News 1+1丨Demolition or relocation of the giant illegally built "Guan Gong Statue" in Jingzhou Experts make recommendations
As you can see from the photo, this statue is really big, 57.3 meters high. Just from the perspective of perception, it is somewhat incompatible with the surrounding urban buildings, not to mention the construction procedures and scale of the statue. , There are violations of laws and regulations.
In early October, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development reported that the giant statue of Guan Gong built within the historical urban area of the ancient city in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, was 57.3 meters high and violated the relevant provisions of the approved "Jingzhou Historic and Cultural City Protection Plan".
How to view the enlightenment and influence brought by such an illegally built statue?
For historical and cultural cities, should there be a fuzzy area of protection and supervision?
Why does the giant sculpture in the historical urban area of Jingzhou, an ancient city in Hubei, cause such widespread concern?
Behind it is the huge historical value of the ancient city of Jingzhou: Jingzhou is one of the first 24 historical and cultural cities announced in 1982 in my country, with a history of more than 2,800 years.
Regarding the protection of the ancient city of Jingzhou, over the years, the central, provincial and municipal departments have invested a lot of money, and there are relatively complete laws and regulations surrounding the ancient city. Why does illegal construction still occur?
Violating the "Jingzhou Historic and Cultural City Protection Plan", destroying the features and historical context of the ancient city, this is the definition of this huge "Guan Gong sculpture" in Jingzhou, Hubei by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in early October this year.
As things have developed to this day, whether this giant Guan Gong statue in Jingzhou is to be moved or demolished, the local area is organizing experts to discuss and formulate plans.
Wang Yi, an expert from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and director of the Urban Management Research Center of Yangzhou University:
For the investigation and punishment of illegal construction, I suggest that different situations should be distinguished. It is more practical to adopt different punishment methods and cannot be applied across the board.
From the perspective of the overall development of Jingzhou, whether it is demolishing or relocation, it will cause a relatively large economic loss. It is the best policy to relocate it to a place that meets the planning and the protection of historical and cultural cities.
Deng Yong, Chairman of the Party Committee of Jingzhou Tourism Investment and Development Group Co., Ltd.:
We thought that this statue did not require planning approval at the time, and we had this vague understanding.
We treat it as a work of art.
According to the reporter’s investigation, the builder of this sculpture submitted an application for construction permit and planning permit to the Jingzhou Municipal Housing and Construction Department and the Planning Department in 2014, but the content of the application only involves the base part of the statue. The statue of Guan Gong we see now, in fact, has not gone through any approval procedures.
From the application in 2014, to completion in 2016, and to today in 2020, planning, construction, and approval, in reality, is such supervision commensurate with the status of Jingzhou Ancient City?
Qin Jun, deputy director of the Hubei Jingzhou Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning:
We have all noticed this.
It's just that we did have a deviation in our original understanding and understanding, and we did not have enough knowledge about the approval procedures related to large sculptures.
Urban development does not mean that statues cannot be built, nor that statues of historical and cultural celebrities cannot be built, but whether you build this statue firstly is it legal and compliant, and secondly, is it adapted to the needs and direction of urban development.
Let's take a look at where this giant Guan Gong sculpture involves violations of laws and regulations.
Build without approval: The base of the statue was approved, and the statue was added, which violated the Urban and Rural Planning Law of the People’s Republic of China
Exceeding the height limit: The statue is 318 meters outside the ancient city, which belongs to the open space of the historical city area. The height of this area is limited to 24 meters. The overall height of the statue is 57.3. It violates the "Jingzhou Historic and Cultural City Protection Plan"
The "Regulations on the Protection of Jingzhou Ancient City"
mentioned:
(1) No other construction projects shall be carried out within the protection scope of Jingzhou city wall cultural relics.
However, if other construction projects are required due to special circumstances, the height of the building cornice shall be controlled below six meters;
(2) The height of the cornices in the first-class construction control zone of Jingzhou City Wall shall be controlled below 12 meters;
(3) The height of the cornice of the building in the second-class construction control zone of Jingzhou City Wall shall be controlled below 15 meters, and the height of the cornice of the building outside the city wall of the second-class construction control zone of Jingzhou City Wall shall be controlled below 24 meters.
There are mainly two violations of laws and regulations: one is the construction before approval; the other is the violation of the relevant laws and regulations on the protection of the famous cultural city of Jiangzhou. This is probably also an important reason why this incident was named and criticized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
Whether it is from the "Protection Plan" or the "Protection Regulations", the height should be within the limit of 15 to 24.
Protection of historical and cultural cities, height is the basic content of overall style protection
Zhang Jie, professor of the School of Architecture of Tsinghua University, Vice Chairman of the Academic Committee of Historical and Cultural Cities of the China Urban Planning Society:
I was shocked to see this giant statue of Jingzhou.
Because Jingzhou is a very important historical and cultural city in our country, the country's protection regulations for cultural cities, towns and villages are very clear about its value, protection content, and related requirements.
The height has a certain relationship with the city itself and the surrounding environment.
