Oklahoma Modern

Tulsa's Interstate Temple Remembered

2012-02-10T10:36:00.002-06:00

Remember the World Museum?

Also known as the Interstate Temple, the zany thin-shell concrete rotunda was razed in 2009 to make way for the I-44 widening project in Tulsa. Sniff, sniff.

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Unknown Places

2012-02-01T18:27:00.001-06:00

One of the more amazing collections available through the Tulsa City-County Library is the Beryl Ford Collection. Ford collected thousands of images of Tulsa right up to his death in 2009. The Rotary Club of Tulsa purchased the collection and, with the help of the Tulsa City-County Library and the Tulsa Historical Society, began the monumental task of preserving and digitizing the collection.

An unidentified bathing beauty, just one
of hundreds of unknown images from the
Beryl Ford Collection.

Today you can browse the Beryl Ford Collection online, search the database and even purchase prints. It's a fascinating peak into our city's past.
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Ranch Style Razed

2012-01-29T10:32:00.001-06:00

Earlier this week I got a depressing call from a friend who was watching a bulldozer mow down the Ranch Acres Medical Building. For many years this ranch-style building has been a fixture on the corner of 31st & Harvard in Tulsa.

I knew the building had been empty for a while. But outwardly it appeared to be in solid shape, despite the beautiful brick being molested with paint several years ago. Today the two-story structure is laid bare and it appears it was inwardly pretty solid also. Watching all that nice hardware head to the landfill just makes my heart sink.

Most of the original retail and commercial structures at this intersection were built alongside the residential development of Ranch Acres neighborhood. Principally bounded by 31st and 41st Strreets between Harvard and Delaware, this well-preserved area was built during a time when commercial and residential buildings shared a look and feel. The corner store looked like your house. They matched.
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Ranch Acres Time Capsule

2012-01-24T19:15:00.003-06:00

I just discovered a unique home only a few blocks away from us. And I discovered it on a blog published halfway across the country. So amazing, this Internet thing.

The house is a 3200-foot, 3 bedroom in Ranch Acres. It's one of those cool floorplans with two main wings that make a flying V. Inside it's full Zsa Zsa Colonial with harvest gold appliances and mysterious woodgrains. The fireplace set into the curved sandstone wall is also noteworthy.

But don't take my word for it- here's a link to the article on Retro Nation about this awesome find:
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Save the Date for Dallas Mods

2012-01-19T17:27:00.000-06:00

One of our favorite events isn't in Oklahoma, but it is modern.

The White Rock Home Tour is an annual tour showcasing some of Dallas' nicest Mid-Century Modern homes. This area is northeast of downtown Dallas, near White Rock Lake, and features ranch-style and minimalist homes from the Fifties and Sixties.

Each year the tour highlights 5 or 6 homes, some vintage and some new construction. The weekend also features architectural lectures and exhibits. Proceeds from the event benefit Hexter Elementary, a nearby public school. For 2012 the tour will be held April 21st and 22nd.

So mark your calendars, Okies! We'll round up the wagons and make ourselves a convoy. Breaker, breaker. Headin' down to Big D. 10-4.

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Photo Tour: Broken Arrow Moderns

2011-12-30T12:02:00.000-06:00

Just a few random images.

Tulsa's largest suburb isn't usually associated with modernism, but if you look closely there are some unique examples of Mid-Century Modern. Here's a random sampling I snapped on a cloudy day in December...

By far the best known modern structure in BA would have to be this white building on the hill. For decades this former church has been turning heads near the Broken Arrow Expressway. Some people describe it as a covered wagon, others see a cornucopia. But Jackie's nickname for it my favorite is. She has called it the "chicken church" since childhood.

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Thoroughly Modern Getaway

2011-12-26T17:52:00.000-06:00

We had been hearing about the unique hideaway called the Canebrake for years. I decided Jackie's birthday would be the perfect occasion to get out of town to sample their gourmet menu and spend the night in a cabin in the woods.

The Canebrake is located just east of Wagoner, OK on a peninsula overlooking Fort Gibson Lake. It's miles away from the city lights so it's a great place to "get away from it all."
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Timely Wallpaper

2011-12-22T07:29:00.001-06:00

Here's a holiday freebie from our friends at Design Within Reach.

Download a free 2012 calendar for your virtual desktop. Choose the size below and set it as your background wallpaper. Cool huh?

News Anchor Crashes Parade Float

2011-12-16T11:23:00.003-06:00

No injuries reported.

Mechanical Snowman is a Local Favorite

Local modernista may be familiar with Shane Hood, he's quite active with Modern Tulsa, the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture and the Lortondale neighborhood. He also happens to be involved with another really cool non-profit called Fab Lab.

