White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, Modernist Architecture, and Contemporary Preservation

Contemporary architectural preservation efforts have inadvertently perpetuated the racialized legacy of early 20th-century settler colonialism, particularly in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Tel Aviv. The study reveals how preservation narratives, including documentation and inscription on the World Heritage List, often reinforce the notion of 'white cities'—originally designed to exclude Indigenous zones. Through ethnographic research with local preservationists and analysis of primary sources such as World Heritage Committee notes and nomination files, the book exposes the geopolitical and spatial politics embedded in modernist architecture. This work challenges scholars and policymakers to reconsider the ethics and consequences of preserving built environments that carry colonial histories.

Flahive, R. (2025). White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, Modernist Architecture, and Contemporary Preservation. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003566588