Berlin Settlement Added to UNESCO World Heritage List

The Waldsiedlung in Berlin-Zehlendorf, also known as the "Parrot Settlement" for its colorful facades, has officially become part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. This addition expands the existing "Berlin Modernism Housing Estates" World Heritage designation, which was first established in 2008.

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The settlements of Berlin Modernism are far more than outstanding architecture. They show to this day what good, affordable, and healthy living is all about.

The German UNESCO Commission announced the decision on Sunday in Busan, South Korea. The Waldsiedlung's inclusion marks the only German nomination accepted in this current round of additions. The settlement, constructed between 1926 and 1932, was designed with the principle of bringing light, air, and green spaces into the daily lives of its inhabitants, integrating the buildings into the surrounding forest.

This latest recognition underscores the visionary nature of these early 20th-century housing concepts. Maria Böhmer, president of the German UNESCO Commission, stated that these estates represent more than just outstanding architecture, highlighting their enduring relevance to affordable and healthy living. The expansion also brings France's World Heritage count to 56, surpassing Germany's 55, with the inclusion of Normandy's D-Day beaches and other French sites.

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The expansion to include the Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf makes it clear how visionary these housing concepts were a hundred years ago - and how relevant they still are.

Other new World Heritage sites announced include the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, France, the medieval city of Carcassonne and Cathar castles in France, an ensemble of Alvar Aalto buildings in Finland, and Mount Olympus in Greece. A site in the occupied West Bank was also added.

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The new inclusion underscores the international importance of Berlin Modernism and explicitly honors the contribution of the Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf.