Modern Tulsa

A little off topic I know, but I just returned from Nicaragua and am on a bit of a Central American kick in my life. I flew down to visit my brother who left on a bus from Phoenix back in December and has been traveling since. I hooked up for ten days in Nicaragua to join him. Architecture was certainly not the focus of the trip but I seem to keep my eyes out for interesting structures along the way.

Considering most of the population lives a very modest life architecture is hardly at the top of their minds. Most people live in sheet metal roofed huts of sorts lucky to have plumbing and electricity but a few nice homes exist. While even fewer are modern I was able to find a few interesting ones I thought I’d share. The modern homes you see below were on the top of a great little hill above the picturesque harbor and surf town San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua.

I also stayed on Ometepe, a volcanic island, at a wonderful little hostel. The craftsmanship that went into the thatch roof huts was amazing. Made entirely of materials gathered on the small island it was amazing the degree of design they were able to obtain.

Price Reduced  $119,00.00

Near Southern Hills
1546 East 60th Street
Tulsa, OK 74105
$119,000.00
Rare, All Original, One of a kind
MID-CENTURY MODERN RANCH
as seen in Atomic Ranch Magazine
3 bedrooms, 2 bath, 2 car, 2 living areas with double sided fireplace 1800 Sq. Ft.
Terrazzo floors and vaulted ceilings throughout new ‘Energy-Star’ rated Raycore roof with new decking and 30 year shingles.
MLS# 920065
Contact David Tinnin
(918) 955-4333
(more…)

Stillwater, OK is not a town known for its modern architecture but there are always exceptions. This particular home was made aware to me by the trustee of the estate. I’m not sure who the architect is but have submitted this question. I have included the photos and description she sent me, below. If you have any questions feel free to comment below or contact her directly.

Stillwater Modern home for sale by the trustee of architect/owner designed house. He was a student and later a faculty member of the OSU School of Architecture. The architect and his wife were the only people who lived in the house since its construction. The original part of the house was constructed in the 1950’s and then an east addition was constructed some years later.

The house is all concrete and steel construction over a crawl space, with a partial basement. The flooring includes cork, stone, and real wood parquet. There are no floor-to-ceiling walls in the house (except what was the original outer wall), however there are several pocket doors that can define separate areas.

The house covers about 2,400 square feet and has a basement under the original part of the house. The flooring includes cork, slab stone and parquet. Much of the indoor shelving is suspended from the ceiling. There are one full bath and two three-quarter baths. The house is all concrete and steel construction and sits on about three-quarters of an acre.

I have attached some photos of the outside and inside of the house. Choose one outside and one inside shot to include on your website.

If anyone would be interested in knowing more about the house or in seeing it to consider purchasing it, I would be happy for them to contact me by email at betsyshowalter@gmail.com.

Our first official home tour, Living in HIFI, was a success! Thanks to the homeowners who not only graciously opened their homes to a bunch of strangers but had also obviously worked very hard in preparation. In total we had six homes within the Lortondale subdivision open this summer evening of various condition, taste and flavor. All were a great pleasure to stroll through, examining the original construction as well as the various updates made over the 50+ years of everyday living.

The after party at Dustin Thames home also went very well. An eclectic group stuck around as the sun set and enjoyed delicious grilled burgers, frosty beer and other accoutrement. The evening I feel was very special to many as our collective appreciation for modern design was shared this evening. Reminiscing about what Lortondale had been in its past and what it had become, the mood was very nostalgic yet still forward thinking. Those that were there seemed to share an appreciation for good design, good taste and a recognition of the good life.

A Special thanks to all our sponsors for their donations, the homeowners for opening their homes and everyone who purchased a ticket and attended this event.

Please enjoy this all encompassing photo set. I may try to break these up per home at a later date. I also hope to share specifics as to ticket sales and money raised.

“Living in HiFi” will be an annual modern home tour hosted by the Modern Tulsa committee of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. Focused on mid-century modern residential architecture, the tour will seek to promote an awareness and the preservation of this oft-overlooked and dismissed style of architecture.

“Living in HiFi” will premiere June 13th in the historic Lortondale Neighborhood. See photos of Lortondale.
Designed and built in 1954 by Tulsa duo Donald Honn (architect) and Howard Grubb (builder), the Lortondale Neighborhood was the recipient of a multitude of national design awards. The neighborhood was featured in an array of magazines including House and Home and Better Homes and Gardens.

In recent years Lortondale has experienced something of a rebirth. A new generation of homeowners, interested in modern design, are snapping up the houses just as fast as they come on the market. After decades of neglect, many of the houses in the neighborhood are being restored to their former modern glory. Most importantly, the Lortondale Community is experiencing the same restoration.

This year’s tour seeks to convey the energy that is the Lortondale Neighborhood today. Featured are 6 houses in various stages of completion. From the beginning stages of a restovation to a virtually complete example of HiFi-modern bliss, this tour of Lortondale will show you what all the buzz is about.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day-of. The tour will take place from 5:30 – 8:30 with an after party lasting from 8:30 -?

Tickets are available for purchase at the following locations:

Dwelling Spaces
119 South Detroit

Urban Furnishings
3636 South Peoria

Ida Red Boutique
3346 South Peoria

Tulsa Foundation for Architecture
2210 South Main

hope to see you there!

Shane

Here is a cool mid century home for sale in the quaint Redbud neighborhood, near 36th/Yale. This is a nice little pocket in my opinion and one of too few moderns located in Midtown, Tulsa. Very well decorated too! Nice Eames collection. The description and photos below are from the Realtor listing page. See details here.

3553 S Urbana – $179,900 – Ann Pickering is the listing agent of this property

This stunning Mid-Century Modern combines the best of updated convenience melded seamlessly with the original features unique to this architectural style. The interior is totally private with walls of windows on both levels transporting you into the peace and beauty of the secret garden. Over 15 kinds of Japanese Maples, a spectacular koi pond complete with waterfall, bamboo privacy wall, spruces, yews and an abundance of blooms welcome you home at the end of every day. The clean, sleek lines of the home add to the sense of tranquility and ambience helping you escape from the hectic world outside. With lots of room for entertaining both inside and out, and 2 orchard stone fireplaces for relaxing evenings with your favorite book, this home provides the best of all worlds.