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Tulsa's IPE Building Deserves Better

2011-12-09T11:23:00.000-06:00

Orange You Glad They Painted it Grey?

IPE Building during construction.
Courtesy Modern Steel

Not me.

Long before it was known as the Quik Trip Center, the immense building at Expo Square behind the Golden Driller was known as the Tulsa Exposition Center. Built in 1966 to provide an indoor space for the International Petroleum Exposition, the building featured a cable-supported roof covering more than 10 acres. Distinctive orange steel supports rose up from the prairie to hold the cable system.

The architect for the project was Bert E. Griffin and David R. Graham and Associates were the structural engineers. The clever cable system floating 3,500 tons of structural steel above the exhibit floor was so unique several patents were filed. The visual impact of the building was modern, but very business-like. The wide stance of the outermost support pillars echoed the "spider legs" of architect Richard Neutra. Giant beams rose up from the roof to grasp cables, almost like a giant bridge had been covered.

The structure and its eight-story tall doorman, the Golden Driller, became symbols of Tulsa- then known as the "Oil Capital of the World." Most Tulsans knew it as the IPE Building, though the oil show was only one of the many events hosted there. The unique design offered 8 acres of uninterrupted floorspace- the largest in the world. Through the Seventies the building was marketed as a venue for car races, gun shows, boat expositions and even the national BMX championships.
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Carpet City Annexed

2011-12-05T07:34:00.001-06:00

Oklahoma's Largest Carpet Co.

For decades the neon sign at 15th and Delaware made this claim. Or variations thereof as certain letters burned out. But the Carpet City building recently changed hands and is currently being renovated for use as medical offices. The sign was one of the first things to go.

Unfortunately the sleek sandstone building is also losing some of its most unique characteristics. Namely, the swooping triangular carport that has been a landmark since 1948. Yesterday we drove past and saw the front of the building stripped of its Mid-Century charm.

Here's a photo of the building a from a few weeks ago. Today it's not quite as cool.

Sniff, sniff.

Photo Scavenger Hunt II

2011-11-25T09:08:00.000-06:00

Where Am I?

Here's the second installment of the exciting game show that's sweeping the country!

Congratulations to Derek Lee who correctly identified the super-sleek columns of the Stillwater National Bank building in Stillwater, Oklahoma. An official Oklahoma Modern t-shirt is headed your way!

The 1967 Stillwater National Bank Building
at 6th and Main in Stillwater.

Now, let's start the next round!
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Plywood Challenge

2011-11-22T11:59:00.001-06:00

I've been shopping for a new desk.

Then I read about a design competition sponsored by More Branding to design a desk from a single sheet of plywood.

Thus the name: 4 x 8.

It was so much fun they decided to invite others from the Tulsa design community to participate. Fifteen entries were received the first day. What started out as a simple office project to replace some desks has turned into a full-blown, hard-core, design throwdown. The call for entries has gone out (and reprinted when they ran out) and come January we'll see just how creative T-Town really is. But wait...

There is more.

To top it off a showcase and silent auction will be held March 2012. The proceeds from each desk will benefit the school of each designer's choice! As of yet the location is yet to be determined- but if the pace of entries continue I'm thinking airplane hanger.

So now I'm thinking it's time to design my own desk. Or maybe I'll wait and see what turns up and just buy one at the auction in March. Either way it sounds like a win-win.

Learn more about the 4X8 Design Competition

Photo Scavenger Hunt Contest

2011-11-02T10:10:00.000-05:00

Where Am I?

Here's a fun idea: We'll post a photo, and you guess the location!

The photos will be an architectural detail located within Oklahoma. If you think you know the location submit your guess on the Oklahoma Modern Facebook page. We'll pick a winner at random from the correct answers submitted (assuming there are more than one) and you'll receive a fabulous prize from one of our wonderful sponsors!

Ready?

Here's our first round...

Go!

Where Am I?

If you know where this is visit us on Facebook, look for this post and click "Comment" to submit your answer!

PS- If you have a cool photo you think might be appropriate let us know!

Vitra. Save. Now.

2011-10-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

We love deals.

And we love sharing deals with our friends and readers. So read- and save 15% on Vitra now through October 14th at All Modern.com!

Mod in the USA

2011-09-27T18:34:00.001-05:00

Jackie and I were asked to contribute to Dwell magazine's blog in conjunction with their Made in USA issue.

