Tulsa is a real estate candy store. And reasonably priced candy too!
The subject of Modern architecture and more specifically "International Style" Modern architecture came up recently here at TulsaNow. The discussion caught my interest and I went out to find some examples of International Style architecture here in Tulsa.
But first here's a brief explanation of International Style architecture patched together from excerpts taken from "American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia," Cyril M. Harris, ed., Norton & Co, 1998.
International Style 1920-1945.
A style of architecture applied to residences and public buildings that is minimalist in concept, is devoid of regional characteristics, stresses functionalism, and rejects all nonessential decorative elements; typically this style emphasizes the horizontal aspects of a building.
In the decades separating World Wars I and II, Americans tended to prefer period houses that reflected past traditions, while European architects emphasized radically new designs that came to be known as International style architecture...."
During the 1930s these ideas were introduced into the United States by several distinguished practitioners, like Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra and Marcel Breurer who emigrated to escape the developing chaos in Europe.
Defining features:
•Simple geometric forms, often rectilinear
•Reinforced-concrete and steel construction with a nonstructural skin
•Occasionally, cylindrical surfaces
•Unadorned, smooth wall surfaces, typically of glass, steel, or stucco painted white
•Complete absence of ornamentation and decoration; often, an entire blank wall
•Often, a cantilevered upper floor or balcony
•Houses in this style are characterized by open interior spaces and are commonly asymmetrical
•Commercial buildings are not only symmetrical but appear as a series of repetitive elements
•Flat roof, without a ledge, eaves, or coping, that terminates at the plane of the wall
•Large areas of floor-to-ceiling glass or curtain walls of glass
•Metal window frames set flush with the exterior walls, often in horizontal bands
•Casement windows; sliding windows
•Doorway treatments conspicuously plain, lacking decorative detailing
Some Tulsans bucked prevailing tastes and were drawn to the new Modern architecture of Europe – "International Style." The following are examples of Tulsa's International Style architecture I found close in to downtown:
Here's a classic International Style apartment building on 21st Street across from Lee Elementary. Notice the glass block window over the front entrance and the corner windows.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/IM000974.jpg)
The Riverview neighborhood had several examples of International Style.
Was this a late incarnation of International Style? Or is it a building from a later era that references International Style? The covered parking appears to have been added later. Does anyone know the history on this one? It is a very striking building named the Olympia.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/IM000959.jpg)
Here's another Riverview International Style apartment building.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/IM000962.jpg)
This one sits overlooking the river on a cul de sac.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/IM000953.jpg)
Here's an International Style fire station on Admiral.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/IM000949.jpg)
This is a very short list that I hope to expand. I'd like to find some houses too.
Does anyone know of other buildings here in Tulsa that look like these?
I freely admit little knowledge of architectural style, but I do have two observations. First, is "international style" the same as Bauhaus? And second, I believe that fire station is listed as one of Tulsa's Art Deco buildings. I have a book on Tulsa's Art Deco.....somewhere....and since the height of that style coincided with th oil boom years, many are buildings have Art Deco features.
I really like the first and third apartments. They have a very classy style. Its nice to see those two buildings being kept up and not "modified" to have a look other than their period and style would reflect.
The second apartments I am not sure what style those are lol. Any building built during the same time period would be likely to borrow elements of any style popular at the same time. The covered parking does indeed seem to have been added later, would have been better if it matched the apartments better.
I drove by that fire station the other day and wondered whether it was art deco or not. I decided that it really wasn't, but was not sure what style it was lol. There again it may have had some influence from both the international and art-deco movements.
When I think of the term "international style" of modern architecture, I think of low, horizontal buildings with flat roofs, exposed steel beam framing, and glass curtain walls. I also think of Bauhaus from the 1920s. Tulsa's International Airport, as originally constructed in the early 1960s, was certainly in the international style. I also think of Lever House and the Seagram building in NYC, two early 1950s examples of high-rise buildings which I believe exemplify the high-rise version of international style.
