Where is the headquarters of UNESCO? Probably, many people sometimes asked this question, since the organization itself is quite well-known throughout the world. Today, UNESCO headquarters is located in Paris. This building is famous all over the world. And not only because its owner is one of the most powerful and popular organizations on the planet, but also due to the fact that in itself it is a real architectural masterpiece.
How it all began
When World War II ended and Europe breathed a sigh of relief, it was decided to create the UN, and with it, UNESCO, the body responsible for the development of culture, art and education around the world. Almost immediately, the creators of UNESCO agreed that the organization’s headquarters would be in Paris. Only this city, destroyed by the war, at that time was completely unprepared for this.
Arriving on September 16, 1946 from London, the commission for the creation of UNESCO was forced to huddle in the Paris Majestic hotel. Secretaries worked in the bedrooms, and middle-sized employees were generally placed in the bathrooms. All documents of the newborn organization were stored in a wardrobe. This continued until 1958, when UNESCO Headquarters finally got its own building on the left bank of the Seine.
The fruit of collective creativity
In this luxurious room, decorating Piazza Fontenoy, from the very beginning they put a lot of creative effort. Famous designers, engineers and architects from around the world were invited. The American M. Brainer, the Italian P. Nervi and the Frenchman B. Serfius worked on the project, and the construction was supervised by S. Corbusier (France), V. Gropius (USA), L. Costa (Brazil), S. Markelius (Sweden) and E Rogers (Italy), members of the ad hoc committee.
Interior
As soon as the main work came to an end, the creators began to design the interior. Given the specifics of UNESCO, they decided to focus on culture. From different parts of the planet, canvases of famous artists of that time arrived at the headquarters of the organization. Some paintings were ordered in advance and bought, and some were accepted as a gift from member countries of the organization. Legendary figures (Picasso, Tamayo, Arp and others) decorated the walls of the building with murals, frescoes and sculptures. The paintings of the artists decorated the rooms of the room, which gradually turned into a gallery symbolizing a world dominated by art, creativity and inspiration.
UNESCO headquarters in Paris: today
Today, looking at a beautiful building, you see a successful combination of rationalism of modern architecture and the art of painting from 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 are located the lobby and office departments of the headquarters.
UNESCO headquarters consists of three buildings located in relation to each other at an angle of 120 degrees. The glass facade with 1,068 windows houses a huge library, as well as collections of stamps, coins and souvenirs. Harmoniously fit into the work of architects "Accordion". This is a cube-shaped building with an oval hall with 900 seats. It is here that plenary meetings of UNESCO are held.
The third part of the composition is hidden underground, at a depth of two levels. In it we will find 6 cozy courtyards and a Japanese-style garden that overlooks the Corps of Permanent Missions. The doors of these rooms are always open wide for guests. And they do not miss the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the most humane organization in the world, which has gathered countless gifts of art.