Tokyo museum among Le Corbusier buildings added to World Heritage List

An art museum in Tokyo is among 17 buildings designed by SwissFrench architect Le Corbusier to be added to the World Heritage List, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced on Sunday.

The decision was revealed as the committee’s meeting in Istanbul resumed on Sunday, after being suspended the previous day because of the failed coup attempt.

In addition to Tokyo’s National Museum of Western Art, Le Corbusier buildings added to the World Heritage List include the Villa Savoye in France and the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh, India.

The buildings “reflect the solutions that the Modern Movement sought to apply during the 20th century to the challenges of inventing new architectural techniques to respond to the needs of society,” UNESCO said in a statement.

“These masterpieces of creative genius also attest to the internationalization of architectural practice across the planet.”

The museum in Tokyo’s Ueno Park is the only structure in Japan designed by the renowned architect. It was completed in 1959 and became a symbol of resumed diplomatic ties between Japan and France following World War II.

At the museum today, visitors were seen admiring the building and the art displayed there.

The National Museum of Western Art is reportedly the 20th World Heritage Site in Japan and the first in central Tokyo.