To me, the basic requisites of international style are steel framing and glass walls, rectangular lines, lack of curves and unnecesary ornamentation. There is an office building downtown on Boulder Ave. around 13th that was the original headquaters of Warren Petroleum Co. About 10-12 stories tall, it was designed by the world-famous architect firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (forgive my spelling or misquotes.) That is what I call Tulsa's definitive version of a high-rise international style building. Thank god this building has survived until today, unaltered from the original architect's vision. Probably due to the fact that one of the major current tennants is an architect firm, Selser Schaefer Architects, and they appreciate the building for its historic design status.
There is a house of this style on the north side of 19th between Norfolk and Owasso. It is currently painted a dark color and hiding behind tall bushes but seems to fit one of those style descriptions.
I think it is next to an artists home that has a nude reclining on a bench (scandalous!).
Art Deco and International Style were parallel movements that shared many attributes. I would guess that because Tulsa has so much outstanding Art Deco that some International Style buildings have been labeled Art Deco. I believe the fire house is International Style but Lord knows I've been wrong before.
Steve, I've seen the time frame for the architectural style described as "1920s and 1930s" and as late as "1920 through 1945." which leads me to believe we are into later schools of architecture after 1945. Maybe it's a matter of it simply becoming part of the lineage in later Modern architecture. And there is some use of cylinder form in International Style which would certainly be curved. But I too think of it as more rectangular. I'm on a learning adventure here with lots of questions.
My standard history of art by Janson does not discuss Art Deco but does discuss International Style.
My guess is that the Olympia is a 30s era International Style. What throws me is the use of brick and the concrete looks like it was prefabricated. Otherwise, it has all the standard elements. I wonder what the public areas and apartments are like. You could always remove the cover over the parking.
Thanks Waterboy, I'll check it out all leads.
Channel 2 on Peoria....
Noted examples of Tulsa's International Style buildings:
(http://www.tulsalawyer.com/img267.gif)
Tulsa International Airport
(http://www.couryprop.com/images/uploads/th_intPlaza.jpg)
International Plaza Building
Note the defining features of the style -- rectilinear, absence of ornamentation, cantilevered upper floor(s), repetitive elements, flat roof, curtain walls of glass, metal window frames flush with exterior walls, plain doorway treatments.
Worth noting that while the International Style movement had roots in Europe in the 30s, we didn't experience the style here in Tulsa until well after WWII -- the 50s and 60s mostly. Civic Plaza is mostly International Style, City Hall especially.
International Style and the later Art Deco movements have similar "modern" characteristics regarding ornamentation, but they are distinct. Streamline Art Deco was meant to convey movement by accentuating horizontal elements. International Style, for lack of better description, was all about building minimalist boxes.
Decent page about the three movements of Art Deco (//%22http://tulsapreservationcommission.org/artdeco/movements/%22) on the Tulsa Preservation Commission web site.
International Style is usually used to describe the early years of the movement through World War II. Its roots were Bauhaus. After the war the style is more generally called Modernism. Art Deco was an amalgamation of various styles that incorporated International Style. Unlike International Style it included decorative or ornamental elements. Tulsa did experience International Style. The apartment buildings I found above are International Style. The later buildings you cite clearly stand on a foundation of International Style but buildings after World War II would be called Modern. I took a quick look the buildings listed on the website and a couple of them look to be International Style.
The good news for us is that International Style is held in higher esteem than Art Deco by purists in the art world. I recall discussion about Europe before the war and International Style architecture in explaining the foundation for Modern art. There was not a lot of focus on Art Deco or Streamline decorative movements.
Hometown, I hate to always be the architecture guy raining on your parade [|)] but the first and last apartment complex photos you posted above are Art Deco. The horizontal bands give it away. The fire station would likely be considered Deco. The other apartments do indeed appear to be International, but I would guess their construction dates would be post-WWII.
