Defining the structure and boundaries of the outstanding universal value of an urban heritage site (the example of Saint Petersburg)

The article addresses the issues of the value of urban heritage, which is described in the international system of protection by the concept of “Outstanding Universal Value”. In view of the insufficient attention paid to this concept in Russian science, the author provides a general characteristic of the Outstanding Universal value and the notion of ‘integrity’, which is no less important for its understanding. On the example of the World Heritage site “Historic Centre of St. Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments”, the Outstanding Universal Value is considered as a complex multi-level system. The expediency of using a hierarchical approach to determining the structure, boundaries and zone of influence of the Outstanding Universal Value of large urban system with universally recognised architectural, urban planning, historical and cultural significance is substantiated.