Bavinger House
Eugene Bavinger House
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Front of the house
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Location: |
730 60th Ave., NE, Norman, Oklahoma |
Built: |
1950 |
Architect: |
Goff, Bruce |
Architectural style: |
Organic |
Governing body: |
The Bavinger House Conservancy |
MPS: |
Bruce Goff Designed Resources in Oklahoma MPS |
NRHP Reference#: |
01001354[1] |
Added to NRHP: |
December 13, 2001 |
The Bavinger House was completed in 1955 in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. It was designed by architect Bruce Goff. Considered a significant example of organic architecture,[2][3] the house was awarded the Twenty-five Year Award from the American Institute of Architects in 1987.[4]
The house was built over the course of five years by Nancy and Eugene Bavinger, the residents of the house, who were artists, along with the help of a few of Eugene's art students, volunteers, and local businesses. The wall of the house is a 96 foot long logarithmically curved spiral, made from 200 tons of stone, some of it local "ironrock" sandstone taken from a quarry three miles away that Bavinger purchased. The structure is anchored by a recycled oil field drill stem that was reused to make a central mast more than 55 feet high. The house has no interior walls; instead there are a series of platforms at different heights, some with curtains that can be drawn for privacy. The ground floor is covered with pools and planted areas.[2][5][6][7][8][9]
The Bavingers moved into the house in February 1955, and Life magazine featured the house in its September 19, 1955 issue.[10] Despite its remote location, the house became an attraction; the Bavingers first tried to limit visitors by charging a dollar per guest. Life reported that the tours had yielded over $4,000, and eventually (according to Goff) they raised over $50,000 before finally deciding they didn't want to disturbed by the constant flow of guests.[11]
The house later deteriorated and was vacant for more than a decade before it was reported in 2008 that the house would be renovated and reopened for tours.[12] According to press reports, fundraising efforts ran into difficulties. The Bavingers' son, Bob, was quoted as claiming that the University of Oklahoma had undermined those efforts.[13] In June 2011, after a windstorm in the area, it was reported that the house had been severely damaged, with its central spire broken at a 45-degree angle.[13][14] The official website for the house stated that the house "will not be able to re-open",[15][16] which was later changed to "Closed Permanently".[17]
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b National Register of Historic Places nomination form for Bavinger House, p.12-13. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
- ^ Philip, Steadman (1979). The Evolution of Designs: Biological Analogy in Architecture and the Applied Arts. Taylor & Francis. pp. 239. ISBN 978-0415447522. Excerpts available at Google Books.
- ^ Webb, Michael (June 2005). "Saving Bruce Goff". The Architectural Review. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3575/is_1300_217/ai_n14809372/. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
- ^ Barry, Edward (January 6, 1957). "It's SOMEBODY'S Dream House: Oklahoma Couple Are Happy in a Home Which Is Like Nothing on Land or Sea FAMILY Living". Chicago Tribune: p. H23. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/517797542.html?dids=517797542:517797542&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+06%2C+1957&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=It%27s+SOMEBODY%27S+Dream+House&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ Lobban, Lynette (Spring 2002). "Goff's Historic Houses: The talk of the town when first constructed, the signature works of a master architect are being added to the National Register.". Sooner Magazine. http://www.oufoundation.org/sm/spring2002/story.asp?ID=29. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ "Bavinger House". GreatBuildings.com. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Bavinger_House.html. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ "Bavinger House". archiplanet.com. http://www.archiplanet.org/buildings/Bavinger_House.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "Bavinger House (Norman, USA)". strangebuildings.com. February 24, 2010. http://www.strangebuildings.com/bavinger-house-norman-usa/. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "Space and Saucer House: Oklahoma family lives in suspension in a unique new structure". LIFE: pp. 155–156. September 19, 1955. http://books.google.com/books?id=t1YEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA155. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ Philip Welch, Goff on Goff: Conversations and Lectures (University of Oklahoma Press, 1996), ISBN 978-0806128689), pp.193-94. Excerpts available at Google Books.
- ^ "Foundation hopes to restore and open Bavinger House for tours". The Norman Transcript. November 23, 2008. http://www.normantranscript.com/columns/local_story_328025808/resources_printstory. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ a b "Tearin' Down the House?". Oklahoma Gazette. June 29, 2011. http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-12199-tearin%E2%80%99-down-the-house.html. Retrieved 2001-09-3.
- ^ "Gunfire Greets News 9 Crew At Norman's Bavinger House". KWTV. June 21, 2011. http://www.news9.com/story/14952275/gunfire-greets-news-9-crew-at-normans-bavinger-house. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ Rieger, Andy (June 22, 2011). "Bavinger House’s future uncertain". The Norman Transcript. http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x1521798676/Bavinger-House-s-future-uncertain. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ Mize, Richard (June 23, 2011). "Bruce Goff-designed Bavinger House in Norman apparently has met its demise". The Oklahoman. http://newsok.com/bruce-goff-designed-bavinger-house-in-norman-apparently-has-met-its-demise/article/3579645#ixzz1Q6x4RbNm. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
- ^ Bavinger House official website. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
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