Around the world there are over 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The list is extensive and includes over 800 deemed culturally significant, just under 200 natural wonders and around 30 that are regarded as mixed use. Each of these is protected so they can be retained for the future, helping to preserve the history and heritage.

The list contains some incredible examples of architectural work. Of these there is no shortage of buildings that many people would be surprised to learn are protected, including examples of commercial and residential architecture.

One of the most surprising and unusual sites is the Fray Bentos industrial complex in Uruguay. The site has a combination of residential, social and industrial buildings, as well as being home to a huge amount of equipment used in the meat processing and packaging process. UNESCO ruled that the site was authentic and included all of the elements pertaining to its long history. It is therefore granted protection as a National Historic Landmark.

The Fagus Factory in Alfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany, is another surprising UNESCO site. It is awarded protection because it is significant from an architectural point of view. The design is regarded as a landmark in the development of architecture. It was built in 1910 and has many of the hallmarks of contemporary designs we see today, yet it preceded them by many years.

In Halsingland, central Sweden you can find a series of seven highly decorated timber farmhouses. These properties are protected by UNESCO because they represent the wealth of farmers from the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. The buildings are fantastic examples of traditional construction techniques used in the area and represent the folk art traditions of the people.

There are several sites in the UK protected by UNESCO, including Blenheim Palace in Oxford, the Tower of London, Old Town in Edinburgh, and the City of Bath. It is interesting to see how diverse they are and how well they preserve the history of Britain. The list of World Heritage Sites should provide inspiration to architects in London and from all over the world, regardless of the sector they are interested in.