Riverview High School, circa 1960
Riverview High School (1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231) was built in 1958 by Paul Rudolph and represents one of the best known structures associated with the Sarasota School of Architecture, sometimes referred to as Sarasota Modern. The building, categorized as International Style, features clean, horizontal planes, natural lighting and inventive sunshades to cool the interiors. In a time when air conditioning was not fundable by schools, Paul Rudolph’s innovative design dealt with the subtropic climate of Sarasota. In a move to increase classroom space and to raise the security standards of the school, Paul Rudolph’s main building will be demolished and replaced with a parking lot at the end of this school year. Unfortunately, all efforts to save (it was nominated for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of Americas most endagered places in 2007) the seminal mid-century structure have failed. The last chance to save Rudolph’s iconic piece of American architecture is to sign a petition by the World Monument Fund. We did, so why dont you.
Paul Rudolph (born on October 23rd in Elkton, Kentucky) was an American Architect. Rudolph earned his BA degree in architecture at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (today Auburn University) in 1940 and then moved on to Harvard to study with Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius. After receiving his Masters in 1947, he moved to Sarasota, Florida where he became a key figure in the Sarasota School of Architecture (“Sarasota Modern”) movement. Sarasota was his stomping ground, he designed more than 60 buildings in the area, mainly houses. Notable here are the residential Umbrella House and the Cocoon House. He later designed the Brutalist Style Yale School of Architecture building and became its dean in 1958. When Brutalism went out of style in the USA in the 1970s, he and his work moved on to other regions, mainly Asia.
Perspective rendering (1952) of the Walker Residence on Sanibel Island, FL by Paul Rudolph
Paul Rudolph house for sale. Built in 1955 for Sarasota Mayor and art patron David Cohen on Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL. The waterfront house resides on a 26,925 square foot lot and was restored by Seibert Architects in 2004-2006. Expect a pricetag around $1 million (while the credit crisis lasts).
Perspective rendering (1950) of the Healy Guest House (Cocoon House), on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida
Book about Paul Rudolph’s early work in Florida.
