Architects' Words: Paul Rudolph on Singapore

The great architect of the late-modern period, legendary dean at Yale School of Architecture and mentor to many of today's influential practitioners (e.g. Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, etc) built some of his larger and more significant final works in Southeast Asia. While his magnum opus is undeniably the Art & Architecture Building at Yale University, his works in Singapore include the Colonnade condominium, the Concourse complex (its podium was recently torn down), and a few other as yet unpublished (or unbuilt) private residences. Here are some of his observations related to practising in Singapore. RL.

Paul Rudolph posing in front of his signature Corduroy Concrete walls

Paul Rudolph on the Colonnade Apartments on Grange Road

"I should say about Grange Road that this is a building that I have been thinking about for thirty years. It cannot be built in the United States because of the labor involved.....The forming of the concrete is, let's face it, very elaborate. There's a great deal going on in this building, for better or for worse. There are many different apartment types and structurally and mechanically it becomes tremendously involved. I was just saying that this was not at all off the top of my head. It's a marvelous example of a building that I'd really been thinking about in principle for a long, long time." (Source: Chicago Architects Oral History Project - interviewed by Robert Bruegmann - digital-libraries.saic.edu)

Colonnade apartments perspective drawing

Colonnade apartments as built.

On the commercial shopping centre typology in Singapore

"Partially because of the competition they've negated their traditional life in Singapore. You almost think you're in the United States when you're in Singapore. The only viable thing really, from an economic viewpoint, is the shopping center. Therefore you will find great competition and, therefore, architecturally-elaborate interior spaces. Of course we see that in this country too, but only since World War II. There have been some great department store spaces and hotel lobbies. You can't say there isn’t anything else in the United States because, of course, there are museums and institutions that have great interior spaces. In Singapore, though, the commercial interior space is really it." (Source: Chicago Architects Oral History Project - interviewed by Robert Bruegmann - digital-libraries.saic.edu)

On East Coast Parkway and the Benjamin Sheares Bridge

"That boulevard has organised the buildings on either side of it and ends in this bridge which is like a mountain. You get to the top and bingo, there's this marvellous skyline....You should make a splendid ceremonial gate at the top with a place where you can turn off and have a viewing platform over the bay and the city." (Source: "Who needs fancy pants" The Straits Times, 20th August 1989)