In the Inside Art section of The New York Times (June 16), Carol Vogel reported on Modernism at Risk, a new program of the World Monuments Fund (WMF), which is aimed at the preservation of Modernist buildings around the world. The program was recently made possible with a $400,000 contribution from Knoll.

While the issue of preserving modern buildings has lately gained prominence in public discourse, the threats—neglect, deterioration, demolition—continue to grow at a rapid pace. Modernism at Risk will greatly strengthen WMF's ongoing efforts to preserve modern buildings.

The WMF hopes to work this year on Mies van der Rohe's Villa Tugendhat, the 1930 steel-and-glass house in Brno, the Czech Republic. The fund is in talks with the City of Brno, which owns the villa, and hopes to begin restoring it this year. Knoll manufactures replicas of some of the furniture in the Villa Tugendhat.

Under its Headline News section, Canadian Architect also recently published an article (June 9) crediting Knoll for the founding support of the project. Canadian Architect is a magazine for architects and related professionals practicing in Canada. The nation's only monthly design publication, Canadian Architect documents significant architecture and design from across the country and features articles on current practice, building technology, and social issues affecting architecture.

Canadian Architect asked Knoll CEO Andrew B. Cogan about the company's support of the new program: "Knoll is especially pleased to take the leadership role in this landmark initiative. Throughout our 68-year history, Knoll has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to modern design for the office and the home. We expect this program to become a benchmark for WMF's preservation, recognition, and educational activities on Modernism."

And lastly Oculus, the bi-monthly publication of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), also reported last week on Knoll's contribution to the WMF. Entitled "World Monuments Fund and Knoll Protect Modern Architecture" (June 13), the article discusses the comprehensive nature of the new program as well as the World Monuments Knoll Modernism Prize, which will be awarded biennially to a design professional whose work enhances the public's awareness of the seminal role that modernism plays in our architectural heritage through the preservation of modern landmarks, or through the creation of modern design solutions that extend the life and viability of pre-modern landmarks.

Abstract from the news section from Knoll.com