New York Pavilion 1964 World's Fair
The structure, designed by Philip Johnson, is now a rusted relic.
Despite modernism’s relatively recent entrance into the canon, there are already scores of architectural achievements that have been forgotten, fallen into disrepair, or become targets for developers. But as Dwell recently learned with the campaign to restore the futuristic New York State Pavilion, which Philip Johnson designed for the 1964 World's Fair, there are efforts to preserve important buildings and designs before they’re lost for good. We’ve compiled eight examples of modernism in need, from oceanfront stadiums to gyms in the Middle East, and, where possible, included ways to support restoration or repair.
The current state of many of these grand creations stands in stark contrast to the style and optimism they were imbued with by their designers. Like the greatest examples of pulpy sci-fi stories, imaginative modernist structures can give us a window into how those from the recent past saw our rosy-colored future, an alternative history and that speaks to the eternal optimism and artistry of building.
See all these modern structures in our slideshow.
