BY CRAIG LARIMER
Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem
Since Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you may soon see these “Patrimonio Mundial” logos popping up around town.
As a designer who’s always interested in the creative process and how things were made, let’s take a closer look at the World Heritage logo, how it was developed, and what it means.
First off, the sharp-looking, bold symbol is surrounded by the words “Patrimonio Mundial.” It’s a Spanish phrase that translates to “World Heritage” in English. The term “World Heritage” refers to cultural and natural sites that are considered to be of “Outstanding Universal Value” and are inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
According to the UNESCO website, at its second session (Washington, 1978), the World Heritage Committee adopted the World Heritage Emblem which was designed by Mr. Michel Olyff.
The Emblem symbolizes the interdependence of cultural and natural properties: the central square is a form created by humans and the circle represents nature, the two being intimately linked.
The logo is round, like the world, but at the same time, it’s a symbol of protection. It symbolizes the Convention, signifies the adherence of States Parties to the Convention, and serves to identify properties inscribed in the World Heritage List.
It is associated with public knowledge about the Convention and is the imprimatur of the Convention‘s credibility and prestige. Above all, it is a representation of the universal values for which the Convention stands.