We were tickled that they asked, and told them we'd be more than happy to submit some articles. We asked them what they had in mind and they told us to offer up something from Oklahoma that was uniquely American. That sounded easy. The first thing that came to mind for me was the unique assortment of works by Bruce Goff located in the Sooner State. So here's our brief slideshow of Goff in Oklahoma...

Bruce Goff in Oklahoma

Enjoy.

Recycled Plant Stand

2011-09-17T10:35:00.000-05:00

We've had this plant stand sitting around for years.It was one of those multi-tiered, folding jobs made from wood- very Seventies. Like the brochure might have had a macrame owl hanging on the wall behind it.

We had no use for it but I just couldn't bring myself to throw the thing away. I kept looking at those 2" x 2" lengths of wood and seeing a cool table or room divider hidden within.

Jackie came up with the idea for a Nelson-esque table. So we took it apart and started playing Lincoln Logs. We arranged the different lengths of wood into various configurations. Just to avoid litigation (wink*) we added two short "accents" on each side. A set of hairpin legs Jackie had scored at an estate sale completed the project.

It's not a real Nelson Platform Bench, but for less than $10 of hardware I think it's pretty cool.

Goff's Most "Usual" Design

2011-08-28T14:27:00.001-05:00

Bruce Goff is known for his unusual architecture. So our visit to the home he designed for the Cox family in 1949 was a bit of a surprise.

From the street it's easily the most "usual" home by Bruce Goff we have ever seen. It even has vertical walls, brick veneer and square corners. There are no spheres or conversation pits or Klingon-inspired roof escarpments. It would be easy to overlook the Cox House. Odds are you'd miss it- even if someone told you to keep an eye out for a Bruce Goff house in Boise City.
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Tulsa's Airport-henge

2011-08-17T16:19:00.002-05:00

The terminal at Tulsa International Airport is a classic example of Sixties modernism. Built in 1963 it was designed by the local firm of Murray-Jones-Murray and was highly acclaimed at the time.

Just west of Tulsa International Airport's main terminal lies the less elegant general aviation area. This area is actually the original site of Tulsa Municipal Airport- the precursor to the sleek, jet-age airport most of us use today.

The general aviation area serves private planes and some military aircraft that stop in for refueling.

Near the corner of North Sheridan and Apache is where the original airport terminal building used to stand. Today on that site you'll find the local headquarters of the FAA and National Weather Service. This building is adorned with a variety of unique concrete forms on walls, benches and even this stylized windsock statue.

If you're interested in seeing what the original airport terminal looked like head north from here about a mile and visit the Tulsa Air & Space Museum (a fairly modern piece of architecture in its own right). They have an excellent reproduction inside of the original Tulsa Municipal Airport terminal.

What Not to Wear: Atoka Edition

2011-08-12T09:12:00.013-05:00

Ever been through Atoka?

Of course you say, it's on the road to Dallas!

But have you ever ventured off US-75? If so, you may have noticed the Atoka County Courthouse.

The building is built of lovely sandstone and has those really cool swoopy concrete awnings. Sorry, but I don't know what they're really called- cool swoopy concrete seems appropriate. Maybe we can say CSC for short?

Anyway, the CSC theme continues along the side of the building, as shown below:

But look closely.

Almost as entertaining as the CSC shapes are the highly inappropriate porch lamps someone decided to stick on the side of the building. Not one, but a whole slew of lovely carriage lights! Can you say, gift card from Home Depot? So here's our nomination for the What Not to Wear category- congratulations to the Atoka County Courthouse!

Eerie Reminder

2011-07-28T16:25:00.007-05:00

Once Upon An Island: Twin Towers Rising

The current exhibit at the Price Tower Arts Center features more than 100 photographs taken during construction of the World Trade Center. The images were taken by Richard Quinney while he was taking a photography class at the International Center for Photography in 1969. Quinney eventually moved to Madison, Wisconsin, packing away the original slides where they remained virtually untouched for the next 30 years.

photo courtesy pricetower.org

In 2002 the collection was donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison. Prints were made and the eventual result was Once Upon on Island: Twin Towers Rising.

The images not only document the building of these landmark structures, but also an important era in American history. Eerily the eventual fate of these buildings hangs heavy over the entire exhibit- which will be on display through September 11, 2011.

Before You Go

Construction of One Williams Center
courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection

Take a drive through downtown Tulsa on your way to Bartlesville.

At the north end of Boston Avenue you'll find a miniature version of the iconic World Trade Center (if you can call a 52-story building miniature). The silver building's construction and design are remarkably similar to the Twin Towers. What we know today as the BOK Tower was originally One Williams Center- and was originally proposed as four 25-story towers! The similarity is not accidental. Both projects were designed by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates.

