The 2018 World Monuments Watch calls attention to 25 sites, their challenges, opportunities, and the communities that cherish them. Since 1996, when the biennial Watch was founded with support from American Express, the program has issued a call to action for 814 sites facing daunting threats or compelling opportunities for protection, conservation, and engagement.
2018 Watch Sites
Government House
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
The historic Government House in Antigua, once restored, will serve as a beacon for community and educational activities.
Sirius Building
Millers Point, Sydney, Australia
A storied public housing building in Sydney is for sale, and faces the risk of demolition if heritage protection is not granted.
Ramal Talca-Constitución
Talca Province, Chile
Strong community attachment surrounds the last rural railway branch in Chile, which was recently damaged by forest fires.
Completed Project
Grand Theater, Prince Kung's Mansion
Beijing, China
In Beijing's most celebrated princely residence, the theater building is in need of repairs and restoration, drawing on the best local and international expertise.
Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue
Alexandria, Egypt
The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue is the one of the last remaining witnesses of the once-flourishing Jewish community of Alexandria.
Active Project
Takiyyat Ibrahim al-Gulshani
Cairo, Egypt
A Sufi religious foundation in Cairo, currently in a state of abandonment, is in need of a new vision for its future use.
Active Project
Potager Du Roi
Versailles, France
Stakeholders are poised to reimagine the stewardship of the historic kitchen garden of the Palace of Versailles, a place of instruction and experimentation.
Post-Independence Architecture of Delhi
Delhi, India
A diverse group of buildings from the Post-Independence period in Delhi deserve greater appreciation and legal protection against demolition.
Al-Hadba’ Minaret
Mosul, Iraq
Once a landmark of Mosul, the al-Hadba' Minaret was ignominiously destroyed, leaving the future of the site uncertain.
Lifta
Jerusalem, Israel
The ruins of a Palestinian village in Jerusalem are threatened by a redevelopment plan that has faced popular opposition.
Amatrice
Amatrice, Italy
The town of Amatrice was almost completely destroyed by a 2016 earthquake, leading to international interest in its future.
Completed Project
Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium
Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
A modern landmark of Japan is now closed to the public, as its rehabilitation poses a technical challenge and a new use for the structure is sought.
Jewish Quarter of Essaouira
Essaouira, Morocco
The crumbling Jewish Quarter of Essaouira remains a symbol of the pluralism of Moroccan culture.
Sukur Cultural Landscape
Madagali Local Government Area, Nigeria
The cultural landscape of the Sukur people and their chiefdom has become the target of Boko Haram, and faces conservation challenges.
Historic Karachi
Karachi, Pakistan
The built heritage of Karachi is imperiled by massive population growth, and new solutions will be needed for its protection and revitalization.
Completed Project
Cerro de Oro
Cañete Valley, Peru
A monumental archaeological site seeks sustainable development solutions as it contends with looting and encroachment.
Completed Project
Tebaida Leonesa
El Bierzo, León, Spain
The rural communities of the Tebaida Leonesa face the challenges of preserving the character of their villages and landscape in the face of growing tourism and development.
Souk of Aleppo
Aleppo, Syria
Rehabilitation of the historic souk, a great symbol of the city, will pave the way for the recovery of Aleppo, after the city's social fabric has been torn apart by years of brutal conflict.
Chao Phraya River
Bangkok, Thailand
The proposed construction of an elevated promenade threatens to irreversibly transform the city of Bangkok's historic relation to the Chao Phraya River.
Blackpool Piers
Blackpool, United Kingdom
Climate change threatens the historic piers of Blackpool, as sea-level rise exacerbates the impact of storm surge caused by extreme weather events.
Buffalo Central Terminal
Buffalo, New York, United States
Investment in the redevelopment of the Buffalo Central Terminal would give new life to an architectural landmark and to the surrounding community.
Alabama Civil Rights Sites
Alabama, United States
Renewed stakeholder engagement will bring care and attention to a group of sites associated with key events in the Civil Rights movement.
Active Project
Old City of Ta’izz
Ta'izz, Yemen
Yemen's medieval capital has become a battlefield, galvanizing local efforts to survey the damage and plan for future conservation efforts.
Matobo Hills Cultural Landscape
Matobo, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
One of the world's great rock art collections is threatened by deforestation and the risk of fires.
Disaster Sites of the Caribbean, the Gulf, and Mexico
Following a string of natural disasters in September 2017, response is needed to identify damaged heritage and rebuild communities.