The Palace of Nations (French: Palais des Nations, pronounced [palɛ de nɑsjɔ̃]) is the home of the United Nations Office at Geneva, located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was built between 1929 and 1938 to serve as the headquarters of the League of Nations. It has served as the home of the United Nations Office at Geneva since 1946 when the Secretary-General of the United Nations signed a Headquarters Agreement with the Swiss authorities, although Switzerland did not become a member of the United Nations until 2002.
| Palace of Nations | |
|---|---|
Palais des Nations | |
 Building A of the Palace of Nations | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Stripped Classicism |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 46°13′36″N 6°08′26″E / 46.22667°N 6.14056°E |
| Construction started | 7 September 1929 |
| Completed | 1938 |
| Renovated | planned 2017–2023 |
| Owner | United Nations, previously the League of Nations |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) |
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In 2012 alone, the Palace of Nations hosted more than 10,000 intergovernmental meetings.
History
Buildings used before completion
The Palais Wilson was used until 1936 as the main building of the League. However, from 1920 to 1929, the Assembly met in Geneva at the Salle de la Réformation (in a building at the corner of Boulevard Helvétique and Rue du Rhône), then from 1930 to 1936 at the Bâtiment électoral or Palais Électoral (Rue du Général-Dufour 24, later used by the Red Cross affiliated International Prisoners-of-War Agency). For special sessions, the Assembly met at the Pavillon du désarmement adjacent to the Palais Wilson. In 1937, the Assembly moved into the Assembly Hall of the Palace of Nations.
Project and construction
An architectural competition held in the 1920s to choose a design for the complex described the project as follows:
The Palace, whose construction is the object of the competition, is intended to house all the organs of the League of Nations in Geneva. It should be designed in such a way as to allow these organs to work, to preside and to hold discussions, independently and easily in the calm atmosphere which should prevail when dealing with problems of an international dimension.
A jury of nine architects was selected to choose a final design from among 377 entries: Hendrik Petrus Berlage, Victor Horta, Josef Hoffman, Charles Lemaresquier, John James Burnet, Attilio Muggia, Ivar Tengbom, Carlos Gato of Madrid, and Karl Moser. The jury was unable to choose a single winner. Ultimately, the five architects behind the leading entries were chosen to collaborate on a final design: Julien Flegenheimer of Switzerland, Camille Lefèvre and Henri-Paul Nénot of France, Carlo Broggi of Italy and József Vágó of Hungary. Donations from League members were used in the interior.
Completion (1936)
The Palace constituted at the time of completion (1936), volume wise, the second-largest building complex in Europe after Versailles (440,000 m3 (15,500,000 cu ft) vs. 460,000 m3 (16,200,000 cu ft)).
Expansion for the UN
After its transfer to the United Nations, two extensions were added to the building, which considerably increased the size of the usable area of the building. Between 1950 and 1952, three floors were added to the "K" building, and the "D" building was constructed to house temporarily the World Health Organization. The "E" building (or "New" Building) was added between 1968 and 1973 as a conference facility (an additional eleven conference rooms and an extra volume of 380,000 m3 (13,400,000 cu ft)), bringing the total number of conference rooms to 34. With the additions, the complex is 600 metres (2,000 ft) long and holds 2,800 offices, with a total volume of 853,000 m3 (30,100,000 cu ft)
In December 1988, in order to hear Yasser Arafat, the United Nations General Assembly moved its 43rd session from the United Nations Headquarters in New York to the Palace of Nations.
Description
The Palace is located in Ariana Park, which was bequeathed to the City of Geneva in 1890 by , on two conditions: i.e., that the park always remain accessible to the public and that he be buried in the park. The park also contains a 1668 chalet.
Beneath the Palace's foundation stone is a time capsule containing a document listing the names of the League of Nations member states, a copy of the Covenant of the League, and specimen coins of all the countries represented at the league's Tenth Assembly. A medal showing the Palace of Nations with the Jura Mountains in the background was struck in silvered bronze.
