Welcome to the Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation. The purpose of this online database is to function as a tool for scholars, students, architects, preservationists, journalists and other interested parties. The archive consists of photographs, slides, articles and publications from Rudolph’s lifetime; physical drawings and models; personal photos and memorabilia; and contemporary photographs and articles.
Unless otherwise noted, all images and drawings are copyright © The Estate of Paul Rudolph and The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation. Please speak with a representative of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation to get permission to use any drawings or photos. Drawings, sketches and other materials produced by Rudolph’s architectural office at the Library of Congress are maintained there for preservation, but the intellectual property rights belong to the Paul Rudolph Estate and Ernst Wagner, founder of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
LOCATION
Address:
City: Dammam
State:
Zip Code:
Nation: Saudi Arabia
STATUS
Type: Recreation
Status: Project
TECHNICAL DATA
Date(s): 1968-1969
Site Area:
Floor Area:
Height:
Floors (Above Ground):
Building Cost:
PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Client: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Architect: Paul Rudolph
Associate Architect:
Landscape:
Structural: Frank E. Basil Inc. of Athens, Greece
MEP:
QS/PM:
SUPPLIERS
Contractor:
Subcontractor(s):
Stadium for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal determines to change the country’s image by sponsoring international cultural events and invites Japanese architect Kenzo Tange to design a sports stadium and to suggest architects for two others. Tange suggests Danish architect Jorn Utzon and Paul Rudolph.
The project consists of the design of a stadium for 25,000 spectators to watch soccer, football and a variety of track events.
The stadium is a giant tent-like structure to reflect the symbolism of ancient traditions, yet constructed with contemporary methods using principles of tension and inflation. The design is Rudolph’s stadium design and first major tension-structure (he also used tension in the design of the Healy Guest House).
The structure is to be constructed of poured-in-place concrete with a large shade roof of air-inflated canvas stretched between a series of suspension cables. Two concrete pylons provide the central mast for the roof, rising 264 feet (80.5 m) from the east side of the stadium. A double water tank suspended overhead between the pylons provides water for drinking and for irrigating grass areas and a garden.
The design concept emphasizes the ceremonial arrival of the King, with a royal entrance ramp and an elaborate king’s box for the royal family - with dining, reception and retiring rooms provided at the base between the two structural pylons. The location of the King’s box is meant to symbolize the King’s enlarged headdress protecting his people.
Seating is determined by social hierarchy - while galleries accommodate one hundred guests of the king on each side of his box, the first class is grouped together in the center, and descending classes are arranged on either side of the center.
Located beneath the seating at the first two levels are health facilities, administrative offices, shops, galleries, and first, second and third class restaurants. The upper level contains a promenade.
The roof is constructed of a series of 38 suspension cables that support an infill of impregnated nylon. The nylon is fabricated in two layers and air-inflated to give the roof rigidity and provide insulation from the sun. To eliminate fluttering caused by high desert winds, additional cables tie the roof to the outside perimeter of the stadium, so that the stadium itself acts as a mooring. The roof is meant to be prefabricated and assembled on site.
The two concrete pylons provide the central mast for the roof structure. The pylons fan out at the top, and suspension cables are secured to the ribs of the fan. The cables consist of from one to three steel strands, depending upon required strength. The cables then radiate downward and are secured at ground level to concrete guy anchors.
“Since the stadium is designed for the government, it is very important to point up its monumental and symbolic aspects. The King sits between the pylons and symbolically protects his people by an enlarged headdress, which is derived from his traditional costume and represented in the stadium by the great sheltering roof.
[The Royal Box is positioned off center] partially because the composition of the existing site and the way in which the sit is approached is asymmetrical, but also becasue the complex would be lacking in subtlety and mystery if the king were centered as one would expect.”
“The roof structure of inflated plastic (vinyl impregnated nylon) with an inner bladder filled with air is supported on steel catenary tension members. The King of Saudi Arabia and his guests will sit between the two concrete columns, which support the shade roof as well as the water tank and lighting system. The relatively few automobiles required in Saudi Arabia nestle under extensions of the roof.”
DRAWINGS - Design Drawings / Renderings
DRAWINGS - Construction Drawings
DRAWINGS - Shop Drawings
PHOTOS - Project Model
PHOTOS - During Construction
PHOTOS - Completed Project
PHOTOS - Current Conditions
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
RELATED DOWNLOADS
PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Chronological List of Works by Paul Rudolph, 1946-1974.” Architecture and Urbanism, no. 49, Jan. 1975.
“Fit for a King; a Stadium for Saudi Arabia.” Progressive Architecture, no. 51, May 1970, pp. 104–07.
Janke, Rolf. Architectural Models. Frederick A. Praeger, 1978.
Paul Rudolph. Paul Rudolph: Dessins D’Architecture. Office du Livre, 1974.
Paul Rudolph and Sybil Moholy-Nagy. The Architecture of Paul Rudolph. Praeger, 1970.
“Stadium.” Architecture and Urbanism, no. 80, July 1977, pp. 188–91.
“Stadium, Damman, Saudi Arabia.” Architectural Design, no. 41, Feb. 1971, p. 110.
Tony Monk. The Art and Architecture of Paul Rudolph. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 1999.