All Modern Memo: Save on Kartell & Alessi

2011-07-12T12:05:00.000-05:00

Our friends at All Modern.com are offering special pricing on some of the best known names in modern home furnishings- Kartell and Alessi.

Huge Kartell Sale This Week!
Through July 17th all Kartell products are 15% off. For innovative contemporary design, shop the entire collection of Kartell furniture. From accent tables and barstools to ghost chairs and modern lighting, you'll find everything you need for every room in your home.
15% Off All Kartell Modern Furniture
Sale ends July 17th

20% Off Top Selling Alessi Collections
The bestselling Alessi collections are 20% off all month. Alessi's intention, from the beginning, was to be highly innovative with cookware. Today Alessi is well known for its unique collaboration with designers and architects to produce beautiful, quality cookware and whimsical home accessories.
20% Off Top Selling Alessi Modern Items
Sale ends July 31st

The All Electric House

2011-07-06T11:56:00.002-05:00

In 1953 the Kansas City Power & Light utility company decided to build a model home to showcase the virtues of total electric living. The home was designed in the new "ranch style" and featured all the latest conveniences. They decided on a location in a suburb called Prairie Village, Kansas. The home was completed in 1954 and within six months more than 60,000 visitors had toured the model home.

Standing outside today you might wonder what all the fuss was about. The exterior is a typical ranch with wood shingles and a two-car garage. But step inside and you'll be transported to a world of Fifties high-tech.

Automatic night lights illuminate the living room and hallway. The large picture window is shaded by motorized curtains. A panel beside the sofa provides remote control of the television- which is hidden by a painting! The laundry room is outfitted with a combination washer/dryer (an appliance now popular for space-conscious apartments). Step into the garage and you'll notice a massive electric motor hanging from the ceiling to operate the garage door.

The All Electric House was built at a staggering cost of $53,000, at a time when most homes cost a fraction of that amount. For the next 40 years it was just another family home in the suburbs. In 1994 the owners had decided to raze the house and build a larger home on the same property. The story goes that some newspaper clippings were discovered in the garage only days before the bulldozers arrived. The clippings detailed the unique history of the model home and prompted the family to donate the house to the Johnson County Historical Museum.

The house was eventually moved to its present location and restored to its former "Total Electric Living" glory. Which is remarkable when you think about it.

Most people would look at this structure and shrug. After all, there are acres and acres of similar abodes in similar sub-divisions in similar suburbs all across America. It doesn't even have a flat roof or an interior courtyard. But that's precisely why it's so remarkable. The fact is someone did have the vision to take this outwardly unremarkable house, split it in two, move it across town, replace all the period furnishings and lovingly restore all the techie gadgets to working condition.

And we should all be glad they did.

For a virtual tour of the interior visit the All Electric House Home Tour. For an actual tour go to the Johnson County Historical Museum at 6305 Lackman Road in Shawnee, Kansas. For more information visit www.jocomuseum.org.

Favorites: Modern Design Stamps

2011-07-01T14:36:00.001-05:00

Cool stamps are not always easy to find.

I mean, you could always create and print your own photo stamps. But if you just want to drop by the post office and buy some cool stamps- well, you'll usually be disappointed. That is until now!

On Wednesday the USPS unveiled a new series of stamps honoring 12 giants of industrial design. The Pioneers of American Industrial Design series includes influential designers like Henry Dreyfuss, Norman Bel Geddes and Raymond Loewy. Even the border of the stamp pane (or selvage as it's known in philatelic circles) is adorned with the classic Airflow house fan- as seen in the recent American Streamlined exhibit at Tulsa's Philbrook Museum!

Each stamp features the name of a designer and a photograph of an object they created, as well as a description and year the object was created.

To learn more than you ever wanted to know about stamp collecting (including what "selvage" means) visit our featured favorite, Beyond the Perf. The official site for USA stamp collecting developed to bring you in-depth information about stamps, cancellations, and related events.

Thoroughly Modern Fourth

2011-06-29T12:16:00.003-05:00

Modern Tulsa is planning a really cool event for the Fourth of July.

The penthouse of the Liberty Club Towers in downtown Tulsa will provide the viewing deck for the annual fireworks display. It will be a hip happening with local barbecue, veggie options, beer and door prizes.

Space is very limited- but food and beverages are provided. Chairs however are not!

The new owner of the space is in the middle of a big renovation. Consider this your sneak peek at one of Tulsa's most exclusive residential spaces- high atop Tulsa. So load up your camp chair and come on down for the coolest place to be this Fourth!

Purchase Tickets Now