This decision is a significant recognition of Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to preserve, promote, and pass on the country’s historical and cultural heritage to future generations.
The inscription is of particular importance for the country. It is Uzbekistan’s first national nomination to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in the past 25 years. In addition, Uzbekistan has become the first country in Central Asia and the CIS to have 20th-century modernist architecture recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The list includes ten unique landmarks that represent Tashkent’s architectural identity, shaped during the second half of the 20th century:
the “Pearl” Residential Building
State Museum of History
Peoples’ Friendship Palace (Peoples’ Friendship Palace)
State Museum of Arts
Tashkent State Circus
Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Arts
Alisher Navoi Cinema Palace (Panoramic Cinema)
Chorsu Bazaar
Kosmonavtlar metro station
Big Solar Furnace (Sun Heliocomplex)
These buildings are outstanding symbols of Tashkent’s large-scale reconstruction and development following the devastating 1966 earthquake. Their architectural designs combine modern engineering solutions with national architectural traditions while taking into account the region’s climatic and seismic conditions.
The inclusion of these sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List represents international recognition of their outstanding universal value. It will strengthen international cooperation in their preservation and academic research, support the further development of cultural tourism, enhance Tashkent’s global appeal as a travel destination, and promote Uzbekistan’s rich historical and architectural heritage on the world stage.
