67001: Paul Rudolph (American, 1918-1997) The Walker Gu

Paul Rudolph (American, 1918-1997) The Walker Guest House Full-Scale Replica, designed 1952-1953, this example 2015 Painted wood and plywood, metal, steel, painted cast-iron, glass, rope, linoleum, grass cloth 24 feet x 24 feet (7.3 x 7.3 meters) (approximate) The near-exact replica commissioned from the original Rudolph design by the Sarasota Architectural Foundation, offered partially furnished. The structure is currently installed in downtown Palm Springs, CA, between the Rowan Hotel and the Palm Springs Art Museum, and must be deinstalled by the buyer by March 24, 2020. For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Brent Lewis at brentl@ha.com. The Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF) commissioned this example of Paul Rudolph's Walker Guest House (also known as "Cannonball House") in response to the destruction of several structures designed by the architect. Originally built in 1952 in Sanibel, Florida, the present example was constructed from the original Rudolph plans, and initially installed on the grounds of The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art where it was open for tours from 2015 to 2017. Countless visitors have toured the interior and exterior of the 576-square-foot house to learn about Rudolph and discover the principles of the Sarasota School of Architecture movement. The structure was thoughtfully constructed with the intention to be portable, and in 2018, it was reinstalled in Palm Springs, where it was a feature of "Modernism Week," the city's biannual festival celebrating mid-century modern architecture and design. "The SAF, whose mission is to educate about, advocate for and celebrate Sarasota's mid-century modern heritage, undertook this project as an educational initiative," SAF Chairman Dr. Christopher Wilson, Ph.D., said. "Recognizing that a majority of Sarasota School structures are private residences not normally accessible to the public, the SAF wanted to expose the forward-thinking principles of the 'Sarasota School' to a wider audience by constructing and exhibiting this replica." The Walker Guest house was Rudolph's first design executed independently, and is considered among his most significant projects. Rudolph built numerous other influential residential buildings in the Sarasota, Florida region, including his so-called Umbrella House (1953) and Cocoon House (1950), designed with Ralph Twitchell. In 1997, Rudolph donated much of his archive to the Library of Congress, which helped establish the Library's Center for Architecture, Design, and Engineering. By ensuring that his work was publicly accessible, he acted to see that his work could be preserved even if the original structures were not." The 24-by-24-foot structure features full-height, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and movable flaps that act as sun shades when raised and provide privacy when lowered. The flaps are controlled through the use of bright red counterweights on a rope rigging system, a process Rudolph learned during his time serving in the U.S. Navy. The cast weights resemble painted cannonballs, earning the structure the "Cannonball House" moniker. It will be offered at auction partially furnished with faithful reproductions of the original furniture Rudolph designed for the house, and will be on display during Palm Springs Modernism Week this February. The bidding will start at $10,000 – the same amount as the original 1950s budget. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Condition Report: Includes a living room table, bookshelf/divider and daybed designed of Rudolph design, and a desk by Paul McCobb, as well as the kitchen fixtures. Note there is no bathroom as that space was adapted to provide a lift for disability access. The demountable structure has a manual for construction and can be deinstalled and transported with most shipping crates are available to assist. Please contact the Design department for more information.