The 20th century architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright has been added to the UNESCO world heritage list alongside an ancient Aboriginal aquaculture site in Victoria.

The two designations join a list of revered heritage sites such as the Sydney Opera House, the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, and was announced by the world heritage committee in Baku, Azerbaijan on Sunday.

Eight of Lloyd Wright’s buildings, including Fallingwater, New York’s Guggenheim Museum and Los Angeles’ first world heritage site designation the Hollyhock House, have been inscribed as “The 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright”.

Perennially the architect’s architect — Wright was named “the greatest American architect of all time” by the American Institute of Architects in 1991 — Frank Lloyd Wright championed an “organic architecture”, which described his integrated design approach to buildings that grow “naturally” from their context.

Wright often spoke of the democratic nature of design. Each of the buildings listed, the committee said, “offer innovative solutions to the needs for housing, worship, work or leisure”.

“Wright’s work from this period had a strong impact on the development of modern architecture in Europe.”