heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau movement.

Nancy is thus made up of several historically-marked areas, each with its separate identity, that together form the city.

The exceptional character of the 18th-century part of the city comes from its monuments, but also its urban planning.  King Stanislas, along with the architect Héré (a student of Boffrand), use the military space of the fortifications that separate the medieval city and the 17th-century "new city".  He designs squares that articulate the spaces between these cities, giving extreme care to the buildings lining the squares.  It is this majestic lesson in urban planning that the UNESCO has registered in the world heritage of humanity.  In France, larger, more majestic squares exist (such as the Concorde in Paris), but none that are positioned so subtly in terms of urban distribution or in the linking of two districts that previously had functioned separately.

An architectural and decorative sophistication is concentrated in this urban project, including the iron-wrought railwork designed by Jean Lamour and the statuary elements designed by Guibal.  Inspired by a Polish prince, connoisseur of Central-European Baroque art, it demonstrates an innovative stylistic movement in Lorraine that serves as an example for later works in France.

This urban planning is an expression of power, similarly expressed by other quarters in Nancy.  The magnificent display of medieval architecture is due to the presence of the ducal power that autonomously controlled the region, possessing its own currency, judicial system, institutions, and court - which explains the presence of monuments worthy of a capital rather than a provincial town.

The 18th century demonstrates this political situation even more spectacularly through the three squares and the perspectives associated with them.  The main building located on the Place Stanislas is the Palace of the Prince, currently the City Hall.  Surrounding it, the other buildings accommodate civil and religious institutions (the Bishop's Palace) as well as cultural spaces (the theater).  In the center of the square was placed a statue of Louis XV (replaced by a statue of Stanislas himself), who, after many complicated negotiations with the Emperor of Austria, unites Lorraine to France:  this transition was made easier by naming his father-in-law, former King of Poland, regent of Lorraine.  In this manner, the province superficially remains autonomous while being tied to the French kingdom.  The architecture of the Place Stanislas expresses this situation as capital of a separate region, if not autonomous.  And in the projection of the Arc de Triumph, dedicated to Louis XV, that connects the Place Stanislas and the Place de la Carrière, lies the Governor's Palace which incorporates the true power, the King of France's representative, apparent subordinate of Stanislas who is, in fact, the true political leader.

The 19th century is heavily marked by the economy, including the railroad's expansion and the development in communication and industry.  Yet once again, a major political event directs the urban planning:  after Napoleon III's defeat against Germany, Alsace and a part of Lorraine become part of Germany.  Nancy remains French, only 20 miles from the border, where a certain part of the population takes refuge so as not to become German.  Included in these "immigrants" are numerous industrialists, manufacturers, shopkeepers, and artists who will take part in the birth of an original branch of the Art Nouveau movement in Nancy: l'Ecole de Nancy (including Gallé, Daum, Prouvé, Majorelle).  The strong presence of this artistic movement is one of the city's originalities similar to Horta in Brussels, Gaudí in Barcelona, or Guimard in Paris.

The 20th century is distinguished by brutal renovations surrounding the train station (the destruction of 17th-century blocks and the construction of a high-rise), the continuation of the architectural tradition (including Jean Prouvé), as well as the revival of the city:  restoration of the center, rehabilitation of the industrial spaces.

1 - The City Council and Heritage:  UNESCO and ICOMOS roles

This history explains Nancy's 240 historical monuments of which 40 belong to the city.

The works and their maintenance
The 40 monuments that belong the city are the most important and constantly need upkeep.  During the past few years, the restoration efforts were directed towards the buildings located on the Stanislas Square (roofing, framework, windows, safety, etc.) and the institutions housed within them (the opera, museum, theater, etc.).  For example, the restoration work done on the Arc de Triumph cost $720,000 over a period of 4 years.  The work done on the Fine Arts Museum cost $17 million, $4 million of which went towards the restoration of the existing museum.

Each year, the city invests approximately $5 million in historical preservation, which represents 3.5% of the total budget.

Concerning the technical aspects, the expertise of ICOMOS France is regularly requested for decisions made on certain preservationist operations.

Reconversion of monuments
This financial effort, funded by Nancy's taxpayers through a housing tax, requires a public return.  For this reason, the city's monuments have a clearly perceptible public use, the current political policy to improve their appropriation by the inhabitants:  stores in the Fine Arts Museum open to the public, the tourist office located in the City Hall, the improvement of public spaces related to the monuments.

Here again, the plan defined by ICOMOS France in 1999:  the reflection of the city nurtured by the use of its monuments.

Housing
In addition to the 240 monuments protected in Nancy, 150 acres of the city (out of 1500 - in other words 1/10 of its territory) which correspond to the medieval cities (17th and 18th-century) are protected as a historically safeguarded zone (there are 90 in France of which Nancy's is the largest).

