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Elementary Brutalism

Random web research recently informed me that my elementary school was designed by Paul Rudolph, a main figure in Brutalist architecture which boomed in the 60s. He studied with Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius. He served as dean of Yale’s architecture school. An example of his work, a Rudolph residence, can be seen in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums (Chas Tenenbaum’s apartment, think fire drill scene..). 

Completed in 1968, J.W. Chorley Elementary in Middletown N.Y. was threatened with demolition in the last couple of years, sparking a movement to give it landmark status. It’s vast open spaces and sprawling arrangement of connected wings, gradually inclining against the landscape, definitely shaped my own artistic view, as well as my sense of the progression of time. Although I can’t say I’m fond of many other examples of Brutalism (see Boston’s Government Center), I feel kind of blessed that my formative years were spent in such a playfully designed space. And at this time, it has been spared from demolition and awaits students in September. Photos below from a member of the Rudolph foundation’s flickr page.

This scale model of Chorley (as well as all photographs above) was created by architect Kelvin Dickinson, a member of the Paul Rudolph foundation.