Tashkent mahallas are inscribed on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, the press office of the Government of Uzbekistan reports referring to the website of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Consistent measures are being taken in Uzbekistan to preserve the historical appearance of old urban blocks under the Mahalla: Urban and Provincial Life Project. The project was presented at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition last year.
The mahalla, customary to the people of Uzbekistan, aroused keen interest among representatives of the Western community as an example of the restoration of ancient urban eco-architecture in condition of a modern metropolis.
An expert group of the Art and Culture Development Foundation in cooperation with UNESCO conducted research on Tashkent mahallas.
At the initiative of the public, who advocated the preservation of old Zarkainar Street in Tashkent, the implementation of construction projects on the territory of mahallas is prohibited as to preserve their authentic appearance. This was one of the factors contributing to the inscription of urban mahallas on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.