This means that a large part of the urban fabric is under the control of the national administration for historical preservation.  This does not stop the city from favoring, with the adapted financial means, the rehabilitation of buildings and apartments in order to maintain its population (and even creating a higher population density in the center).  New housing projects are also encouraged, notably social housing, in order to maintain a mixed population in the city.  It is also worth noting that historical preservation often creates this heterogeneous population because each building offers several apartments of variable size that can accommodate families, couples, students, singles, etc. whereas new constructions are often more restrictive, targeting a certain population.

Public spaces and town life
The efforts of historical preservation also include the enhancement of public spaces in the dual attempt to accentuate the importance of the architecture and monuments, and to increase the comfort-level for the inhabitants.  This is done through the increase in pedestrian areas (reduction of streets and parking), more simplified urban elements, and a rigorous care given to the quality of materials used.

Heritage and transportation policies
The creation of a tramway on wheels in Nancy, the first of its kind in Europe, is the occasion, through the creation of sites in relation to the tramway, to reidentify the urban spaces concerned.  Public transportation no longer has to be identified with the constraints of work, but rather must be assimilated within the urban fabric, a major task for modernity.

Through these diverse methods concerning the monuments and public areas, the relationship with ICOMOS allows a frequent technical support.  For the 18th-century heritage, registered within the world heritage, the contacts with ICOMOS serve as a sort of intermediary with UNESCO, which is currently not able to be present at all of the classified sites.  The various aptitudes that exist within ICOMOS offer the possibility to receive technical expertise concerning all aspects of historical preservation, whether it concerns monument restoration, public areas planning, or parks and gardens.

2- Heritage and the city's image

The year 1999 was declared "year of l'Ecole (school) de Nancy" in order to symbolically mark the 100th anniversary of the Art Nouveau movement created in Nancy.  The main events were centered around four major exhibitions situated in four of the city's monuments that had recently been restored.  Numerous cultural organizations helped organize various events during the year:  exhibitions, spectacles, conferences, parties, colloquiums, etc.

This promotional operation for the heritage helped the people in Nancy rediscover an important moment of their city's cultural history, and understand its underlying political, economical, and cultural reasons.  This also enabled the assessment of the importance and originality of a creative process that associated artists, craftsmen, botanists, manufacturers and to learn from its teachings.  A university project uniting an important engineering school and the Nancy School of Fine Arts stemmed directly from this reflection on Art Nouveau's heritage.  In addition, the effects on tourism were significant:  approximately 500,000 admissions to the exhibitions (300,000 of which paid) and an increase in hotel and restaurant business of approximately 30%.

Here again, the scientific committee created to orient the contents of the major exhibitions included several ICOMOS members who brought forth their competence and relational networks.

3- Heritage and partnership

The French administrational system concerning historical preservation is very centralized:  the labelling of historical monuments or safeguarded areas entails a strict control by the State, whoever the owners may be:  its control of operations, and the obligation to have recourse to a State-designated architect in exchange for State financial aid.  There is therefore an obligatory partnership between the State and local communities where the State has the final say in the name of its superior interest - the protection of its national heritage.

This stronghold by the State (Minister of Culture) and by its local services on the historical preservation is explained through history:  the notion of national historical preservation developed during the French Revolution at a moment when, by expropriation, the State became owner of all goods belonging to the monarchy, aristocrats, and religious communities, and had to deal with numerous destructions.  It is also explained by the existence of a large quantity of local communities in France (36,600 - the largest dispersion of local authorities in Europe) which, in large part, are small villages that do not have the technical or financial means to take care of prestigious monuments:  Mont St.-Michel, the Bridge at Gara, the Langres Monastery, etc....  The vision of a long-term administration for historical preservation was therefore, during a long period, monopolized by the State.  Today, the investments from local communities for historical preservation are three or four times greater than those from the State, yet the national control remains the same.

The nomination as a world heritage
It was in 1986 that Nancy's 18th-century squares were registered into the world heritage of humanity by UNESCO after having launched the procedure in 1984.  This distinction, stemming from the convention on world heritage adopted by UNESCO in 1972, concerns historical monuments as well as natural sites that present an interest for the cultural heritage of humanity.

It does not entail precise jurisdictional constraints:  rather, it endows the States concerned with the obligation of maintenance, who must then give a report on the administration of the sites.  In reality, because the French system of control is already very restrictive while offering important guarantees, the UNESCO's specialized services intervene very little and the city of Nancy produces reports concerning the maintenance of the three squares very irregularly.

