Prague’s historic center was listed as a World Heritage Site of an Outstanding Universal Value in 1992, due to it being an example of an urban development that goes back to the medieval ages and an urban architectural ensemble of outstanding quality with its monuments and townscape that is associated with key historical events. However, following the reports of two monitoring missions by the World Heritage Committee, in 2008 and 2019, the visual integrity of the center was deemed to be at risk in Decision 44 COM 7B.44 for the year 2021. Multiple issues were highlighted, including oversized buildings and amalgamations, unregulated rooftop interventions, and transportation management issues. This paper delves into the discussion surrounding oversized structures and their impact on the visual integrity of Prague's historic center. To this aim, it revisits the definition of integrity and its prerequisites and analyzes the committee's decision and the diverse local reactions – including the official state party's response and the measures undertaken to protect the center's visual integrity. The cross-examination of documents, discourses, and practical applications highlights the multitude of challenges involved in assessing visual integrity and implementing effective preservation methods.
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