The UNESCO Headquarters: The Beginning

The UNESCO Headquarters of 1952-58 was Breuer's first large scale project. The project was shaped by two forces; Breuer's partnership with the structural engineer Pier Luigi Nervi, and his battles with Le Corbusier in the design of the project. Through the collaboration with Nervi and opposition to Le Corbusier came the themes that would propel Breuer's work for the next twenty years: the the 'Y' plan, the sculptural pilotis, the folded plate frame, and exploiting the sculptural qualities of concrete. The chapter begins with a history of the project, a description of the committee of architects overseeing the project that Breuer had to appease, an examination of Pier Luigi Nervi's work and philosophy, and a critical look at both the Secretariat and Assembly Buildings in terms of the contributions of both Breuer and Nervi to the work.