UNESCO adds eight Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings To Its List of World Heritage Sites

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At UNESCO’s annual conference on Sunday, eight of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings, including Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, were added to the World Heritage List, putting them in a category alongside such legendary spots as The Taj Mahal, The Statue of Liberty, The Palace of Versailles and the Great Wall of China. The first modern architecture designation in the United States on the group’s list, they join 23 other designations in the U.S. and 1092 sites around the world and span 50 years of the famed architect’s career.

Exterior: Hollyhock House

“Each of these buildings offers innovative solutions to the needs for housing, worship, work or leisure,” the press release said, adding “Wright’s work from this period had a strong impact on the development of modern architecture in Europe.”

Interior of Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie house.

Hollyhock House, built for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall between 1919 and 1921, was Wright’s first California commission. Donated to the city of Los Angeles in 1927, it is part of the Barnsdall Art Park, a performing arts complex. After years of neglect, the house was fully-restored and opened to the public in 2015. Self-guided and docent tours are available Thursdays through Sundays. For a schedule and tickets, click here.

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