Architectural Works that Were Declared World Heritage Sites in the Last Decade

World Heritage Site is the title given to specific places on the globe (landscapes, cultural routes, cities, or architectural structures) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, as a way to recognize their natural or cultural relevance and to encourage their preservation. Up to 2019, 1121 places in over 167 countries have been declared World Heritage Sites, of which 869 are cultural, 213 natural and 39 are mixed category.

In this article, we've compiled a list of architectural works (buildings and complexes) that were added to the list of World Heritage Sites during this decade (2010-2020), including everything from homes, palaces, factories, and other industrial buildings to cathedrals, museums, universities, opera houses, mosques, and residential complexes:

Factories and industrial buildings

Fagus Factory in Alfeld (Germany)

Fagus Factory in Alfeld (Germany). Image © Carsten Janssen [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 2.0 DE

Van Nelle Factory (Netherlands)

Van Nelle Factory (Netherlands). Image © F.Eveleens [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY 3.0

Traditional Pearling Industry (Bahrain)

Traditional Pearling Industry (Bahrain). Image © Francisco Anzola [Flickr] Bajo Licencia CC BY 2.0

Ivrea, Industrial City of the 20th Century (Italy)

20th Century Industrial Center in Ivrea (Italy). Image © Laurom [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY 3.0

Tomioka Silk Mill (Japan)

Tomioka Silk Mill (Japan). Image © xiquinhosilva [Flickr] Bajo Licencia CC BY 2.0

Ensembles

Decorated Farm Houses of Hälsingland (Sweden)

Farmhouses of Hälsingland (Sweden). Image © L.G.foto [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 4.0

Pampulha Modern Ensemble (Brazil)

House of Dance- Pampulha Modern Ensemble (Brazil) . Image © Hugo Martins [Flickr] Bajo Licencia CC BY-NC 2.0

Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil (Iran)

Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil (Iran). Image © Shayan imani [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 4.0

Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (Russia)

Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (Russia). Image © Alexxx Malev [Flickr] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 2.0

Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (Poland and Ukraine)

Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (Poland and Ukraine). Image © Ed89 [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany (Italy)

Medici Villas in Tuscany (Italy). Image © sailko [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

Palaces

Historic Center of Sheki with the Khan's Palace (Azerbaijan)

Palacio del Kan de Bajchisarái (Azerbaijan). Image © Chapultepec [Wikimedia] Bajo Dominio Público

Royal Building of Mafra (Portugal)

National Palace of Mafra (Portugal) . Image © Alvesgaspar [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

Golestan Palace (Iran)

Golestan Palace (Iran). Image © Diego Delso [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 4.0

Religious Architecture

Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk (Russia)

Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk (Russia) (Russia). Image © Шелковников Евгений Анатольевич [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 4.0

León Cathedral (Spain)

León Cathedral (Spain). Image © Nacho Traseira [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 4.0

Cathedrals of Cefalú y Monreale (Italy)

Cathedrals of Cefalú and Monreale (Italy). Image © Berthold Werner [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

Naumberg Cathedral (Germany)

Naumburg Cathedral (Germany). Image © Wolfgang Pehlemann [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0 DE

Friday Mosque of Isfahan (Iran)

Friday Mosque of Isfahan (Iran). Image © Diego Delso [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

Selimiye Mosque and Social Complex (Turkey)

Selimiye Mosque and Social Complex (Turkey). Image © Dosseman [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 4.0

Churches of Pskov School of Architecture (Russia)

Churches of the School of Architecture in Peskov (Russia). Image © Ludvig14 [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

Church of the Nativity (Palestine)

Church of the Nativity (Palestine). Image © Neil Ward [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY 2.0

Carolingian Westwerk and Civitas Corvey (Germany)

Carolingian Westwerk and Civitas Corvey (Germany). Image © Bodo Kubrak [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC0 1.0

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (Portugal)

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (Portugal) (Portugal). Image © CucombreLibre [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY 2.0

Other Works

Chilehaus Building (Germany)

Chilehaus Building (Germany). Image © Esther Westerveld [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY 2.0

University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (Portugal)

University of Coimbra – Alta y Sofía (Portugal) . Image © Diego Delso [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (Ukraine)

The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (Ukraine). Image © Сергій Криниця (Haidamac) [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY-SA 3.0

Margravial Opera House Bayreuth (Germany)

Margravial Opera House Bayreuth (Germany). Image © Andreas Praefcke [Wikimedia] Bajo Licencia CC BY 3.0

General Productions

Frank Lloyd Wright: Architectural Works from the 20th Century

In 2019, 8 buildings by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites under the name "The 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright." This recognition is just one way of emphasizing Wright's role in the development of modern architecture throughout the world.

Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright . Image © David Heald

Le Corbusier: Architectural Works

In 2016, 17 of Le Corbusier's works in over 7 countries were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, promoting their protection and conservation by highlighting their cultural value.

Notre-Dame du Haut, Ronchamp, France. Le Corbusier. Image © Gili Merin

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About this author
Cite: Maiztegui, Belén. "Architectural Works that Were Declared World Heritage Sites in the Last Decade" [Lista de obras de arquitectura declaradas Patrimonio de la Humanidad en la última década] 07 Jan 2020. ArchDaily. (Trans. Johnson, Maggie) Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/930699/architectural-works-that-were-declared-world-heritage-sites-in-the-last-decade> ISSN 0719-8884

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