A Toast at birth, but stranded at fifty-five

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This is not a blog about mid-life crisis. Neither is it about a disease. Rather, it is about a modern structure. Nations anticipated its birth for seven long years. Its parent architect died, before a single brick could be laid. Despite these odds, it was beautiful when completed. Nations rejoiced at its birth. As a show of solidarity, back in 1966 many countries had issued postage stamps to celebrate this occasion.

This building was a landmark, that sought to oversee global health. You may have guessed it right. We are talking about World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarter building in Geneva. Born and celebrated in 1966, its inadequacies were apparent a mere fifty years later. In December of 2021, all its offices moved to a swanky, new, adjacent building. Today, this structure which was “Jewel of the sixties” lies stranded. Construction workers are ripping apart its interiors. We are anticipating its resurrection in 2024.

Born, without a house of its own

WHO was born on 7th April 1948. It was first specialised agency of United Nations (UN). A natural choice for its first home was Palais des Nations, office of then defunct League of Nations. While League of Nations was formed in 1920, its palatial office building was completed only in 1936. At that time, it was second largest building-complex in Europe. Ten years later, in 1946, nations disbanded League, and handed over all its assets to the UN. So, in addition to WHO many other UN agencies, as well as UN regional office had their offices in the same building complex.

By 1958, office space allocated to WHO was crammed. WHO had 90 member countries, and a staff of 600. In 1959, World Health Assembly passed a resolution to construct a new building. There were some options on the table. Unlike New-Yorkers, Genovese rejected a 100m tall sky-scrapper. However, they generously provided land on the outskirts, and 30 million Francs in an interest free loan. WHO launched an architectural competition, and a celebrated swiss architect Jean Tschumi was the winner. Better known for architectural and landscape planning in Paris, he envisaged a modern WHO building. It was simple in design, 152 metres long and only 35 metres high.

Tschumi plans, but dies before the brick laying ceremony

Tschumi planned an eight storey building. It was parallel to the line of trees, with view to the lakes and mountains from the top. It had a council room, conference rooms, open-offices as well as cubes. He designed a cantilever canopy at its entrance, and extensively used aluminium as external cladding. This was one of the large and modern buildings in European that time. A total of 42900 square meters in gross area, it was made to house over 1200 offices.

Jean Tschumi died in January 1962, as the was travelling is a train from Geneva to Paris. A brick-laying ceremony was held on 24th May the same year. As a tribute to Tschumi, Pierre Bonnard took over the work, and faithfully executing the original plan. WHO inaugurated the building, four years later in 1966.

Raising the toast

The new WHO building was inaugurated to a “thunderous applause“. While aesthetics were a matter of architectural debate, WHO had turned 18, and finally had its own house. By the time it was completed, the cost had increased to 40 million Francs. The world was a witness to some turmoils in the preceding years such as Vietnam War, Civil rights, and freedom struggles in Africa. Malaria eradication efforts were proving futile, and small-pox campaign was not yet launched. In middle of all this, a new WHO HQ was probably a beacon of hope and solidarity. Many countries issued postage stamps on this occasion, and hence raised a toast on birth of a building.

The aftermath

In 1966, needs of WHO had already overstretched. Between 1967 and 2006, WHO constructed about ten more buildings in the compound. By the year 2013, WHO had realised shortcomings in the 1966 structure. In addition to the need for more space, rusted pipelines, older heating, and electrical wirings were a concern. Further, the older interior had used a lot of asbestos, that needed removal. So WHO announced another architectural competition. In 2016, as per a new 250million Franc plan, a new building was constructed. Main building was to be evacuated, and extensively renovated.

On 21st December 2021, WHO moved to the new building. This is believed to be even more modern and energy efficient. Sadly, no country has yet raised a toast. Perhaps, world is still coming with terms to the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile, the old imposing building from 1966 lies stranded. As we speak, it is being stripped of its asbestos, leaky pipes, and electrical-fittings. We shall be able to resurrect it by 2024. Hopefully with this change, world will be healthier place to live.