Paris Zinc Roof Restorers Receive UNESCO World Heritage Recognition

The craft of preserving Paris's iconic zinc rooftops is honored as an intangible cultural heritage, highlighting its historical and artistic significance.

• UNESCO has officially added the zinc roof restoration techniques of Paris to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognizing their role in shaping the city's skyline.
• Approximately 80% of Parisian rooftops are covered in zinc, a feature dating back to the 19th-century Haussmann era, making the city a 'living archive' of this craftsmanship.
• The recognition aims to address a shortage of skilled roofers while encouraging younger generations to join the trade, crucial for maintaining Paris's architectural identity.
• Roofers use traditional techniques from the 1800s, including custom-cutting and welding zinc sheets, often working in physically demanding and extreme weather conditions.
• The acknowledgment also underscores the need for improved working conditions for roofers and adaptations to address modern challenges, including climate change impacts on zinc roofs.

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