Welcome to the Archives of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture. The purpose of this online collection is to function as a tool for scholars, students, architects, preservationists, journalists and other interested parties. The archive consists of photographs, slides, articles and publications from Rudolph’s lifetime; physical drawings and models; personal photos and memorabilia; and contemporary photographs and articles.

Some of the materials are in the public domain, some are offered under Creative Commons, and some are owned by others, including the Paul Rudolph Estate. Please speak with a representative of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture before using any drawings or photos in the Archives. In all cases, the researcher shall determine how to appropriately publish or otherwise distribute the materials found in this collection, while maintaining appropriate protection of the applicable intellectual property rights.

In his will, Paul Rudolph gave his Architectural Archives (including drawings, plans, renderings, blueprints, models and other materials prepared in connection with his professional practice of architecture) to the Library of Congress Trust Fund following his death in 1997. A Stipulation of Settlement, signed on June 6, 2001 between the Paul Rudolph Estate and the Library of Congress Trust Fund, resulted in the transfer of those items to the Library of Congress among the Architectural Archives, that the Library of Congress determined suitable for its collections. The intellectual property rights of items transferred to the Library of Congress are in the public domain. The usage of the Paul M. Rudolph Archive at the Library of Congress and any intellectual property rights are governed by the Library of Congress Rights and Permissions.

However, the Library of Congress has not received the entirety of the Paul Rudolph architectural works, and therefore ownership and intellectual property rights of any materials that were not selected by the Library of Congress may not be in the public domain and may belong to the Paul Rudolph Estate.

LOCATION
Address: 3410 Leonard Street NE
City: Grand Rapids
State: Michigan
Zip Code: 49525
Nation: United States

STATUS
Type: Residence
Status: Project

TECHNICAL DATA
Date(s): 1955
Site Area:
Floor Area:
Height:
Floors (Above Ground):
Building Cost:

PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Client:
Architect: Paul Rudolph
Associate Architect:
Landscape:
Structural:
MEP:
QS/PM:

SUPPLIERS
Contractor:
Subcontractor(s):

Model House representing the Southeast

There are no windows, and the walls are raised to expose the interior to the outdoors. This home would have been built on Lot 11.
One magazine article of the 1950’s called the Homestyle Center an “outdoor museum for houses”. This theme park was to be located [adjacent to] the 80 acres where Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park stands today. It was expected to be a major tourist attraction, drawing over one million visitors and raising over $39,000,000 annually.
The first group of twelve homes would be built around the lake. Additional homes, added over next three years, would complete the Homestyle Center by 1960. Nationally known architects, including R. Buckminster Fuller, George Nelson, and Paul Rudolph, had already designed the first group of homes.
The design by Paul Rudolph, reflecting the open living style of the Gulf Coast, used plastic panels, lifted mechanically, which could convert the house into an enclosed or open pavilion.
Each house would be decorated with furnishings as diverse as the architecture. Appliances and furniture would be replaced annually as newer models and designs became available.
In May of 1957, due to the lack of financial backing, Executive Director Arleigh Hitchcock announced that plans for the Homestyle Center would be dropped. Grand Rapids lost its opportunity to develop this original theme park idea.
Many of the chosen architects constructed their designed homes in other areas of the country where they became landmarks of mid twentieth century architectural design.
The project remains unbuilt.