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Showing posts from November, 2008

Interstate Temple Running on Fumes

I've received several responses from people around the country asking about the Victory Bible Institute building, aka the Osborn Foundation's World Museum and Interstate Temple complex. Most of the response has been from preservationists curious to know if demolition is imminent, and whether there is any chance of saving this structure. Today I confirmed with sources at INCOG and ODOT that the I-44 widening project is going "through" this unique building. The image (right) is taken from a 2005 plan for the I-44 widening project through Tulsa that was issued by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). While some details of the plan have changed over the last few years, this particular detail has not. It shows the current and proposed routes of I-44, and the adjacent frontage road known as Skelly Drive. In this view you're seeing the intersection of Quincy Avenue and Skelly Drive (just east of Peoria). The blue tinted areas are the new highway route. The g

New List of Modern Links

Certified Good Stuff Just a quick note to take care of a little cyber-housekeeping. I've created a new page specifically for links to other sites. The new Mo' Modern Links page lists a slew of cool sites that deal with modern design, mid-century architecture and more. There's a even a little widget to display cool stuff for sale on eBay! Over time our list of links, customarily found along the side of any respectable blog, has grown larger and larger. Not one to easily heel to the status quo, I decided to give these links the respect they deserve and give them their very own page. Over time we will add cool sites as we find them (or as you suggest them). Our archive of previous posts and clever products for your modern lifestyle will still be along the sidebar. But if you want to spend hours surfing le Internet Moderne - then you just need to bookmark our links page . Now with all this room for the links to stretch out and relax, we're on the prowl for even mo

The World Museum

The widening of I-44 through Tulsa will soon claim another mid-century building (see Modern Homes Make Way for I-44 ). This unusual landmark near Peoria, once known as the World Museum, is being emptied in preparation for demolition. The concrete complex was built in 1963 by the Osborn Ministries as a museum and "Interstate Temple." Self-proclaimed minister, T. L. Osborn, and his wife, Daisy, traveled the world as Christian missionaries and collected art and artifacts on their journeys. The unusual La Concha-esque building housed their partial collection and distracted motorists touring along the new Skelly Bypass (aka I-44). The exterior of the building is adorned with maps of the world's continents. In its heyday there was a good deal more- a giant outline of Jesus was on one wall. The inscription below it, "REX," provided one of my earliest Latin lessons when I asked Dad why that building had my name on it. There was also a large globe that once stood out fr

The Recent Past

OKC's Unique First Christian Church

The Church of Tomorrow Oklahoma's state capitol dome was added some 88 years after the capitol was built, finally completed in 2002. But not far away is another dome that has been turning heads since 1956. It's the First Christian Church of Oklahoma City. Call it a wigwam, igloo, earthbound spaceship or dome- no matter how you describe the shape of the sanctuary, it's definitely eye-catching. The thin-shell concrete dome is massive, with seating for 1200. Connected to the dome is a four-story administrative building and a 185-seat theater. Dedicated as "The First Christian Church of Tomorrow," the architecture caught the attention of local newspapers, as well as Life magazine (Feb. 1957). Last summer I had a unique opportunity to explore these interesting buildings. The main complex was designed by R. Duane Conner in 1953. Conner was a member of the congregation and offered three different designs for the church. Credit is also attributed to his partner, Fr

The Bruce Goff House in Vinita

We were recently surprised to learn about a Goff-designed home just an hour away from Tulsa in Vinita, Oklahoma. Vinita is probably best known to OK Mod readers as the home of the Glass House on I-44, also known as (shudder) the World's Largest Largest McDonalds . Anywho, turned out the Goff house was on the market, and the owner was more than happy to let us have a look around. We took a short drive up the turnpike one Sunday afternoon to meet the realtor, snap some pictures, ask some questions and enjoy another one of Bruce Goff's unique creations. The home is known as the Adams House and was built in 1961. The 3,700 square foot home is arranged in a circular floor plan with a large sunken "conversation pit" at the center. Rising up from this pit is a large metal fireplace, its chimney surrounded by skylights, which dominates the entire house. Rooms surround the perimeter with folding accordion doors acting as walls. To maintain some semblance of privacy an inner

Oklahoma State Capitol Bank

On the Trail of Julius Shulman: Stop 2 "This is a bank," the sign outside the futuristic building read. According to legend a prankster added a strategic question mark and echoed the sentiment of many passers-by: "This is a bank?" That was back in 1964 when it opened. Today the Arvest on Lincoln Boulevard looks a bit less Jetsonian, mostly due to replacement of structural glass below the "saucers," but it's still an unusual bank. Designed by Robert Roloff of the architectural firm Bailey, Bozalis, Dickinson & Roloff, the State Capitol Bank caused quite a stir in Oklahoma City when it opened. Heck, it's still pretty shocking today! Originally the flying saucers appeared to hover above the building (as seen in this vintage postcard). All the glass that made that effect possible also made heating and cooling an expensive proposition. Security concerns also mandated replacement of those windows with solid materials and small square portholes