We already have this is Japan, but not Thailand. Two world heritage sites connected to the Meiji period - Industrial Revolution in Japan. Based on our community ratings these sites are interesting, but like most industrial sites they don't factor very highly in WHS rankings. Both sites include Western-styled brick buildings in particular, which Japan also built in Taiwan, China, and Korea.

- Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites [Rating 2.59]
- Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining [Rating 2.83]

To go back to nfmungard original proposal of focusing more on post WWII sites, what may be appropriate to represent the Cold War?


In my proposal Baekdudaegan Range: Mt. Geumgang and Mt. Seorak [DMZ International Peace Zone], this would encompass most if not all of the ecological value of the "untouched" and pristine natural environment within the DMZ, while also linking major National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Ramsar Sites that straddle the DMZ on both sides. This could be extended to include Panmunjon, or that could be a separate nomination all together to represent the Cold War and separation on the Korean Peninsula. It is important to note, nearly all facilities on the DMZ (guard towers, barracks, army posts) will be destroyed once peace/unification is achieved and large areas have already been de-mined in the last 1-2 years. This process has already begun with the demolition of dozens of military installations. Check HERE. I agree with this policy, many of these sites have little historic value, though a handful of important structures will remain as historic sites. The buildings in Panmunjon would certainly remain in this category, but as your title suggests the Armistice Complex at Panmunjon (DMZ) would be a relatively small area. Would then it make sense to have 2 proposals connected to the DMZ?

- Armistice Complex at Panmunjon (DMZ) (Cultural) - limited to the truce village.
- Baekdudaegan Range: Mt. Geumgang and Mt. Seorak [DMZ International Peace Zone] (Mixed) - focused on the tremendous ecological value of the DMZ and surrounding habitats/ecosystems. In addition, cultural value in the undisturbed Later Goguryeo or Taebong archeological sites, historic structures from the Goryeo and Joseon eras that remain undisturbed by modern development because of the DMZ demarcation zone.

This could perhaps be best demonstrated by the Olympic Games that were first held in Asia, which in many ways symbolized the economic growth for Japan (Tokyo 1964) and the so-called "Miracle on the Han River" for Korea (Seoul 1988). Both host cities transformed with rapid infrastructure, major sport venues, and park spaces in preparation for the games, of which much remains today or has been successfully re-utilized or re-purposed. I know little about the historic sites in Japan connected to the 1964 Olympics, though some of those properties have previously been highlighted on this forum. I do know quite a lot about Olympic Park in Seoul, which is located just South of the Han River and is a major area for sport/stadiums, recreation, and a cultural space.

Does anyone think any Olympic related proposals should be made for Japan or South Korea, particularly in relation to Economic growth in the region? Obviously, Seoul's Olympic venues/sites are more recent, so it may be more difficult to measure their historic value at this stage in comparison to Tokyo.

Hmn. Nobody liked my idea re the Shinkansen rail network. I still think this is the rail network of post WW2 that should be inscribed.

The Olympics, I don't know. What structures were created and remain that are worthwhile remembering? Olympia Stadiums in both Berlin and Munich. But I don't know any else, specifically not in Asia.

I was rather thinking about the factory lines etc.

Maybe the Bird's Nest in Beijing? But I wouldn't propose it just now as WHS.

This is a bold proposal and its global importance is hard to question. I am torn because when I think of Top Missing, this is NOT it. Yet, at the same time it's kind of amazing that this opened in 1964. Especially living in Los Angeles, I am waiting for CA High Speed rail and it "might" be here at the end of the decade (at best).

Okay, you got my vote, I will second this.

Tōkaidō Shinkansen


I am thinking less about Olympic Stadiums, but Post-use of Olympic villages, public spaces. etc. I think it would be a mistake to start inscribing Sport Stadiums.

Scrapped proposal, as it was already proposed.

I must say that this thread boomed. I had quite some catching up to do with reading all the proposals. This Unesco region inspires many to propose great sites. Understandably, of course, as it is such a big and diverse region, which still houses top quality sites.

Just realized that China used to be communist LOL. Not sure if there is anything, but...

Communist Architecture of China / Ten Great Buildings
OUV - "The Ten Great Buildings transformed Beijing. These monumental new buildings, constructed on a grand scale and providing modern facilities and services, helped to establish and celebrate an image of Mao Zedong's "New China". They redefined Beijing as modern and up-to-date, a part of the international socialist vision of the future, and yet still distinctively Chinese; perhaps most important, as a city comparable to other globally important "superpower" capitals such as London, Washington, D.C., and Moscow."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Great_Buildings
https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/industry/witness-65-years-of-communist-china-in-16-buildings/

Apologies if I am covering ground already done, despite my best intentions I can't keep up with the discussion on here, but really enjoy dropping in.

In regards to the current discussion on modern architecture and the Olympics the one standout example I would propose is Kenzo Tanje's gymnasium for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which is widely regarded as one of the most influential buildings of the mid 20th century. And is still in full functioning operation it is going to be used for the 2020/2021 Olympics, and was the direct inspiration for buildings that followed in Munich and Montreal, and visiting London 2012 Olympic Park it is certainly in evidence there as well.

I would say though that the obvious Olympic example is the Olympic complex in Munich so I'm not sure if I would propose this over Munich

Seems my googling worked :)

Ah missed that post, good googling as Tadao Ando would have been my next proposal, especially his Church of Light.

I will admit my knowledge of modern era Asian architecture is mostly limited to Japan, it seems that European perspective only has limited capacity to bring in examples from the continent.

The examples always brought up are the metabolist strands of brutalism in Japan, with the most commonly cited building being Nakagin Capsule Tower. Personally I like the concept and even aesthetics of the building. It could be argued that it has lessons for high density urban living, something of increasing prominence as the world's population grows and becomes more urban.
I'm not 100% sure it would really have full OUV, but if the Berlin Housing estates can argue this then I think the Capsule Tower could well do the same and it is certainly a more interesting (not sure that would be top 50 missing material though)

The major non-Japanese example is the government district of Dhaka, Bangladesh . A planned city designed by one of the USAs most prominent Architects Louis Khan. It i a nice example, and should I ever visit Bangladesh I assume I will have a visit, but I'm not sure I would think of it as being in the Top 50 missing.

One of my favourite buildings I have ever visited, it is incredible, it plays entirely to my loves though, and like you I think it may be too early to propose it.

I didn't realise this was a thing, but I visited/ saw the vast majority of these (I even went to a football match at the Worker's Stadium).

For me these were the most banal, dull lifeless set of buildings imaginable. All the horrible grim monotony of many "grand capitals", without any form of street life to make them habitable. Some places can get away with it, because they are architecturally innovative (Brasilia, Minsk?), but these weren't.

If I wanted to engage my snooty critics hyperbole setting I would say they felt like bad Chinese copies, of bad Russian copies, of bad German copies, of bad French copies of what bad 18th century architects imagined ancient Roman architecture to be.:)

So it is a no from me on that one, but give me a couple of years and I probably will look back on how naive that statement seems after I have actually done some proper research and learned of their importance.

Points from the whatsapp group (you should join):

Brutalism in Asia:
* Dhaka
* Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur

Modern cities by autocrats
* Let the dust settle first.
* Maybe not the best to award accolades while said autocrat is still alive and in power.

Seconded.