You are correct about many things -- Art Deco (which is a term coined decades after the movement was over) and International both derive from the Bauhaus movement. They were competing schools of design, in fact. What we later referred to as Art Deco was the populist style of the late 20s and 1930s, while International style was largely shunned by all but the purists.
What happened is that the International (Bauhaus) architects fled Europe during WWII and came to the States. They found work not as practicing architects, but as professors in the leading U.S. architecture schools. Their strategy was that they could influence generations of future architects... and they did. But for that reason, the U.S. didn't experience a large-scale International movement until the 1950s -- after the first wave of newly minted architects graduated from the tutelage of the European Bauhaus Modernists. The post-war building boom fueled the movement, and here we are today.
So you are absolutely correct about the roots and general timeline of International Style in the broadest sense, but other than a few isolated examples of the style here and there, the United States' period of significance for International Style is typically considered 1946-1970ish.
Oh, and I forgot -- the downtown YMCA is a good local example of International Style.
Like I say Joe, this is a learning adventure and it's fun to play with you.
Here's an International Style commercial building. Check out the horizontal bands.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/1930sCommercial.jpg)
Tulsa's just got Deco on the brain. Looks to me like International Style has been lumped in with the other by well meaning enthusiasts.
Now, hold onto your seat. I'm ready to argue that Bruce Goff's much loved Riverside Studio owes much more to International Style than it does Art Deco. Look at the front of that building and think about Modrian's painting.
Anyway, keep posting those pretty pics. The connection to International Style is obvious, but after World War II those buildings were called Modern.
Well, if you're going to consider that International, then there's very little mid-century architecture that isn't International.
I think it's just our definitions of International Style. You define yours much more broadly than I do. Not all Modern is International (nor is it Deco or Moderne).
Bishop Kelley High School (the original building) is International Style.
IMHO International Style is just boring. Especially in the case of apartments and the like where there isnt enough space for the repetition or the vastness of the nothingness can get any real attention. To me, those just look like old, cheap apartments. I'm such a philistine, I know.
Per the Art Deco comments, I believe the last Art Deco movement, the Streamlined Art Deco merged with/into the International Style. Just take Streamline and get rid of the curved structures and you're pretty much at International.
I think it was all just architects getting lazy, who wants to design moldings, crowns, spires, murals, and mosaics for the ENTIRE structure. Screw that, lets just do as little as possible and call it art.
That's okay Cannon Fodder, you have a lot of company. You kind of have to go to art school to get Modernism. There's just something about people that make them want to hang up some ornaments. I've lived in several Modern buildings over the years and there really is a common impulse to want to decorate and fill up every available space. I've seen more than one pitched roof rebuilt over a flat roof. The good news for you is that we have entered the post Modern era and old fashioned ornamentation is back big time.
From Tulsa's point of view, though, it would be wise of her to preserve her Modern buildings. It's something of value that Tulsa has.
Tulsa even had artists that made abstract expressionist paintings way back when.
AJ and HT, Please keep going, I'm enjoying the education.
I think what makes it art is the extreme dedication to minimalism while still supporting function. The focus embraces the materials (glass, steel, concrete) and shuns ornament.
quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace
AJ and HT, Please keep going, I'm enjoying the education.
I think what makes it art is the extreme dedication to minimalism while still supporting function. The focus embraces the materials (glass, steel, concrete) and shuns ornament.
For the Bauhaus purists, it was integral to their lifestyle. They were practically monastic.
The old BSU on the TU campus, now called Westby Hall, is International Style (though heavily altered now).
Very interesting information. I am having a hard time appreciating the merit of International style, however. Obviously, we all have different tastes, and, while I am not crazy about the style, I appreciate that the airport and the International building have some degree of quality, style, design, whatever. Yet, the pictures shown by Hometown--particularly the apartment buildings--appear to me to be little more than warehouses. If international style lacks all ornamentation, and is strictly minimalist, what makes it good? How is it distinguished from something hideous like the office depot on 15th (which looks pretty minimalist to me)?
