Paul Rudolph’s and Carlo Scarpa’s Interaction with the Environment

Abstract

This paper examines how Paul Rudolph and Carlo Scarpa design buildings in a seemingly harsh environment to connect occupants to that which is around them. It involves the study of Fondazione Quarini Stampalia and Camping Fusina by Scarpa, along with the Umbrella House and the Healy Guest House by Rudolph, analyzing the buildings through methods of site visits, photography, and drawing. Specifically, it analyzes how the architects frame the environment, experiment with view, explore visible connection of the ground, planning for the inevitable flooding that will occur, and creating a feeling of safety for people to positively interact with what is around them. This study determines that while all these methods are important in designing buildings, it is how the architects develop an appreciation of the environment by the occupants that is imperative in designing for the future of Florida. For a more resilient Florida that can handle the environmental pressure being forced on it while also developing a design language that makes Florida’s architecture stand out.