Modernism at Risk
Great Architecture from the Less-Distant Past
Today’s built environment seems to evolve at an ever-increasing pace, as buildings appear and disappear from the horizon in decades rather than centuries. No longer is it a given that a noteworthy building will stand the test of time, and significant works of recent architecture are vulnerable to demolition before their value is widely appreciated.
Modernism is the defining movement in twentieth-century architecture. Yet many important modern structures are at risk, endangered due to neglect, inappropriate renovation, physical deterioration, and the threat of demolition. The innovative and experimental design elements, materials, and technologies that define these structures are often the biggest challenges to their preservation.
Mobilizing Around Modernism
Through the Modernism at Risk initiative and the World Monuments Watch, we draw international attention to at-risk modernist sites around the world, from the iconic to the unexplored and the forgotten.
Our leadership prevented the planned demolition of the A. Conger Goodyear House, and resulted in the building’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 and a preservation easement, both of which ensured the legacy of the building. We have also participated in design competitions with universities and local preservation groups to support the creation of reuse plans for sites threatened with demolition, including Grosse Pointe Public Library.
In 2008, we launched the World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize to highlight the role that architects and designers play in protecting modern heritage and to recognize their innovative architectural and design solutions. In 2009, we created the Modernism at Risk exhibition to present case studies of threatened buildings and to generate dialogue about local architecture and preservation.
Conservation Projects
The survival of modern buildings is frequently threatened by the technical challenges of conserving experimental materials and systems such as glass curtain walls and poured concrete façades. Our involvement has been pivotal in the conservation of several sites—our forward-thinking support at Viipuri Library and Tugendhat Villa helped leverage additional funding, and provided the momentum needed to complete conservation.
An Ongoing Need
Despite the accomplishments made at some sites, modernist architecture is increasingly threatened and battles continue to be lost.
The drastic renovation of the Orange County Government Center—where Paul Rudolph’s distinctive façade was stripped bare, leaving only the framework behind—exemplifies the ongoing threats. The destruction of Rudolph’s Riverview High School and the Phillis Wheatley Elementary School—both razed despite protests from the local communities and the development of viable plans for reuse—reminds us that we must persist in the fight to preserve modern architecture and our shared twentieth-century heritage.
Related Projects
A. Conger Goodyear House
Tugendhat Villa
Tugendhat Villa is a seminal work of modernist, International Style architecture by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium
Our Supporters
World Monuments Fund's Modernism at Risk program has been made possible, in part, by support from Knoll and the David Davies and Jack Weeden Fund.