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| 1861 Headquarters of the United Nations in New York seen from Roosevelt Island |
Posted on 12.08.2014, 28.09.2014, 31.08.2015
The UN Headquarters is situated in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River,
and enjoys extraterritoriality. The complex was constructed in stages
with the core complex completed between 1948 and 1952. Rather than hold a
competition for the design of the facilities for the headquarters, the
UN decided to commission a multinational team of leading architects to
collaborate on the design. |
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1177 Headquarters of the United Nations in New York
at sunset |
The American architect Wallace K. Harrison was named as Director of Planning, and a Board of Design Consultants was composed of architects, planners and engineers nominated by member governments. The board consisted of N. D. Bassov of the Soviet Union, Gaston Brunfaut (Belgium), Ernest Cormier (Canada), Le Corbusier (France), Liang Seu-cheng (China), Sven Markelius (Sweden), Oscar Niemeyer (Brazil), Howard Robertson (United Kingdom), G. A. Soilleux (Australia), and Julio Vilamajó (Uruguay).
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1178 The United Nations General Assembly building
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The diminutive site on the East River necessitated a "Rockefeller Center"-type vertical complex, thus, it was a given that the Secretariat would be housed in a tall office tower. During daily meetings from February to June 1947, the collaborative team produced at least 45 designs and variations. After much discussion, Harrison, who coordinated the meetings, determined that a design based on Niemeyer's project 32 and Le Corbusier's project 23 would be developed for the final project.
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| 1862 Flags of the member states, arranged in alphabetical order in front of Headquarters of the United Nations |
Le Corbusier's project 23 consisted of a large block containing both the Assembly Hall and the Council Chambers near the centre of the site with the Secretariat tower emerging as a slab from the south. Niemeyer's plan was closer to that actually constructed, with a distinctive General Assembly building, a long low horizontal block housing the other meeting rooms, and a tall tower for the Secretariat. Le Corbusier and Niemeyer merged their schemes 23–32, and this, along with suggestions from the other members of the Board of Design Consultants, was developed into project 42G.
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| 1179 Balconies overlooking the main public entrance of the General Assembly Building at United Nations Headquarters |
The complex includes a number of major buildings. While the Secretariat building (154m) is most predominantly featured in depictions of the headquarters, it also includes the domed General Assembly building, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, as well as the Conference and Visitors Center, which is situated between the General Assembly and Secretariat buildings, and can be seen only from FDR Drive or the East River.
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| 1863 Water fountain in front of the Headquarters of the United Nations |
Just inside the perimeter fence of the complex stands a line of flagpoles where the flags of all 193 UN member states, plus the UN flag, are flown in English alphabetical order. The UN' system is based on five principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice. The first four are located at the main UN Headquarters in New York City.
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1253 Human Rights Day Celebrated
at United Nations Headquarters 1952
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The General Assembly is the main deliberative assembly of the UN. Composed of all UN members states, the assembly meets in regular yearly sessions, but emergency sessions can also be called. The General Assembly Hall is the largest room in the UN, with seating capacity for over 1,800 people. The design of the room was a collaborative effort by the team of 11 architects that designed Headquarters, and it contains no gift from any Member State.
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| 1864 Snowy Weather at United Nations Headquarters |
The only gift is anonymous: two abstract murals on each side of the Hall - designed by the French artist Fernand Leger. In the postcard is the celebration of the Human Rights Day at UN Headquarters in 1952. Addressing a full session of the General Assembly on the fourth annual celebration of Human Rights Day, the President of the Assembly, Lester B. Pearson of Canada, expresses his gratitude to all nations for what has been done "towards achieving a greater respect for fundamental human rights".
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1254 United Nations Security Council
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The Security Council
is charged with maintaining peace and security among countries, and is
made up of 15 member states, consisting of 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), and 10 non-permanent members (for two-year terms). The Security Council Chamber was a gift from Norway, designed by the Norwegian architect Arnstein Arneberg. A central feature is the oil canvas mural painted by the Norwegian artist Per Krogh.
It depicts a phoenix rising from its ashes, as a symbol of the world
being rebuilt after the WWI. Above the dark sinister colours at the
bottom different images in bright colours symbolizing the hope for a
better future are depicted. Equality is symbolized by a group of people
weighing out grain for all to share. The blue and gold silk tapestry on
the walls and in the draperies by the East River windows features the
anchor of faith, the growing wheat of hope, and the heart of charity.
About the stamps
The UN has its own postal administration (UNPA), which issues postage stamps and postal stationery, denominated in United States dollars for the United Nations offices in New York, in Swiss francs for the offices in Geneva and in euros (formerly schillings) for the offices in Vienna. Actually the UN is the only organization in the world which is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue postage stamps. It is also the only postal authority to issue stamps in three different currencies.
On the postcard 1861
The first stamp, a definitive one, is named The Golden Rule and was issued in 1991. It was adapted as stamp by Robert Stein (United Nations, New York) from a photograph taken by Andrea Brizzi (Italy).
The second stamp, a definitive one, depicting, in a stylized form, the United Nations University, Japan, was designed by Banks and Miles (United Kingdom) and issued in 1992.
The third stamp, also a definitive one, features the Peace rose. These roses grow in the rose garden at UN Headquarters in New York and they were a part of a donation of 1,500 rosebushes made by All American Rose Selections, Inc. Adapted as stamp by Robert Stein (United Nations, New York) from photograph taken by Unmesh, ir was issued in 1997.
The fourth stamp, also a definite one, illustrates children celebrating the hobby of philately. Designed by Jerry Smath (U.S.A.) was issued in 2002.