The building overlooks Lake Geneva and has a clear view of the French Alps.
Image gallery
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Building A of the Palace of Nations -
The Celestial Sphere presented to the United Nations by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation -
United Nations Member States' flags raised at the Palace of Nations -
Statue Family in the park of the palace -
The Assembly Hall is used for large or major meetings such as the World Health Assembly -
The Conference on Disarmament in the Council Chamber -
The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, used by the United Nations Human Rights Council
See also
- United Nations Library & Archives Geneva
- League of Nations archives
References
- Pallas, Jean-Claude (2001). Histoire et architecture du Palais des Nations (1924–2001): l'Art déco au service des relations internationales (in French). Geneva: United Nations. pp. 100 and 104. ISBN 978-9-2120-0354-2.
- Petite, Simon (23 December 2013). "Rénovation du Palais des Nations: vote crucial". Le Temps (in French). Geneva. p. 5.
- "Main Organs of the League of Nations". UN GENEVA. 16 December 1920. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- "Nation League Home Attracts Many Bidders". Dayton Daily News. 3 July 1927. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- Kuntz, Joëlle (2 June 2014) Geneve Internationale. Architectural Competitions: Imagining the City of Peace. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- Pallas (2001), p. 105.
- Pallas (2001), p. 314.
- "Question de Palestine/Déclaration de Arafat – Débat de l'AG (Genève) – Procès-verbal (extraits)". Forty-Third Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Plais des Nations, Geneva: United Nations. 3 January 1989. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- McMenamin, Mark (March–April 2011). "A Medal Depicting the Palace of Nations and the Jura Mountains". Numismatics International Bulletin. 46 (3–4): 55. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
Further reading
- Kuntz, Joëlle (2011). Geneva and the Call of Internationalism: A History. Geneva: Editions Zoé. ISBN 978-2-88182-855-3.
External links
- United Nations Office at Geneva
- Palais des Nations
The Palace of Nations French Palais des Nations pronounced palɛ de nɑsjɔ is the home of the United Nations Office at Geneva located in Geneva Switzerland It was built between 1929 and 1938 to serve as the headquarters of the League of Nations It has served as the home of the United Nations Office at Geneva since 1946 when the Secretary General of the United Nations signed a Headquarters Agreement with the Swiss authorities although Switzerland did not become a member of the United Nations until 2002 Palace of NationsPalais des NationsBuilding A of the Palace of NationsGeneral informationArchitectural styleStripped ClassicismLocationGeneva SwitzerlandCoordinates46 13 36 N 6 08 26 E 46 22667 N 6 14056 E 46 22667 6 14056Construction started7 September 1929Completed1938Renovatedplanned 2017 2023OwnerUnited Nations previously the League of NationsDesign and constructionArchitect s Carlo BroggiJulien FlegenheimerCamille LefevreHenri Paul NenotJoseph VagoA conference room in the Palace of Nations In 2012 alone the Palace of Nations hosted more than 10 000 intergovernmental meetings HistoryBuildings used before completion The Palais Wilson was used until 1936 as the main building of the League However from 1920 to 1929 the Assembly met in Geneva at the Salle de la Reformation in a building at the corner of Boulevard Helvetique and Rue du Rhone then from 1930 to 1936 at the Batiment electoral or Palais Electoral Rue du General Dufour 24 later used by the Red Cross affiliated International Prisoners of War Agency For special sessions the Assembly met at the Pavillon du desarmement adjacent to the Palais Wilson In 1937 the Assembly moved into the Assembly Hall of the Palace of Nations Project and construction An architectural competition held in the 1920s to choose a design for the complex described the project as follows The Palace whose construction is the object of the competition is intended to house all the organs of the League of Nations in Geneva It should be designed in such a way as to allow these organs to work to preside and to hold discussions independently and easily in the calm atmosphere which should prevail