Therefore, the height is a basic content of the overall style protection. The super-high building is obviously very obtrusive whether it is viewed from the inside of the city, the wall of the building, or the sculpture.
In addition, this statue is within the scope of the historical city, the historical city is the basic content of the protection of historical and cultural cities, and there are clear control requirements for the buildings in it.
Whether it is architecture or artwork, as long as it affects the overall style of the historic city, it should be controlled
Zhang Jie, vice chairman of the Academic Committee of Historical and Cultural Cities of the China Urban Planning Society:
From the perspective of the protection of historical and cultural cities and the protection and control of the overall style and pattern of the historical city, no matter what, as long as it affects the style, it does not matter whether it is a sculpture or something. All should belong to the scope of control.
Our country's "Urban and Rural Planning Law" has qualitative regulations on what a structure is and what its volume is. An oversized object like the Guan Gong statue should be regarded as a structure.
If it is a sculpture, there may be other understandings. I personally think that such a volume, and adopting an immovable way, is a bit reluctant to use it as a sculpture.
Even if it is a work of art, the height must be uniformly limited.
The height requirement does not distinguish between buildings and artworks.
Jingzhou's giant illegally built Guan Gong statue reflects the city's unclear understanding of historical and cultural cities
Zhang Jie, vice chairman of the Academic Committee of Historical and Cultural Cities of the China Urban Planning Society:
Many places may not have a clear or sufficient understanding of why a city is listed as a historical and cultural city.
The legal and professional concepts for a city to be classified as a historical and cultural city are very clear.
This city has a wealth of cultural relics. For example, the city wall of Jingzhou is a complete city wall that is very rare in the country, so it is listed as a national security unit; or there are major historical events in history. Although the Three Kingdoms are stories, they also have real histories; An important location like the Yangtze River is also representative in human geography.
Some things in it were real in the past, but the carrier remains real today. It is very important to deal with the relationship between protecting it and economic development.
Just like "green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains", we have a real historical and cultural city. This is our real resource. This resource is used well under today's cultural development and has a sustainable effect in the long run.
Is the giant Guan Gong statue in Jingzhou moved? Or demolish?
Zhang Jie, vice chairman of the Academic Committee of Historical and Cultural Cities of the China Urban Planning Society:
I don’t have a clear answer here. The industry and academia also have different opinions. The statue of Guan Gong in Jingzhou is so large that it can be moved and the traffic route can be selected ?
Is it to dismantle it into pieces and rebuild it elsewhere?
I'm not sure what is the relationship between this technology and cost.
Is there a contradiction between the development and protection of historical and cultural cities? Why does illegal construction still occur under strong protection?
Zhang Jie, vice chairman of the Academic Committee of Historical and Cultural Cities of the China Urban Planning Society:
I feel that I still do not fully understand the importance of the protection of historical and cultural cities. The protection of historical and cultural cities emphasizes historical and cultural values.
General Secretary Xi mentioned this point in his instructions on the protection of civilized cities in Zhengding a few years ago.
For historical and cultural cities, we explore its value, which is its essence. If we have a superficial understanding of heritage and culture, as general culture, or even popular culture, it is easy to protect the heritage of historical and cultural cities with fashion Things are mixed together indiscriminately. Seeking big things like this is obviously a manifestation of cultural inconfidence. Such deep things and real things seem to be unable to arouse the pride of many people.
Coupled with a lot of interest-driven, such as tourism development, tourism is often engaged in some thematic things. Generally speaking, it is understandable, but the site selection is to be considered.
Within the scope of the historical city, the first thing to obey is the overall style and pattern, which is an important environment that sets off the main heritage objects and values.
The construction of historical and cultural cities under protection should first follow existing laws and regulations and be in awe
Zhang Jie
,
vice chairman of the Academic Committee of Famous Historical and Cultural Cities of the China Urban Planning Society:
First of all, we must follow the established legal status. For example, many cities have determined the content of historical and cultural cities in the form of regulations. This is what everyone needs to comply with. The basic principle of being in awe is the first.
You don’t need to tell anyone, but you have to understand and abide by it. If this framework permits, you must follow the procedures of experts, publicity, public participation, etc.
Of course, there are a lot of issues that need to be discussed in the program. Some are cultural soft issues, with different styles and different content; others are related to investment, and cultural projects may require a lot of financial resources. This money is invested here. The appropriateness of the city is not appropriate, this is all to be discussed.
The law stipulates that the procedure is there. I think the procedure is clear for something as big as the Guan Gong statue and in such an important position.
If such a thing is considered a work of art, its height is ignored and it is difficult to explain.
For an ancient city like Jingzhou, what needs to be paid attention to in the future protection?
Zhang Jie, vice chairman of the Academic Committee of Historical and Cultural Cities of the China Urban Planning Society:
I think we still have to follow the protection planning and related laws and regulations; in addition, we must take a sustainable path for urban protection and the use and activation of heritage.
In fact, there have been many good examples in China recently, and this is a direct experience that can be used for reference.
To protect first, we must protect both the city wall and the overall environment of the city wall.