The fifth stamp is one of the two which forms a definitive series, designed by Rorie Katz (United Nations, New York) and issued in 2001:
• a close-up view of a sunflower in purple and yellow (0.07 USD) - It's on the postcard 1864
• a rose design in red and purple tones (0.34 USD) - It's on the postcard 1861
The last (definitive) stamp, Books, Not Guns, designed by Michel Granger (France), was issued in 2004.
On the postcard 1177
The first stamp (New York - 0,23 USD), designed by Rorie Katz, was issued in 2003 and shows colourful hands interlocking with the word "peace" appearing across the stamp..
Thie second stamp (New York - 0,70 USD), designed by Robert Stein and Rorie Katz, was issued in 2003 and depicts UN Headquarters complex in New York City. It is UNPA’s first holographic stamp.
The third stamp (New York - 0,90 USD), designed by Rorie Katz and issued in 2007, depicts a blue helmet.
On the postcard 1178
The first and the third stamp are part of the series World Heritage - Taj Mahal, about which I wrote here. About the second stamp I wrote here.
On the postcard 1862
Three of the stamps are part of the series Endangeres Species (marine life), about which I wrote here.
The last stamp is part of the series Greetings from New York, issued on January 28 2014. The sheet is composed of ten 1.15 USD denominated stamps which feature various images from United Nations Headquarters in New York. The sheet was designed by Rorie Katz (United Nations). The background of the sheet shows an image of the newly renovated Trusteeship Council Chamber taken in April 2013 (UN Photo/Rick Bajomas).
• Norman Rockwell Mosaic "The Golden Rule" (UN Photo/Milton Grant)
• Renovated ECOSOC Chamber (UN Photo/Mark Garten)
• Blue Helmet of United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (UN Photo/Saw Lwin)
• Renovated Security Council Chamber (UN Photo/JC Mcllwaine)
• José Vela-Zanetti mural of "Mankind's Struggle for Lasting Peace" (UNPhoto/Lois Conner) - It's on the postcard 3044
• Renovated Delegates' Lounge (UN Photo/JC Mcllwaine) - It's on the postcard 2609
• The Dag Hammarskjöld Library (UN Photo)
• View of the United Nations Headquarters (UN Photo)
• Flags of Member States on Opening Day of General Assembly (UN Photo/JC Mcllwaine) - It's on the postcard 1862
• Mural by Fritz Glarner - "Relational Painting No. 90" - Gift of the Ford Foundation (UN Photo/Lois Conner)
On the postcard 1179
About the first stamp I wrote here. About the second and the third stamp I wrote above.
The fourth stamp (New York - 0,25 USD), designed by Eliezer (Eli) Weishoff (Israel) and issued in 2006, depicts flags in a heart shape held by a pair of embracing hands.
On the postcard 1863
The first stamp was issued on January 23, 2012, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.
The second stamp was issued on January 28, 2014, to celebrate the Year of the Horse.
On the postcard 1253
The first stamp is part of a series of six stamps named Cultivating Hope / Cultiver L'Espoir / Hoffnung Pflanzen, designed by Sergio Baradat, and dedicated to the International Year of Family Farming. Issued on August 14, 2014, the stamps captures the diversity of family farming activities, the wide-range of regions where this type of farming is practised and most importantly, the roles of the men and women at the centre of these activities:
• Cornucopia: Families bring their produce to local markets - New York (0.49 USD) - it's on the postcards
• Aquaculture: Fish farmers raise fish in collected areas - New York (1.15 USD) - it's on the postcards
• Harvest: African villagers harvesting their produce - Geneva (1.30 CHF)
• Farm: Family farmers in northern climates - Geneva (1.60 CHF)
• Straw and Grain: Indian family collects harvested straw and grain - Vienna (0.62 EUR)
• Terrace farm: Asian farmers with bull and terraced fields - Vienna (1.70 EUR)
About the second stamp I wrote here.
The last stamp is part of a series of six definitive stamps, designed by Sergio Baradat and issued on June 6, 2014:
• New York (0.33 USD)
• New York (2.00 USD)
• Geneva (2.20 CHF)
• Geneva (2.60 CHF)
• Vienna (0.70 EUR) - it's on the postcards
• Vienna (1.70 EUR)
On the postcard 1864
The first stamp, a definitive one, presents an elegant and colourful display of birds in flight over green, grass-like foliage. Designed by Robert Stein (United Nations, New York), it was issued in 1998 and has a face value of 0,02 USD.
The second is part of the series Endangeres Species (marine life), about which I wrote here. The third and the fourth are part of the series Roses, about which I wrote here. The fifth stamp is part of a definitive series, about which I wrote above.
The sixth stamp is a definitive one issued in 1993, an adaptation of 13-cent postal card issued on 28 April 1982. Adapted by Salahattin Kanidinc (U.S.A.), it has a face value of 0,05 USD.
The last stamps are two definitives adapted from paintings by Christopher Corr (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), issued in 2010.
On the postcard 1254
The first two stamps are part of the series World Heritage - Taj Mahal, about which I wrote here. The third stamp is part of a series of six stamps named Cultivating Hope / Cultiver L'Espoir / Hoffnung Pflanzen, about which I wrote above.
References
United Nations - Wikipedia
Headquarters of the United Nations - Wikipedia
United Nations - Official website
Sender 1177-1179, 1253-1254, 1861-1864: Denise
1177-1179: Sent from United Nations (New York / United States), on 19.07.2014
1253: Sent from United Nations (New York / United States), on 30.08.2014
1254: Sent from United Nations (New York / United States), on 02.09.2014
1861, 1864: Sent from United Nations (New York / United States), on 21.12.2014
1862, 1863: Sent from United Nations (New York / United States), on 16.11.2014
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