Ernst Wagner, visiting a recreation of one of the most famous works from the first phase of Paul Rudolph’s career: the Walker Guest House (Sanibel Island, Florida, 1952) It was on-view (and visitable) during a festival celebrating Modern architecture in Palm Springs, California that Mr. Wagner attended. The home was fitted-out with furniture and objects of the period—including a gooseneck table lamp and a “classic” Olivetti Lettera portable typewriter. Photograph by Kelvin Dickinson © The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
A Friend And Supporter During Rudolph’s Lifetime—And Beyond
Today we celebrate the birthday of someone who is very important to preserving Rudolph’s work: Ernst Wagner - a dedicated friend and the original founder of two foundations to protect and raise awareness about the importance of Paul Rudolph’s cultural legacy.
The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation was founded by Ernst Wagner, a personal friend of Mr. Rudolph’s. Ernst Wagner and Rudolph lived and worked together until Rudolph’s death in 1997, and Rudolph named Mr. Wagner as the residual beneficiary of his Estate and his heir.
Paul Rudolph & Ernst Wagner in 1975. Photo from the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation archives.
Ernst Wagner & Paul Rudolph
Ernst Wagner is a Swiss citizen, and met Paul Rudolph while an exchange student studying at Columbia University in late 1974. He became Rudolph’s friend and - after moving into Beekman Place in October 1975 - business partner working together on several projects.
Ernst supported - and convinced - Rudolph to purchase 23 Beekman Place (where they were both living) when the building was listed for sale in June 1976. This would eventually be transformed into Rudolph’s famous “Quadruplex” residence, now a New York City landmark.
A vintage business card, from the archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation, showing that Ernst Wagner was once considered part of Paul Rudolph’s architectural office. © The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
Rudolph founded MODULIGHTOR in 1976 to design and build a new line of furniture, lighting, rugs and other interior design accessories that embraced Rudolph’s interest in modularity. Rudolph was very involved, designing everything from prototype fixtures to the layout of the company’s first marketing brochure, trade booth and showroom. Rudolph chose Mr. Wagner to run the company.
The company began assembling furniture and light fixtures in the model shop of Rudolph’s architectural office at 54 West 57th Street. When MODULIGHTOR’s work increased, the company moved to a new location in SoHo in 1981. In 1990, MODULIGHTOR moved to 246 East 58th Street, a building designed by Rudolph as the company’s headquarters and where Rudolph’s architectural office was located, thereby giving the location its name as the ‘Modulightor Building.’
A Personal Promise To Paul Rudolph
In his lifetime, Mr. Rudolph requested the residence at 23 Beekman Place - where he and Mr. Wagner lived - become an architectural study and resource center for the design community of the New York metropolitan area. He also wanted a foundation created to preserve his architectural legacy.
Mr. Wagner promised Rudolph to fulfill his wishes. He and several of the pair’s friends and associates created the Paul Rudolph Foundation in 2002 but were unable to secure the residence as a study center and it was later sold. Instead, Mr. Wagner opened the Modulightor Building to the public for events and tours to celebrate Rudolph’s life and legacy.
As the foundation grew, it added board members who did not personally know Mr. Rudolph or his wishes. The Paul Rudolph Foundation, following a disagreement over the group’s priorities, voted to remove Mr. Wagner from the organization in 2014 and subsequently moved out of the Modulightor Building.
Mr. Wagner, intent to keep his promise to Mr. Rudolph, created the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation with several of the original members of the Paul Rudolph Foundation.
The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation, under the guidance of Rudolph’s friends and associates, represents the Paul Rudolph Estate and is dedicated to fulfill his original wish to have an architectural study and resource center for the design community in his honor. A unique endeavor, the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation is the only organization in New York City located in a building designed by - and dedicated to - the career of a singular 20th Century architect.
Preserving a Legacy
Ernst Wagner is Paul Rudolph’s heir and executor of Rudolph’s estate. Feeling an immense gratitude to Rudolph, he was determined to honor him—and that meant protecting his legacy and bringing Paul Rudolph back into the consciousness of the architectural world.
To that end Ernst Wagner has been very active:
He founded and financially underwrote two organizations: the Paul Rudolph Foundation in 2002; and later the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation in 2015
He was the chief sponsor and donor for two exhibits which celebrated Paul Rudolph’s centenary in 2018.
He provides financial support (and materials from the Paul Rudolph Estate archives) for educational initiatives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation such as our monthly Paul Rudolph First Friday Open House and Spacemaker Salons—thus allowing others to experience a Rudolph-designed environment first hand. In addition, he provides space and resources for the offices and archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
The Modulightor Building was left unfinished at Rudolph’s passing. Since then—using architectural documents left by Rudolph and in collaboration with an architect who worked with Rudolph—he completed the building as Rudolph wished to do while he was alive.
He makes the Modulightor Building available for tours by schools from around the world, and classes of students in architecture, interior design, lighting design, architectural history, and design media are received throughout the year. Architectural historians are also drawn to study the building, and their visits are welcomed.
He serves on the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation’s board, and represents it at architectural events.
The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation takes today to thank you for your continuous inspiration and support!
A snapshot of Paul Rudolph (left), Ernst Wagner (right), and their close friend Emily Sherman (center) during a trip to Europe.