Rudolph Hall, Yale University, New Haven, CT - Philatelic Photographs on Waymarking.com

In 2005, the U.S. Postal Service issued a set of twelve stamps commemorating modern American architecture. One of the featured structures was the Yale Art & Architecture Building (now renamed Rudolph Hall after recent renovation and the departure of the Art department). It was designed in the early '60s by Paul Rudolph who also was chairman of Yale’s Architecture department at that time making him both architect and client at once. Rudolph went through six different conceptual plans before deciding on a final design. (Who thinks being your own client is easy?)

The resulting building, completed in 1963, has been described as “Brutalist” having bold geometric forms and lots of exposed concrete. The interior is spatially complex with rooms, stairways, mezzanines and bridged walkways comprising 36 different levels over seven stories. The building was a sensation in architecture circles, appearing on the cover of some magazines before it was even finished. It was nearly universally praised in the press and received the First Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects.

But criticism of the building began almost immediately. Some detected disdain in a speech given at the building’s dedication by British architecture critic Nicholas Pevsner in which he intimated that its design had neglected function in lieu of form. Yale’s Art department was particularly critical, feeling that they had received short shrift in the building’s plan. Complaints ran from the rough-hewn concrete walls to the bright orange carpets to general inflexibility. A major fire in 1969 destroyed much of the building’s interior and after repairs were completed, it hardly resembled Rudolph’s original design.

But now, thanks to a $126 million restoration effort, the building has been returned to its original plan (complete with bright orange carpets). Unfortunately, Paul Rudolph, who never spoke much about the building after its completion, didn’t live long enough to see the restored building having died in 1997.

Stamp Issuing Country: United States Date of Issue: 19-May-2005 Denomination: 37c Color: multicolored Stamp Type: Single Stamp Relevant Web Site: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
To post a visit log for this category, you must visit the actual site of the waymark. Post at least one photo that you personally took of the site if at all possible. If you cannot provide a photo for some reason, your visit will still be welcome.

You do NOT need to be a stamp collector to visit the waymark site, nor do you have to provide a photo of the stamp. Just having a copy of the stamp in question, however, is not sufficient; you must personally visit the site.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.