The World Monuments Fund has worked for decades to save endangered architectural and cultural sites around the globe, from the earliest settlements to 20th-century architecture. In recent years, we have increasingly noted that modern buildings face the same physical threats as ancient structures, despite a mistaken view that modern materials are less fragile than those used in earlier times. In addition, 20th-century architecture often suffers from a lack of understanding of its historical significance.

The Modernism at Risk initiative represents extraordinary—yet threatened—20th-century sites that transcend specific definitions, and brings advocacy and education to the forefront.