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Free Mid-Century Modern Posters


Merry Christmas from Oklahoma Modern!

Here's a special mod and hip Christmas present for all you fans of Mid-Century buildings- compliments of Uncle Sam!

Modern-Era Building Posters from the General Services Administration

The General Services Administration (GSA) manages about a zillion square feet of our Nation's floorspace. Everything from courthouses to salt mines used for underground storage. Many of these government complexes were built in the postwar era. Minimalist and free of excess adornments, they appeal to a modern aesthetic. Most are not what your Average Joe would consider "purdy," but many are important examples of modern architectural design.

But the good news is the GSA got the memo! Beginning in 2000, primarily due to outrage over a planned renovation to Denver's Federal Building, the importance of Mid-Century Modern was made clearly evident. Since then the GSA has realized the historic importance of many of the federal buildings under their management.

Last October they were even recognized for publishing Growth, Efficiency and Modernism: GSA Buildings of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, a must-read for understanding the challenges of modernizing buildings from the recent past. This 120-page brochure is also a great tool for expanding the appreciation of postwar and mid-century architecture in general.
Oklahoma's entry in the free series of Modern Building Posters.This free series of eleven posters highlights modern federal buildings across the United States. Printed on heavy bond, each poster measures 24" x 36" and are oh-so suitable for framing. The following link offers details on each building and an email link to request your own copy of each poster (no order form is provided).

The series features dramatic photography of a notable feature of each building. Architectural styles in the series range from Formalist to Sixties Modern. Oklahoma's only building in the series is the Oklahoma City Federal Building and Courthouse (right) which was completed in 1961.

Most of the series can be downloaded in PDF format or ordered for no charge by contacting the GSA's Historic Buildings Program with your mailing address and which posters you want at the following link:

GSA Modern Era Buildings Poster Series

Chet Holifield Federal Building
The Chet Holifield Federal Building in
Laguna Niguel, California


So order your favorites today and enjoy your free Christmas gift. Best wishes to all of you and have a happy 2009!

Comments

Ajay said…
Is it really free mid century poster? I am curious to know about it.

The Recent Past

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

Visit to the Prairie Chicken House

This unique house on the edge of Norman, Oklahoma is known to most as the prairie chicken house. Designed by Herb Greene in 1960, he preferred to call it simply the Prairie House .  Thanks to the  Prairie House Preservation Society  (PHPS) it is now possible for the public to experience one of Oklahoma's most unusual architectural treasures. 

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