UNESCO generally intervenes in the case of monuments threatened by natural causes (such as Venice) or political causes (such as Dubrovnik and Angkor) and can distribute financial means procured from funds set up for world heritage.  These means are naturally reserved for countries in difficulty or in the process of development.

The UNESCO label, difficult to obtain, endows the patrimony with an exceptional significance and constitutes a moral obligation for the State with regard to the international community (some of them are even permanent members of it).

In Nancy's case, its integration in the club ICOMOS constitutes an additional guarantee for UNESCO, several members of the administrative council of ICOMOS France having contacts regularly with the UNESCO world historical preservation committee.

The technical and political aid from ICOMOS France
Technically, ICOMOS keeps its members well-informed on current events in relation to historical preservation:  questions concerning restoration, upkeep, and new technologies being used are presented in the ICOMOS bulletin, and reunions, organized regularly, are the occasion to exchange experiences and problems.

Specialized symposiums are organized annually in different cities.  In this way, three years ago, Nancy had the chance to welcome a symposium on the restoration of metal objects, iron, and castings, subjects directly related to Nancy where the upkeep of the wrought -iron railings by Jean Lamour is a constant concern.  The city's technical services, which do not have a high degree of specialization in the domain of historical preservation, depend on these technical meetings which develop their savoir-faire.  It is also the occasion to discuss examples within the city amongst the top national and European experts.

The ICOMOS network is sufficiently large and varied to rapidly offer precise expertise whenever necessary, either free of charge for minor interventions or paid, directly to the individual intervening, if a larger amount of time is necessary.

ICOMOS' contribution is also politico-administrative.  ICOMOS France reunites professionals concerning historical preservation from all horizons:  architects in charge of historical monuments (under the control of the Minister of Culture), professional architects concerned with historical preservation, national or local civil workers, universities, researchers, heads of associations for historical preservation, monument proprietors, etc.

Considering the centralization of the French system controlling historical preservation, ICOMOS settles a large number of conflicts that could eventually develop between the State and local authorities within the domain.

ICOMOS plays the role of a club permitting the confrontation of differing points of view and their resolution in a less formal manner than the official authorizational procedures.  This relationship between performers within a positive context can be an efficient way of harmoniously governing the heritage.

It allows diverse corporations and institutions to better recognize their respective restraints and to understand conflicting points of view.  In this way, the presence of city representatives on the Administrative Council contributes a local realism to the debate, including communities' needs concerning historical preservation whereas the specialist's vision is often perfectionist, rather intellectualized, sometimes even unaware of local restraints.  These possible deviations can be avoided by the communication that takes place in the "ICOMOS club".

Projects to be carried out in 2005
The 18th-century squares were inaugurated by Stanislas in 1755.  In 2005, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of this major architectural event for Nancy.  This will obviously be used as a pretext to create a bond between past urban planning and present.  It will also be the culminating event in a series of efforts, already in process, concerning the restoration and the enhancement of the 18th-century city:  the restoration and cleaning of all monuments, the redefinition of street and roadway space, the prohibition of vehicular circulation on the Place Stanislas, the limiting of parking on other squares, the renovation of certain buildings.

To supervise these operations, a work force will be created this year along with a scientific committee.  The scientific committee will include certain members of ICOMOS France whereas the work force, made up of professionals in historical preservation from both city and State, will also include UNESCO representatives.

The existing dynamic, with ICOMOS and UNESCO, will therefore be accentuated in what will be for Nancy the first major patrimonial event of the 21st century.

DENIS GRANDJEAN is  a graduate in law and political sciences from the University of Paris. His professional experience lies under the heading of culture, heritage and environment as he is one of the few French administrators to have had responsibilities and field experience in the varied but complementary fields of historic monuments, landscapes conservation, and national parks.  After holding a post in the Ministry of Culture in Paris, he became conservation officer of historic monuments in the region of Franche Comté, in the east of France and also simultaneously managed  the Royal Saltworks of Arc et Senans, a large 18th century monument converted into a conference and cultural center.  Mr Grandjean was then nominated Director of the Environment in Burgundy, before returning to Paris as Deputy Director of Architectural Affairs.  He then managed first the Ecrin National Park, and later, the Mercantour National Park, both in the southern French Alps.  In 1993, he returned to the field of architecture and town planning when he look up the position of head of the Nancy School of Architecture where he oversaw the construction and launching of a new school.  Since 1995, he has also been Deputy Mayor of Nancy,  responsible for town planning and heritage, and Deputy Chairman of the County Council which comprises twenty towns and villages of the suburbs of Nancy.  He  lectures in environmental law at the Nancy Law School. He is also chairman of several organizations involved in the conservation of archives on modern architecture, in the protection of le Corbusier's  "cité radieuse" in the north of the region, and in housing rehabilitation projects.