The striking modernist Karl Marx Middle School by architect André Lurçat in France has just been announced as winner of the 2018 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize. The building, which was originally inaugurated in 1933 and once described as ‘the most beautiful school in France', was meticulously restored to its former glory by Agence Christiane Schmuckle-Mollard.
The school, which is located in the Parisian suburb of Villejuif, has been in constant use since its opening 85 years ago, and required significant maintenance and modernisation. Following its designation as a listed monument in France, the building was eligible for a healthy injection of funds, enabling the hiring of the architects for the restoration project. Their aim was to preserve the integrity of the structure, while adapting it to new regulations.
The school is now listed as a National Historical Monument in France
At the same time as the winner's revelation, the WMF/Knoll Modernism Prize also announced a special mention; the very first in the award's ten-year history. This honour went to Harboe Architects, PC for their preservation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois. The iconic building, which was created by the great master in 1908, is considered one of Wright's most important works and had suffered from lack of attention. The architects' thorough research and restoration was highly commended by the jury.
The prize, which is announced every two years, is well known for recognising architects or designers ‘who have demonstrated innovative solutions to preserve or save threatened modern architecture'. The winners will be presented with their accolade officially during a ceremony at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, on 4 December.
The school was originally designed and constructed by French architect André Lurçat
Lurçat designed it with key modernist principles at heart
Upon original completion in 1933, it was described as ’the most beautiful school in France’; now the design can shine again through this meticulous restoration
For the first time in the award’s history, a special mention was given, to the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois
The iconic project’s preservation was overseen by Harboe Architects, PC
In-depth research and restoration works began in 2013
INFORMATION
For more information visit the WMF/Knoll Modernism Prize website
-
Five of the finest compact cameras available todayPocketable cameras are having a moment. We’ve assembled a set of cutting-edge compacts that’ll free you from the ubiquity of smartphone photography and help focus your image making
-
London label Wed Studio is embracing ‘oddness’ when it comes to bridal dressingThe in-the-know choice for fashion-discerning brides, Wed Studio’s latest collection explores the idea that garments can hold emotions – a reflection of designers Amy Trinh and Evan Phillips’ increasingly experimental approach
-
Arts institution Pivô breathes new life into neglected Lina Bo Bardi building in BahiaNon-profit cultural institution Pivô is reactivating a Lina Bo Bardi landmark in Salvador da Bahia in a bid to foster artistic dialogue and community engagement
-
The Architecture Edit: Wallpaper’s houses of the monthFrom Malibu beach pads to cosy cabins blanketed in snow, Wallpaper* has featured some incredible homes this month. We profile our favourites below
-
RIBA Stirling Prize 2025 winner is ‘a radical reimagining of later living’Appleby Blue Almshouse wins the RIBA Stirling Prize 2025, crowning the social housing complex for over-65s by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, the best building of the year
-
Three lesser-known Danish modernist houses track the country’s 20th-century architectureWe visit three Danish modernist houses with writer, curator and architecture historian Adam Štěch, a delve into lower-profile examples of the country’s rich 20th-century legacy
-
The Architecture Edit: Wallpaper’s houses of the monthThis September, Wallpaper highlighted a striking mix of architecture – from iconic modernist homes newly up for sale to the dramatic transformation of a crumbling Scottish cottage. These are the projects that caught our eye
-
Are these the best brick and ceramic buildings in the world?The biannual Brick Award is back. Discover the shortlist of innovative buildings across the world, designed by architects thinking outside the box
-
Richard Neutra's Case Study House #20, an icon of Californian modernism, is for salePerched high up in the Pacific Palisades, a 1948 house designed by Richard Neutra for Dr Bailey is back on the market
-
The wait is over – the RIBA Stirling Prize 2025 shortlist is hereThe restored home of Big Ben, creative housing for different needs, and a centre for medical innovation – the RIBA Stirling Prize 2025 shortlist has just been announced, and its six entries are as diverse as they can be
-
Colourful, impactful, bold: meet the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2025 winnersFrom resilient flood-proof homes in Bangladesh to a bold creative hub in Palestine, the seven winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2025 reimagine how buildings can foster community, resilience and cultural dialogue across Asia and Africa
