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WMF
in the News |
AFP:
The Times of
London:
Conde Nast
Portfolio:
Today's
Zaman:
Hasankeyf,
Turkey |
Ladakh
Trip |
A Journey to the Roof of the
World
Ladakh, India: July 7-16,
2008
This summer, join the World Monuments
Fund on an adventure through the ancient kingdom of Ladakh, India,
to explore the history of Buddhist art and architecture high in the
Himalayas. For more information, visit www.wmf.org/travel or call
646-424-9594. | |
|
Chantilly's "Monkey Room" Restored to its
Glory |
The
Grande Singerie, or "Monkey Room," is a glorious salon located in
the heart of the Château de Chantilly, about 24 miles northeast of
Paris. Its walls are lined with painted wooden panels featuring
whimsical depictions of costumed monkeys imitating humans. For decades, the room was in
disrepair, deteriorating due to water infiltration. WMF's restoration cleaned and
consolidated the painted and gilded boiseries and ceiling. The revived "Monkey Room" is
now open to the public, part of a major refurbishment of the former
royal estate. The
restoration of the Grande Singerie was led in partnership by WMF and
the Aga Khan.
Read more about the Grande
Singerie.
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Revitalizing Mexico City's Historic
Center
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Last month, WMF
representative Norma Barbacci, Director of Programs for Latin
America, took part in a press conference in Mexico City announcing
the $200,000 grant that will support the creation of interactive
displays and virtual models for the planned visitor center. This is the second major award
from American Express for our Sustainable Tourism
Initiative, and will help the Fundación
Centro Histórico
revitalize the historic core of Mexico City.
The center will be sited in the remains of the
early-20th-century Rule building, a Neoclassical movie palace that
was badly damaged in the 1985 earthquake. Norma notes that the center will "serve as
a symbol of the new possibilities for the city's historic center and
will be a great catalyst in revitalizing the downtown historic
district." Incorporating natural light and contemporary
architectural design, the center will teach visitors about
individual historic sites, architectural history, tourist
attractions, and walking tours. It will open in 2010 to
celebrate the centennial of the Mexican Revolution and the
bicentennial of the country's independence.
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Success
with Lisbon's Watch-listed Teatro Capitólio
|
This theater in
Lisbon is a very recent success story for WMF. Its WMF Watch listing in 2006
helped bring much needed attention to the structure and ignited
public debate over its future. An innovative Modern structure built
between 1925-1931, the theater originally included a
naturally lit performance hall and an open air terrace on the roof
for film screenings. Over
time, the exterior of the structure was modified: a new roof was
built over the terrace and the large glass windows that lined the
performance hall were covered. The theater closed
in the 1980s and was slated for demolition in 2003
despite being a nationally recognized landmark. Citizens for Capitólio,
the grassroots group that sought to save the building, credits our
listing as playing an "instrumental role in reversing a proposed
plan to demolish it and redevelop the site." The
building will be restored as closely as possible to its original
design and condition.
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Breaking
News |
In
the wake of September 11th, WMF added Historic Lower Manhattan to
the 2002 World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites as
an emergency 101st entry. We are happy to note that the "survivors'
staircase," used by many to flee the towers' wreckage, has been
successfully relocated and will become part of the National
September 11 Memorial & Museum.
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