Being one of Rudolph’s last projects completed before his death in 1997, the Concourse building is a clear showcase of Rudolph’s versatility as an architect.

Located in Singapore the concourse building was redesigned by Rudolph in 1987. Due to Singapore’s equatorial and humid climate, the Concourse building had to account for it’s unique temperature, light, plant and air challenges. The building makes use of the Singapore’s conditions by using overhanging shading, community gardens as well as large balconies to grow plant life.

The Concourse building is styled after an inverted pagoda and holds residential, office and shopping areas all in one. The office section is 41 stories tall is arranged next to the living and shopping areas. The office is also arranged in a figure 8 formation as the number eight is thought to bring good luck in chinese culture.

The shopping center is a three story atrium with a large skylight within it. Above the shopping center is the residential area which overlooks the Kallang River Basin and is composed of two low wings. The residential area is home to 87 apartments as well as a swimming pool, gym and squash courts.

Drawing from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water, Rudolph felt that the Bass Residence was one of his best works. It is the largest residential building he ever constructed. The Bass residences exterior is constructed out of wide-flange steel which is painted white along with enameled aluminum in-fill panes.

The residence is meant to be private, with no windows in the street-side view of the house and tree’s covering up most of it’s facade. There is a private family entrance which leads to the kitchen from the garage, as well as a front door which features a forty foot high cantilever that enclosed a narrow foyer and small door, further dramatizing the space. The lowest level of the residence which is partially buried in the hill contains changing and guest rooms as well as large recreation room.

As one goes further inside the structure one goes up to the main living area the house becomes a series of gradually sloping terraces, with the ktichen at the top and seating area towards the bottom, all of which alines with the natural slope of the hill the residence is resting on.

Moving upward one will come to the childrens bedrooms which connect to the master suite using a bridge positioned over the dining area. Lastly the top floor is the Ms. Bass’s dancing studio which overlooks the property.

Sarasota high school was actually the second high school that Rudolph constructed for the Sarasota school district. It is a prime example of Rudolph’s transition from his 1950’s style to his later works, as the high school was constructed from 1958-1960.

In what’s been called a volumetric study of folded concrete plans, the high school is open and airy while alluding to Rudolph’s brutalist style which would come in his later work. Rudolph was also greatly inspired by the work of Le Corbusier’s brutalist style in India

Rudolph once again takes into account the climate when designing Sarasota high school. The building itself is primarily piers and folded concrete slabs, while the class rooms are arranged along a central airway leading to the large front staircase. The glass classrooms encourage ventilation this while the concrete cantilever above the windows blocks out the harsh Florida sun. The high school still stands today and is an excellent example of Rudolph’s versatile yet unique sense of style.

This is a Florida house that Rudolph designed in 1952. Rudolph was famous for his membership in the Sarasota school of architecture and this a prime example of a home built with that school’s philosophy and the Florida environment in mind.

The Walker Guest house in particular emphasized praticality both in construction and the finished product. All materials were brought in by boat and were easily assembled as well as low priced. The house itself is a one story structure made up of a 9, 8′ x 8′ square units arranged in 3×3.

There are exterior sister-ed columns around the house which support a pulley system. This pulley system uses a weighted ball to open and close plywood panels. For every two units with panel coverings there is one glass unit per side, with two doors fitting into the glass panels.

Lastly the interior of the house is composed of a split living room and kitchen while the other side is a single bedroom and bathroom/laundry room. Ultimately the Walker Guest House is one of Rudolph’s earlier works, however it showcases his desire to for practicality and adaption of architecture to it’s native environment.

This last building is one that I thought was just a special part of the Norman campus area. The Chouse was formerly St. Thomas Moore Catholic church but is currently a house located on 717 W Boyd St. in Norman. The Chouse was renovated into a private living residence by I believe a Norman couple. I think they mainly host concerts/meetings there now so I am not sure if anyone lives there, but they do have a facebook page that details whats going on there currently. Overall I love the look of the Chouse and the small garden on it’s side. It definitely would be my first pick if I could choose anywhere to live in Norman, as it is such a cool concept and could offer some really unique floor plans.

The Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. is to me an example setting tone through architecture. I went during 7th grade and even then I immediately understood the reverence with which I needed to walk through the building, which I think speaks not only to the tragedy that is holocaust, but also to how the museum presents that story through its layout and exhibits. As a kid who only knew passing information about the holocaust itself, this museum shows you directly the conditions, experiences and faces of the people who went through the event. I distinctly remember being blown away at the various rooms they had set aside to show you the shoes that were taken off the prisoners, as well as the room that had portraits stacked from floor to ceiling. It is a museum I think everyone should take time to see at least once in their life because it humanizes an event which was so unspeakably tragic. All of that being said it was by far my favorite museum in Washington D.C. and I would very much like to go back with older eyes to experience it again.

I saw the colosseum on the same trip I saw Sagrada Familia and it was the other building I thought I should write about. The colosseum is one of those buildings thats I had seen countless videos and pictures that had to be seen in person. I was and still am a history nerd so to get to see not only the building itself but also learn about it’s history was fantastic. I can really see how it was the center of Rome for so long, as it is beautiful and imposing all at once. Even now it can take you back to a time when there must have been nothing like it in the world, and was the pinnacle of Roman construction. I also was really fortunate to be able to see the underside of the colosseum, which is home to a pulley system that replicates how they used to lift animals inside. There was not a single part of Italy that did not live up to the hype for me and the colosseum had to be at the top of my list. I really would like to go back one day and take my kids just so they can see a building and city with so much history within it.

La Sagrada Familia is what immediately came to mind when thinking of posts for this blog. I saw the basilica in the summer of 2018 and it was by far one of the most breathtaking buildings I have ever seen. The best way I think I can describe it is imagine a sandcastle built by the gods. Although construction of the building began under a different architect, Antoni Gaudi is credited for overseeing almost all of the project and giving it his signature flowing style. It has taken well over a hundred years to build the basilica due to various political and financial difficulties, but also due to the sheer size and complexity of the building itself. Standing at 560ft, it very quickly overwhelms you at the sheer level of detail on such a massive scale. I managed to get some really good pictures of it from across the park, where many people like to photograph the basilica over the water. Pictures really don’t do it justice however. For me, the basilica is a reminder at the beauty that human beings are capable of when we all contribute toward a single goal.