Black Modernism’s lesser-known, at-risk architecture gems gain a lifeline
Conserving Black Modernism announces vital funding to save and preserve overlooked and endangered buildings by African American architects and designers

Eight lesser-known gems of modernist architecture – all by African American architects and designers – have been offered a new lifeline in the form of $3.1 million of funding from the Conserving Black Modernism initiative, backed by the Getty Foundation.
The buildings – spanning from the self-designed 1961 home of Robert T Coles, the first African American Chancellor of the American Institute of Architects, in Buffalo, NY, to a 1960 mosque in Washington, DC, designed by David R Byrd – will benefit from conservation planning and repairs, and enhanced skills training for those who look after them.
Azurest South, designed by Amaza Lee Meredith and built in 1934, Virginia State University, St Petersburg, VA
Moreover, the programme, in its second round, having been launched in 2022 by the Getty Foundation and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, is a platform to increase public understanding of trailblazing Black professionals who contributed to the modern movement, and to protect their legacy.
Conserving Black Modernism: addressing oversight
Inside Robert T Coles House, designed by Robert T Coles and built in 1961, Buffalo, NY
‘With Conserving Black Modernism, we’ve taken actionable steps to save endangered sites that represent African American activism, creativity, and resilience,’ says Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation. ‘Our partnership with the National Trust has been critical to supporting cultural heritage that embodies Black excellence in modern architecture.’
Also among buildings brought to the fore by the programme this year is Azurest South in Petersburg, VA, an example of the International Style, completed in 1934, and the home and studio of African American architect Amaza Lee Meredith, set on the Virginia State University campus.
Kenneth G Neigh Dormitory Complex, designed by J Max Bond and built in 1970, Mary Holmes Community College, West Point, MS
In Mississippi, there’s the Kenneth G Neigh Dormitory Complex at West Point, MS, designed by J Max Bond Jr. Completed in 1970, the building is currently closed in a state of disrepair and funding will allow a feasibility study for its adaptive reuse.
JFK Recreation Center, designed by Robert T Coles and built in 1963, Buffalo, NY
The JFK Recreation Center, designed by Robert T Coles in 1963 – the architect’s second project highlighted by this year’s programme – currently hosts various nonprofits and community activities and is set for a full preservation plan.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ira Aldridge Theater, designed by Hilyard Robinson and Paul R Williams and built in 1961, Chadwick A Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University, Washington, DC
Named after a 19th-century African American Shakespearean actor, the 1961 Ira Aldridge Theater, at Howard University in Washington, DC was designed by Hilyard Robinson and Paul R Williams – funding will support an Historic Structures Report and an interpretation plan.
African American architect Leon Allain designed three halls, Dansby, Brawley, and Wheeler, at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA in the early 1970s. All three are now due to benefit from building assessments and an Historic Structures Report.
Masjid Muhammad, Nations Mosque, designed by David R Byrd and built in 1960, Washington DC
And finally, a cultural interpretation plan and critical repairs will be made possible at the Universal Life Insurance Co Building, in Memphis, TN, completed in 1949 and designed by McKissack and McKissack, one of the oldest Black-owned architectural firms in the USA.
On the Wallpaper* staff since 2004, Bridget Downing worked first as production editor and then chief sub editor on the print magazine. Executive editor since 2017, she turned to digital content-editing in 2021 and works with fellow editors to ensure smooth production on Wallpaper.com. With a BA in French with African and Asian Studies, she began her career in the editorial research library at Reader’s Digest’s UK edition, and has also worked at women’s titles. She is the author of the (2007) first editions of the Las Vegas and Cape Town Wallpaper* City Guides.
-
‘Fashion & Interiors: A Gendered Affair’ at MoMu unpacks the hierarchy of the home
The Antwerp exhibition interrogates the relationship between fashion, interiors and gender through the concept of ‘gesamtkunstwerk’, a complete work of art. Curator Romy Cockx gives Wallpaper* a tour
By Dal Chodha Published
-
Milan Design Week: Dropcity challenges detention space design with 'Prison Times'
Dropcity's inaugural exhibition 'Prison Times – Spatial Dynamics of Penal Environments', opens a few days before the launch of Milan Design Week and discusses penal environments and their spatial design
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
ICON 4x4 goes EV, giving their classic Bronco-based restomod an electric twist
The EV Bronco is ICON 4x4’s first foray into electrifying its range of bespoke vintage off-roaders and SUVs
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
We explore Franklin Israel’s lesser-known, progressive, deconstructivist architecture
Franklin Israel, a progressive Californian architect whose life was cut short in 1996 at the age of 50, is celebrated in a new book that examines his work and legacy
By Michael Webb Published
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of nature
WOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Frick Collection's expansion by Selldorf Architects is both surgical and delicate
The New York cultural institution gets a $220 million glow-up
By Stephanie Murg Published
-
Remembering architect David M Childs (1941-2025) and his New York skyline legacy
David M Childs, a former chairman of architectural powerhouse SOM, has passed away. We celebrate his professional achievements
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
A peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house has finally been built – and you can stay there
Frank Lloyd Wright’s final residential commission, RiverRock, has come to life. But, constructed 66 years after his death, can it be considered a true ‘Wright’?
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Heritage and conservation after the fires: what’s next for Los Angeles?
In the second instalment of our 'Rebuilding LA' series, we explore a way forward for historical treasures under threat
By Mimi Zeiger Published
-
Why this rare Frank Lloyd Wright house is considered one of Chicago’s ‘most endangered’ buildings
The JJ Walser House has sat derelict for six years. But preservationists hope the building will have a vibrant second act
By Anna Fixsen Published