Modnauts venturing to Downtown Tulsa can enjoy a special treat this holiday shopping season. The Tulsa Deco District Pop-Up Shops have returned for 2012 after a stellar performance last year. They have expanded the offerings- and locations. Most notably for fans of modernism this includes the little white block building on the corner of 7th and Boston. For years we've been seeing Smith Bros Abstracts in the window. But the building was actually a branch bank designed by Robert Buchner for the Ponca City Savings & Loan. It has been vacant for many years. This week we got to step inside for the very first time.
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