when dealing with problems of an international dimension A jury of nine architects was selected to choose a final design from among 377 entries Hendrik Petrus Berlage Victor Horta Josef Hoffman Charles Lemaresquier John James Burnet Attilio Muggia Ivar Tengbom Carlos Gato of Madrid and Karl Moser The jury was unable to choose a single winner Ultimately the five architects behind the leading entries were chosen to collaborate on a final design Julien Flegenheimer of Switzerland Camille Lefevre and Henri Paul Nenot of France Carlo Broggi of Italy and Jozsef Vago of Hungary Donations from League members were used in the interior Completion 1936 The Palace constituted at the time of completion 1936 volume wise the second largest building complex in Europe after Versailles 440 000 m3 15 500 000 cu ft vs 460 000 m3 16 200 000 cu ft Expansion for the UN After its transfer to the United Nations two extensions were added to the building which considerably increased the size of the usable area of the building Between 1950 and 1952 three floors were added to the K building and the D building was constructed to house temporarily the World Health Organization The E building or New Building was added between 1968 and 1973 as a conference facility an additional eleven conference rooms and an extra volume of 380 000 m3 13 400 000 cu ft bringing the total number of conference rooms to 34 With the additions the complex is 600 metres 2 000 ft long and holds 2 800 offices with a total volume of 853 000 m3 30 100 000 cu ft In December 1988 in order to hear Yasser Arafat the United Nations General Assembly moved its 43rd session from the United Nations Headquarters in New York to the Palace of Nations DescriptionAriana Park with Lake Geneva in the background The Palace is located in Ariana Park which was bequeathed to the City of Geneva in 1890 by fr de on two conditions i e that the park always remain accessible to the public and that he be buried in the park The park also contains a 1668 chalet Beneath the Palace s foundation stone is a time capsule containing a document listing the names of the League of Nations member states a copy of the Covenant of the League and specimen coins of all the countries represented at the league s Tenth Assembly A medal showing the Palace of Nations with the Jura Mountains in the background was struck in silvered bronze The building overlooks Lake Geneva and has a clear view of the French Alps Image galleryBuilding A of the Palace of Nations The Celestial Sphere presented to the United Nations by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation United Nations Member States flags raised at the Palace of Nations Statue Family in the park of the palace The Assembly Hall is used for large or major meetings such as the World Health Assembly The Conference on Disarmament in the Council Chamber The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room used by the United Nations Human Rights CouncilSee alsoUnited Nations Library amp Archives Geneva League of Nations archivesReferencesPallas Jean Claude 2001 Histoire et architecture du Palais des Nations 1924 2001 l Art deco au service des relations internationales in French Geneva United Nations pp 100 and 104 ISBN 978 9 2120 0354 2 Petite Simon 23 December 2013 Renovation du Palais des Nations vote crucial Le Temps in French Geneva p 5 Main Organs of the League of Nations UN GENEVA 16 December 1920 Retrieved 24 February 2023 Nation League Home Attracts Many Bidders Dayton Daily News 3 July 1927 Retrieved 13 September 2021 Kuntz Joelle 2 June 2014 Geneve Internationale Architectural Competitions Imagining the City of Peace Retrieved 22 April 2019 Pallas 2001 p 105 Pallas 2001 p 314 Question de Palestine Declaration de Arafat Debat de l AG Geneve Proces verbal extraits Forty Third Session of the United Nations General Assembly Plais des Nations Geneva United Nations 3 January 1989 Retrieved 9 December 2019 McMenamin Mark March April 2011 A Medal Depicting the Palace of Nations and the Jura Mountains Numismatics International Bulletin 46 3 4 55 Retrieved 11 March 2023 Further readingKuntz Joelle 2011 Geneva and the Call of Internationalism A History Geneva Editions Zoe ISBN 978 2 88182 855 3 External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Palace of Nations United Nations Office at Geneva Palais des Nations Portals PoliticsArchitectureSwitzerland
