14.6.12

UNESCO



I had recently the opportunity to visit the headquarters of UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). UNESCO’s mission is “to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information”.


UNESCO has 195 member states, but certain countries have withdrawn / reentered the organization depending on changing political views, the last example perhaps being the admittance of Palestine in 2011 which led the United States to stop their funding.

In 1998 the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, developed by UNESCO, were endorsed by the UN.

UNESCO inscribes sites on the World Heritage List, today some 900 sites.

UNESCO has tens of field offices over the world, but the central office is thus situated in Paris.

Unfortunately my visit was on a rainy day, which somehow complicated the possibilities for more attractive photos. Also, the Y-shaped design of the main building makes it look more interesting, when seen from above. I had no helicopter at my disposal… hopefully the Google map helps to give some kind of impression. 

The buildings date from 1958 and were designed by three cooperating architects (Marcel Breuer, Pier Luigi Nervi and Bernhard Zehrfuss) and approved by an international panel (Gropius, Le Corbusier, Saarinen…). Le Corbusier and later Renzo Piano have also directly contributed.  


On the top floor of the main building there are restaurants, canteens, which allow a splendid view of Paris and it gives also a better view of the other buildings, actually to a large part “hidden” by the lawn, and also the building with the nickname “the accordion” which houses conference rooms, especially the large one for the plenary sessions, which of course also is used for other purposes, concerts…


There is a beautiful park, different monuments and many artworks inside and outside, mostly donated by the artists or by member nations. On the top picture we can e.g. see sculptures by Calder and Henry Moore. Inside, you find works of Arp, Giacometti, Vasarély, Tapiès, Picasso, Le Corbusier, Lurçat, Miro… There is also space for temporary exhibitions. (Below, there is a little extra post about the hatching goose.)




15 comments:

Olivier said...

j'aime beaucoup la premiere sculpture (sur la premiere photo), un superbe mobile d'Alexander Calder

Virginia said...

Well as you noted, it's not the most photogenic complex in Paris but as always you bring us many details and artwork to compensate! I especially like the MIro! :)
V

Thérèse said...

De bien belles oeuvres d'art. L'Unesco devrait faire plus de rapport sur leurs rôles... car on en entend parler à tout bout de champs mais pas toujours pour les implications...

Shionge said...

I have no idea UNESCO is right here in Paris and so cool...been to a few UNESCO site so this is interesting.

Hey...I am here in Copenhagen...I am so near to you Peter :D

martinealison said...

J'aime les jardins et le mobile... Un endroit que je ne connaissais pas je l'avoue et qui mérite toutefois un détour.
Merci pour l'ensemble de ce magnifique reportage.
Gros bisous

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing the visit, Peter. First time I see some of the details.

French Girl in Seattle said...

Thank you for stopping by chez French Girl today, Peter. I have enjoyed learning about l'Unesco - I honestly did not know the prestigious institution was located in downtown Paris. Thank you for teaching me something! :-) I am about to take off and will land in Paris on Saturday for just a few days before I head down to my beloved Nice on my own for a week. I would have loved meeting you, Owen, and other fellow bloggers during my stay in the capital. Unfortunately, my trips "home" involve a lot of time spent with relatives, and it will be difficult for me to "get out," this time. They already think I am not staying long enough, of course :-) I will be in touch if something changes. It would be fun to meet you in person at long last. A bientôt, Peter. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

French Girl in Seattle said...

Thank you for stopping by chez French Girl today, Peter. I have enjoyed learning about l'Unesco - I honestly did not know the prestigious institution was located in downtown Paris. Thank you for teaching me something! :-) I am about to take off and will land in Paris on Saturday for just a few days before I head down to my beloved Nice on my own for a week. I would have loved meeting you, Owen, and other fellow bloggers during my stay in the capital. Unfortunately, my trips "home" involve a lot of time spent with relatives, and it will be difficult for me to "get out," this time. They already think I am not staying long enough, of course :-) I will be in touch if something changes. It would be fun to meet you in person at long last. A bientôt, Peter. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Cynthia said...

Funny coincidence, my last blog post is also about my visit to the UNESCO on the Nuit Européenne des Musées. We did not get to go to the top floor unfortunately!

arabesque said...

hi peter! ^0^
i miss Paris every minute of the day.
glad you posted Unesco,
actually, this was also part of our i.t. as i was hoping to see the diff. artworks but was surprised that there is a nice view at the top!
despite the rainy weather though, i think we did enjoy this one, meme si sans le hélicoptère. ^0^

Jeanie said...

That's a GREAT view of Paris. I never thought of UNESCO being there -- what a great sculpture garden!

Cezar and Léia said...

Beautiful and modern structure in this building.I love the pictures of the artwork inside,and the overview of the city!
Léia

Cergie said...

A première vue l'oeuvre de Calder est dans la lignée de celle qui est devant le musée Pompidou, tu ne sais pas son nom ? Que du beau monde pour surveiller la construction... J'aime bcp les pilotis et tant pis pour le soleil, il ne fait pas tjrs beau à Paris ni dans le monde !

Starman said...

Taking their "mission" into account, I would have to say they are failing miserably. Still, I guess we have to appreciate they are trying.

Catherine said...

Great shots despite the rain - I know this building very well as this is where the student mun conference takes place when I come to Paris in dec...