World Monuments Fund

This one’s for all our architecture (and movie) lovers: a #brutalist spotlight! The term #brutalism derives from the French betón brut, meaning “raw concrete,” and refers to a style of late #modernist #architecture that emerged during the second half of the 20th century. Brutalist architecture, characterized by bold geometries, exposed structural materials, and functional spatial design, was an expression of social progressivism. It is also the architectural style at the center of this year’s film, “The Brutalist,” which follows a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor, played by Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, as he attempts to rebuild his life in America.    WMF is proud to have #conserved several brutalist structures, including:   ▪️️ London’s Southbank Centre, United Kingdom  ▪️️ La Maison du Peuple, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso  ▪️️ Miami Marine Stadium, United States  ▪️ Preston Bus Station, United Kingdom Congratulations to “The Brutalist” for its three wins at the 97th #Oscars! 

Lights, camera, action 🎥 Get ready for tonight’s 97th #AcademyAwards with a round-up of iconic heritage sites featured in award-winning films! 🎞️ The Palace and Gardens of Versailles, France in Marie Antoinette (2006), photos courtesy of Columbia Pictures and Sylvain Duffard  🎞️ The Taj Mahal, India in Slumdog Millionaire (2008), photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures  🎞️ Hagia Sophia, Türkiye in Argo (2012), photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment  🎞️ Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures  🎞️ The Great Wall of China in Disney’s Mulan (1998), photo courtesy of Disney  ️🎞️ Grand Canal, Venice in Casino Royale (2006), photo courtesy of Sony Pictures  🎞️ The Moon in A Trip to the Moon (1902), photos courtesy of NASA and BFI National Archive  ️ 🎞️ Alabama Civil Rights Sites in Selma (2014), photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures and James Barker WMF is proud to have supported #conservation efforts at these and countless other heritage sites around the globe. #Oscars #CulturalHeritage #Oscars97 

Sri Lanka's first woman #architect was a trailblazer of modernist architecture, but do you know her name?  Minnette De Silva (1918–1998) should be one of the most famous female architects in the world, yet her impact is little known today. A pioneering #modernist, De Silva collaborated with local artisans to incorporate Sri Lankan #craft into her innovative designs. De Silva’s experimentation with fabrication and traditional Sri Lankan building methods was ahead of its time, and she was one of only two women in the world to establish an architectural practice in her own name in the 1940s. For her work, De Silva was admitted to the Royal Institute of British Architects—becoming the first Asian woman to do so. Despite her contributions to the field of architecture, she is often overlooked in favor of her male contemporaries. Only a handful of her buildings survive today, and there is no proper documentation of her proposed or destroyed work. Through the Minnette De Silva project, WMF is working with the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka to raise awareness about De Silva’s architectural legacy and #preserve her existing designs. This #WomensHistoryMonth, see how we’re safeguarding the pioneering architect’s work: https://lnkd.in/ezizx_wZ 📸 Minnette De Silva climbing up to inspect concrete pillars and slab work at the De Saram house, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1951. Photo courtesy of RIBA Collections.  📸 Karunaratne House, Kandy by Minette de Silva's Studio of Modern Architecture. Photo courtesy of Mack Books / Wallpaper.  📸 House for Bunnie Molamure, 1955, Bolgoda, by Minette de Silva's Studio of Modern Architecture. Photo courtesy of Mack Books / Wallpaper. 

From WMF’s archives 🗄️ Celebrate the start of the holy month of #Ramadan with these #archival photographs of Islamic sites where we’ve worked around the globe: 🌙 Larabanga Mosque, Ghana   🌙 Uch Monument Complex, Pakistan  🌙 Tarim, Yemen Dive into WMF’s past work at Islamic sites and the WMF archives: https://lnkd.in/ecRSHek9 #EidMubarak—عيد مبارك—to all those who celebrate! 

“It’s so important to save this...it teaches you everything.” Diane von Furstenberg says of #WorldHeritage city #Venice, Italy 🇮🇹  ▶️ This #Carnival, hear from #DVF about the eternal beauty Venice and why #conservation is more important now than ever in our latest 60th anniversary video.  #heritage #culturalheritage #venezia #venicecarnival #carnival  

How does #rice connect a small island in West #Africa to the #AmericanSouth? Rice has deep roots in both South Carolina and West Africa. In the 1700s, enslaved Africans from the Rice Coast, including Sierra Leone, brought their rice cultivation expertise to the Carolinas, leading to the state's rise as a top rice producer. The West African influence on farming techniques and varieties has shaped South Carolina's rich agricultural history, creating a lasting cultural and economic bond between the two regions. Sierra Leone's Bunce Island was the major trading post where many enslaved Africans from the Rice Coast were sent to the American South. As #BlackHistoryMonth concludes, press ▶️ to learn more about the ties between the United States and Bunce Island, a 2012 and 2016 #WorldMonumentsWatch site where WMF undertook a major conservation project. 

Register for tomorrow's webinar on WMF's work in Latin America and the Caribbean with the Museums Association of the Caribbean! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eFHDeApb #latinamerica #caribbean #conservation

Discover WMF's Venetian origin story 🇮🇹 This #Carnival 🎭 🎊 season, explore our roots #preserving #heritage across this iconic city with our new video featuring icons including DVF (Diane von Furstenberg), The Art Newspaper founder Anna Somers Cocks, and Fondazione di Venezia’s Giovanni Dell’Olivo. 

Learn about WMF's work in Latin America and the Caribbean, which includes over 186 #conservation projects, in Museums Association of the Caribbean's next webinar. Discover WMF's engagement in the Caribbean, followed by a discussion of the current state of the field and opportunities within the region: https://lnkd.in/eFHDeApb

Tourism can be a double-edged sword: while well-known #travel destinations can be overwhelmed with #tourists, overlooked sites struggle to maintain operations and support local economies. UNESCO’s Global Tourism Resilience Day spotlights the positive impacts sustainable tourism can have on communities, #heritagesites, and the #environment. WMF is proud to welcome global hospitality leader Accor as our inaugural Sustainable Tourism Partner for the 2025 #WorldMonumentsWatch cycle, collaborating on projects at Watch sites to create meaningful connections with communities, build long-term resilience, and enhance destinations. 📸: Challenges at 2025 Watch sites include the difficulties of under-tourism as well as pressures of over-tourism. By drawing attention to the Monasteries of the Drino Valley, #Albania (first photo, photo courtesy of Wandrille Potez), WMF seeks to support efforts to reactivate the sites through responsible tourism, whereas #China’s Buddhist Grottoes of Maijishan and Yungang (second photo) face conservation challenges as they welcome unprecedented numbers of visitors. Learn more about the 2025 World Monuments Watch: https://lnkd.in/ebCu7zZB