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Showing posts from September, 2009

Just Another Teardown

This smart looking modern house doesn't stand a chance. I've always liked the house, especially the upstairs deck and railing. It looks like a very sensible size (which means it's tiny by modern standards) and doesn't appear to be very run down. Unfortunately it's cursed with a prime location that adjoins a large vacant lot. The realtor is so convinced nobody would want this boxy Fifties bungalow they felt the need to add "LOT" to the for sale sign. Seems like we could give the house a chance. Do we really need to point out the oversized lot to would-be developers? Or is the $450,000 price tag not obvious enough? The house is on on Terwilleger Boulevard just west of Utica. Enjoy it while you can.
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Favorites: Thanks Dwell

Last week I noticed new visitors to Oklahoma Modern being sent from Dwell magazine's website. Dwell is one of my fave magazines, so I was curious. I investigated and was delighted to find a new resource listing modern sites of regional interest- such as the one you're looking at now. Here's a link to the page which includes a map of the various sites sprinkled across our Great Land... Dwell's Regional Modern Website Map We don't really consider ourselves a "real estate" site, but that's okay (we're not based in OKC either). Shucks, when we started OK Modern we never thought we'd be in Dwell! We're flattered to be sharing pixels with cool sites like Houston Mod, the Eichler Network and Kansas City Modern. Thanks Dwell!
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Modern Night at Philbrook

Two modern exhibits happen to coincide this month at Tulsa's Philbrook Museum of Art . To celebrate this occasion Modern Tulsa invites you to join them for an evening at Philbrook. The event is free, you just need to RSVP to Moderntulsa.net. A new gallery featuring selected works from the George Kravis II Collection of modern design opens September 8, 2009. The collection features items from 1900 to the present designed by iconic names in industrial design like Dreyfuss, Frankl, Geddes, Teague, Vassos and Noguchi. Also showing in the main gallery is Auspicious Vision (Aug, 23-Nov. 29), a showcase of American Modernism paintings from the Edward Wales Root collection. Better Living by Design, with Modern Tulsa Thursday, September 10, 2009 Philbrook 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm Pohlenz Cucine Moderne 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm The evening starts at Philbrook, to enjoy the exhibits from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Then we'll make the short drive up Peoria to visit Cucine Moderne from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm for
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World Museum's Final Exhibit

It's called Rubble. We originally told you about the impending demolition of the former T.L. Osborn complex back in November 2008 . The former home of the Osborn Ministries, their Interstate Temple and the bizarre World Museum were being razed to make room for the widening of I-44. This last week the demolition revved into high gear. This photo was snapped just hours before the landmark parabolic roof structure (we always called it the Conch) was leveled. It was a sad end to a unique building that has been etched into the memories of millions of cross-country travelers. Addendum Shane Hood passed along this graphical nugget from a period trade magazine. Ironic reading the blurb about how quickly the concrete arches were created. 12 hours up, 12 minutes down. Oh well.
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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
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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
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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
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