Modernism refers to an overarching set of design principles that became popular during the 1930s. Characterized by an emphasis on volume, asymmetrical compositions and minimal ornamentation, modernist design is responsible for some of the most extraordinary structures ever built. Unfortunately, many of these buildings were built using non-conventional methods or materials that hadn’t been tested for long-term use. As a result, some of these eccentric relics are in ruin and in danger of being destroyed.

The Getty Foundation has committed itself to the overall understanding and preservation of the visual arts. Their grant program, entitled, “Keeping it Modern,” awards grant money to be used for the reconditioning of these buildings. Just like pieces of fine art, these structures hold a special position in world history, and the Getty Foundation believes that they should be preserved for future architects and everyone else.

Continue for photos of modernist structures that are set to be preserved by The Getty Foundation’s total grant of $1.6 million.

The auditorium at Universidad Laboral de Cheste | Cheste, Spain

Architecture: Fernando Moreno Barberá | Photography: Ximo Michavila

Beira Railway Station | Beira, Mozambique

Architecture: Paulo de Melo Sampaio, João A. Garizo do Carmo, & Francisco José de Castro | Photography: Elisiário Miranda

North Christian Church | Columbus, Indiana

Architecture: Eero Saarinen | Photography: Hadley Fruits

Chemical technology faculty laboratory at Kaunas University of Technology | Kaunas, Lithuania

Architecture: Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis | Photography: Lukas Mykolaitis

Villa E-1027 | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France

Architecture: Eileen Gray | Photography: Manuel Bougot

Buzludzha Monument | Hadzhi Dimitar Peak, Bulgaria

Architecture: Georgi Stoilov | Photography: Dora Ivanova