UNESCO Headquarters: the history of the building

Where is UNESCO headquarters located? Probably, many people sometimes asked this question, since the organization itself is well known all over the world. Today UNESCO headquarters is located in Paris. The building is known all over the world. And not only because its owner is one of the most powerful and popular organizations on the planet, but also because it in itself is a true architectural masterpiece.

How it all began

When the Second World War ended and Europe sighed with relief, it was decided to create the UN, and with it, UNESCO, the body responsible for the development of culture, art and education throughout the world. Almost immediately, the creators of UNESCO agreed that the headquarters of the organization would be in Paris. Only now this city, destroyed by the war, at that time was completely not ready for it.

Arriving on September 16, 1946 from London, the commission for the creation of UNESCO was forced to huddle in the Parisian hotel "Majestic". Secretaries worked in the bedrooms, and middle-class employees were generally placed in the bathrooms. All documents of the newborn organization were stored in a wardrobe. This went on until 1958, when UNESCO Headquarters finally got a building on the left bank of the Seine at its disposal.

The fruit of collective creativity

In this luxurious room, which adorns the Fontenoy Square, from the very beginning, they put a lot of creative efforts. Famous designers, engineers and architects from all over the world were invited. The project was worked by the American M. Breiner, the Italian P. Nervi and the French B. Zerfus, and supervised the construction of S. Corbusier (France), V. Gropius (USA), L. Costa (Brazil), S. Markelius (Sweden) and E Rogers (Italy), who were members of the special committee.

Interior

As soon as the main works came to an end, the creators proceeded to design the interior. Given the specific nature of UNESCO's activities, they decided to focus on culture. From various parts of the world, the canvases of the most famous artists of the time arrived at the headquarters of the organization. Some pictures were ordered in advance and bought, and some were taken as a gift from the member countries of the organization. Legendary personalities (Picasso, Tamayo, Arp and others) decorated the walls of the building with paintings, frescoes and sculptures. Works of artists decorated the rooms of the room, which gradually turned into a gallery, symbolizing the world, where art, creativity and inspiration dominate.

UNESCO Headquarters in Paris: our days

Today, looking at a beautiful building, you see a successful combination of the rationalism of modern architecture and art of painting of the middle of the last century. UNESCO headquarters is a seven-story building, in shape it resembles the letter Y. It is erected on 72 columns of concrete, between which the lobby and headquarters offices are located.

UNESCO headquarters consists of three buildings, located at an angle of 120 degrees relative to each other. The glass facade with 1068 windows housed a huge library, as well as collections of stamps, coins and souvenirs. Harmoniously blended with the creation of the architects "Accordion". This building is in the form of a cube, in which there is an oval hall for 900 seats. It is here that plenary sessions of UNESCO are held.

The third part of the composition is hidden underground, at a depth of two levels. In it we find 6 cozy courtyards and a garden in Japanese style, on which the windows of the Corps of permanent representations. The doors of these rooms are always open to the guests. And they do not miss the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the most humane organization in the world, which has collected a myriad of art gifts.