Same way with modern art--I can appreciate an artist like Pollock; he gives you something to look at. But the guy that paints the plain blue canvas--I don't know how you know that is good art.
quote:
Originally posted by pmcalk
Very interesting information. I am having a hard time appreciating the merit of International style, however. Obviously, we all have different tastes, and, while I am not crazy about the style, I appreciate that the airport and the International building have some degree of quality, style, design, whatever. Yet, the pictures shown by Hometown--particularly the apartment buildings--appear to me to be little more than warehouses. If international style lacks all ornamentation, and is strictly minimalist, what makes it good? How is it distinguished from something hideous like the office depot on 15th (which looks pretty minimalist to me)?
Same way with modern art--I can appreciate an artist like Pollock; he gives you something to look at. But the guy that paints the plain blue canvas--I don't know how you know that is good art.
I think the main problem with those apartments is that most of the green area around them has been taken in favor of parking. For me, International works best when it is set as a stark divergence of its surroundings.
Modernism was really a break with the past. Modernists said take away the ornaments and look at the beauty of functional form. It said let's shed all the phony ornaments meant to mimic historical styles and let's work with what's really there, like a wall of glass or a skin of sheer brick. The brick skin stood or fell on its own merits. It did not rely on phony historic references to make it work. When an architect hangs a Gothic pendant at a building's entrance, the viewer brings their lifetime of memories of anything Gothic to the experience. A lousy building can stand on phony historical references simply because the viewer of the building adds more than what is there – his or her memories of the history being referred to.
If a Modern building works it's because all of the functional elements were brought to a state of beauty.
Understanding Modernism means being able to love a brick wall just for what it is. It means seeing art tucked away in the everyday mundane. It means seeing a sea of blue in a minimalist painting and just enjoying the blue and the brush strokes or lack of brush strokes.
Modernism also reflected a belief that the future would be better. They believed that machines would save us instead of harm us. Modernists were great Utopians. We, of course, no longer enjoy the belief that technology will take us to a better world. And our architects have once again resorted to easy tricks to make their buildings work.
Now if you love large abstract or minimalist paintings, they will never look as beautiful as they do on a well lit flat plane uninterrupted by molding or wainscoting or other distractions.
Having said all that, I should add that I'm a lifelong Modern purist that has fallen by the wayside. We live in a Spanish Revival home from the 1920s. Buying period light fixtures, and restoring historic detail, et cetera, has been like a taste of forbidden fruit.
Later this week I'm going to printout the thread and go check out the buildings folks have mentioned. Thanks for pointing me to more International Style buildings.
And before I forget it I want to mention that Modernism from the 50s-60s is enjoying a return to popularity. There has been a nationwide fascination with homes like those you see in Lortondale and other areas of Tulsa developed in the 50s and 60s.
HT, if you visit the buildings listed, would you be willing to snap a few photos and post them on the forum? There really aren't many photos out there of some of our International Style buildings.
Of course, with all the security, taking photos of the airport will likely get you arrested. But getting a few photos of City Hall, Bishop Kelley High School, etc. shouldn't be too hard and will highlight some buildings people take for granted.
ps - for Westby Hall on the TU campus, the best stuff is in the back, facing the new BSU. There's a balcony back there that's textbook International.
quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace
quote:
Originally posted by pmcalk
Very interesting information. I am having a hard time appreciating the merit of International style, however. Obviously, we all have different tastes, and, while I am not crazy about the style, I appreciate that the airport and the International building have some degree of quality, style, design, whatever. Yet, the pictures shown by Hometown--particularly the apartment buildings--appear to me to be little more than warehouses. If international style lacks all ornamentation, and is strictly minimalist, what makes it good? How is it distinguished from something hideous like the office depot on 15th (which looks pretty minimalist to me)?
Same way with modern art--I can appreciate an artist like Pollock; he gives you something to look at. But the guy that paints the plain blue canvas--I don't know how you know that is good art.
I think the main problem with those apartments is that most of the green area around them has been taken in favor of parking. For me, International works best when it is set as a stark divergence of its surroundings.
Just goes to prove that
anything can look worse when surrounded by a sea of asphalt.
It should also be pointed out that most Modernism/International Style since Mies van der Rohe put down his pencil has been done poorly. Compare the works of Mies:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Martin_Luther_King_Jr_Memorial_Library.jpg) (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d5/IBM_bldg_jc01.jpg/300px-IBM_bldg_jc01.jpg)
to what passes these days for Modernism. What we mostly see is the principles of Modernism poorly applied. Further, it works best when set against a physical architectural context full of more traditional styles. But when every nickel-and-dime architect copies Mies (badly) you loes your traditional context and get a drab, ugly streetscape full of steel boxes.
For those sincerely interested in modern architecture history and international style, an architect friend of mine recommends the book "Modern Architecture: A Critical History," by Kenneth Frampton.
The Tulsa library has multiple copies of this book available for check-out, both the original 1985 version and the updated 1992 version.
The Tulsa examples hurt my eyes.
quote:
Originally posted by deinstein
The Tulsa examples hurt my eyes.
Get some eyewash. And open your mind. (After 3 years posting on the Tulsa Now forums, I can be as b*tchy as anyone else!)
DON'T TELL AVERAGE JOE BUT I THINK HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THE FIRST AND FOURTH APARTMENT BUILDINGS (in the first post) BEING ART DECO. AND ED W IS RIGHT IN POINTING OUT THE FIRE STATION IS ART DECO.
But the apartment buildings are a close call. And one writer did say that International Style architects were known to use horizontal bands. But other decorative elements are there.
Oh well, here's some pics of International Style buildings I found with a google search of International Style.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Internationalstyle2.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/ta33.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/M_facade.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/imagesCAD7ID6W.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/imagesCACCNGPY.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/imagesCA8348I3.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/ad-interntl2.gif)
Since starting this thread I have learned that as International Style architects fled Germany, a group of them went to the Soviet Union to build Utopian communities of International Style buildings. These architects were eventually forced out of the Soviet Union and a number of them settled in Mexico. That explains why I saw so many wonderful International Style homes in Guadalajara.
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by deinstein
The Tulsa examples hurt my eyes.
Get some eyewash. And open your mind. (After 3 years posting on the Tulsa Now forums, I can be as b*tchy as anyone else!)
Why? Give me a break, I can have an opinion...two of the four are nothing but borderline slums run by Perry Properties.
They are ugly. Period.
The effect of mass, of static solidity, hitherto the prime quality of architecture, has all but disappeared; in its place there is an effect of volume. The prime architectural symbol is no longer the dense brick, but the open box. Indeed, the great majority of buildings are in reality, as well as in effect, mere planes surrounding a volume. With skeleton construction enveloped only by a protective screen, the architect can hardly avoid achieving this effect of surface, of volume, unless in deference to traditional design in terms of mass he goes out of his way to obtain the contrary effect.
-Henry Russel Hitchcock and Phillip Johnson
The International Style, 1932 (exhibition catalogue, Museum of Modern Art, New York)
quote:
Originally posted by deinstein
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by deinstein
The Tulsa examples hurt my eyes.
Get some eyewash. And open your mind. (After 3 years posting on the Tulsa Now forums, I can be as b*tchy as anyone else!)
Why? Give me a break, I can have an opinion...two of the four are nothing but borderline slums run by Perry Properties.
They are ugly. Period.
I love how the condition of a given building is seen as a perfectly valid reason to trivialize its architectural merit. /sarcasm
The above excerpt is from the introduction to a Chapter entitled "The International Style: theme and variations 1925-65" from Kenneth Frampton's seminal work "Modern Architecture; A Critical History"
As a result of the industrial revolution new materials and building technologies became possible. Materials like glass and steel were being used more than ever. Architects searched for an appropriate architecture in which to use these materials. Architects like Frank Lloyd Wright believed that buildings utilizing machine made materials should bear the mark of the machine. The straight line, the unadorned facade. Art Nouveau and Art deco were initial attempts at a new style of architecture in this new world. Some architects like Louis Sullivan believed " that it would be greatly for our aesthetic good if we should refrain entirely from the use of ornament for a period of years, in order that our thought might concentrate acutely upon the production of buildings well formed and comely in the nude." Sullivan believed that ornament was a mental luxury and not a neccesity and that only by truly learning how to build beautiful unadorned masses would we then be able to clad them in a "garment of poetic imagery" making them appeal with "redoubled power" In order to understand what "International Style" or "Art Deco" is you must understand the contexts, manifestos and ideologies of all the major movements of architecture that collectively are refered to as Modern Architecture. i personally believe "International Style" to be a misnomer considering that the true International movement was not as wide spread as its followers hoped. International is only one piece of the collective category of Modern Architecture. There were the Austrian Seccesionists, DeStil, Bauhaus, Deutches Werkbund, Italian Futurists, 1st 2nd and 3rd tier modernists including architects like JJP Oud, LeCorbusier, Mies Van De Rohe, Alvar Aalto, Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, Garrit Rietveld, Phillip Johnson, Walter Gropius, Tony Garnier.....Blah Blah Blah
Please pick up Kenneth Frampton's book, it is the best way to learn about the enormity of the modern movement in the 20th century and what caused it.
quote:
Originally posted by hoodlum
The effect of mass, of static solidity, hitherto the prime quality of architecture, has all but disappeared; in its place there is an effect of volume. The prime architectural symbol is no longer the dense brick, but the open box. Indeed, the great majority of buildings are in reality, as well as in effect, mere planes surrounding a volume. With skeleton construction enveloped only by a protective screen, the architect can hardly avoid achieving this effect of surface, of volume, unless in deference to traditional design in terms of mass he goes out of his way to obtain the contrary effect.
-Henry Russel Hitchcock and Phillip Johnson
The International Style, 1932 (exhibition catalogue, Museum of Modern Art, New York)
That's a great quote Hoodlum. My take on this is the "form follows function" argument, and I would not argue with that.
a sampling of modern architecture in Oklahoma from 1958
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/391779510_4d2cd7653e_o.jpg)
JayCee headquarters in Tulsa (demolished)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/391779508_81ae4b0245_o.jpg)
Convention Center with original arena design
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/391779506_8cbb425c9d_o.jpg)
quote:
Originally posted by hoodlum
Please pick up Kenneth Frampton's book, it is the best way to learn about the enormity of the modern movement in the 20th century and what caused it.
I have already reserved my checkout of this book at my local Tulsa library. Thank you for informing us of the book and for your posts of the marvelous pictures.
Hoodlum, if it's not too much to ask, could you list the picture captions from the first page of Oklahoma examples you just posted? The captions are just a little blurry, but I'd love to know what some of those buildings are. Thank you in advance.
You might research Brasilia, the master planned city. It is full of this kind of stuff.
In my opinion, the old dorms at OSU, Willham, Drummond, Kerr, etc. could probably be considered part of this. I remember as a young architecture student first getting a grasp on International style and modernism, I was able to appreciate the details in some of those places. Of course, they were in horrible condition....hadn't been painted or upkept appropriately. Willham has been demolished and replaced with cheap apartments. I'm having a hard time understanding the reasoning behind demolishing 15 story concrete structures and replacing them with two and three story wood frame buildings. But that's just me. We got 40 years out of the high rise dorms, I can't imagine we'll get that many years out of these new ones.
I will get the magazine out this weekend and post the captions.
As we have gone along the discussion has expanded a bit to include Mid-Century Modernism. It looks to me like Mid-Century Modernism stands on the foundation of early International Style (rather than Art Deco). Now as we go deeper into this discussion I'm wondering where does ORGANIC MODERNISM (like the Eugene Bavinger house near Norman) fit into the picture. I would guess that the ORU Campus and the Abundant Life building relate more to Organic Modernism than International Style Modernism.
Is anyone willing to talk about how Organic Modernism fits into the bigger picture?
mid-century modern is only a fashionable term for modern architecture that happened in the 50's and 60's. I cringe when I use the term mid-century, because really what we are talking about is modern architecture that can trace its roots back to the earlier days of modernism (early 20th century. organic modernism is a new one to me, i have never heard the term. I have heard the term organic architecture, but that was in speaking of Frank Lloyd Wright.
That's it. Organic architecture. I've heard it used in reference to Bruce Goff's later work. How does organic architecture fit into the scheme of Modernism?
I have read that Frank Loyld Wright strongly influenced very early European International Style architecture.
i hadn't heard that about Wright, if anything i was thinking the opposite, that Wright and early european modernist movements like DeStil, Bauhaus, itaian futurists evolved seperatelty. i also believe that Wright did not like the term modernism. i think Wright was a cross between art nouveau, art deco and austrian seccesionism and the aforementioned movements. Maybe kind of shooting from the hip here and not much time to formulate a solid reason.
Volunteer photographer is running late on promised pics. meanwhile, here's some stuff from the internet to chew on.
Bruce Goff's Eugene Bavinger House
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/OrganicBavinger.jpg)
Question, how does Bruce Goff's Eugene Bavinger House fit into Modernism?
I admit I didn't learn about Bruce Goff until a couple of years ago, but I knew Boston Avenue Methodist was something special.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/ArtDecoTulsa2-1.jpg)
Well, how about George Jetson Modernism at ORU
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/OralRoberts5.jpg) (http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/OralRoberts6.jpg) (http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/OralRoberts1.jpg)
De Stijl
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/DeStijl.jpg)
Bauhaus
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Bauhaus3.jpg)
Austrian Secessionism
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/AustrianSecessionist1.jpg)
Brasilia
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Brasilia6.jpg) (http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Brasilia3.jpg) (http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Brasilia2.jpg) (http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Brasilia1.jpg)
As we've gone along here the conversation has expanded to include more recent examples of International Style architecture. After World War II International Style was also known as Modern architecture. Today was a lovely day to stroll around Tulsa's Civic Center Plaza.
Civic Center looking west from Fifth Street.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM000976.jpg)
Check out the Library's new signage. Good intentions but bad Modernism.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM000979.jpg)
You know, the Library has charm.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM000980.jpg)
And this covered seating looks to be original.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM000981.jpg)
Here's City Hall. Average Joe cited it as an example of International Style architecture.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM000987.jpg)
Civic Center Plaza terminates at the Convention Center.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM000992.jpg)
If you will permit a one sentence editorial. Remodeling the Convention Center will destroy its monetary and historic value.
Looking east across Civic Center Plaza towards the core of downtown.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM001006.jpg)
Look, Tulsa has some Modern public art.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM001015.jpg)
Not to mention a couple of dormant fountains on Civic Center Plaza. Apologies to the zoo but the penquin doesn't rank this central spot. And the mural on the fountain ain't original.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM000985.jpg)
Well let's just walk on over and take a look at the YMCA and his next door neighbor. Joe cited this as a good example of International Style and my, my I never noticed how beautiful the YMCA is.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM001025.jpg)
And talk about a gamut of Modernist buildings. Take a look at downtown Tulsa up close.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/9lalo9/Civic%20Center/IM001033.jpg)
More photographs of Tulsa's International Style architecture to follow.
Wonderful photos Hometown. Your suggestions are great too. I definately agree about the Libraray and sign; the intentions may have been good, but the new sign looks awful, IMO.
Come over to Lortondale some day soon and we can walk around and take photos to post on the recent Lortondale thread, so folks can see why I am so passionate about Lortondale! You seem to be an excellent photographer.
Thanks Steve. Lortondale is my list.
Hometown, I could be wrong on this, but I "think" the covered seating which you said looks to be original was actually added years later (late 1970s?) when 5th/Denver evolved as the on-street hub for MTTA passenger services.
Great pics!