Bavinger House
Encyclopedia
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
, the house was awarded the Twenty-five Year Award
from the American Institute of Architects
in 1987.
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.
The Bavingers moved into the house in February 1955, and Life
magazine featured the house in its September 19, 1955 issue. 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.
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. 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. 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. The official website for the house stated that the house "will not be able to re-open", which was later changed to "Closed Permanently".
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was designed by architect Bruce Goff
Bruce Goff
Bruce Alonzo Goff was an American architect distinguished by his organic, eclectic, and often flamboyant designs for houses and other buildings in Oklahoma and elsewhere.-Early years:...
. Considered a significant example of organic architecture
Organic architecture
Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design approaches so sympathetic and well integrated with its site that buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated...
, the house was awarded the Twenty-five Year Award
Twenty-five Year Award
The Twenty-five Year Award is an architecture prize awarded by the American Institute of Architects to buildings and structures that have "stood the test of time for 25 to 35 years", and that "[exemplify] design of enduring significance." The project receiving the award can be located anywhere in...
from the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
in 1987.
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
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
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.
The Bavingers moved into the house in February 1955, and Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine featured the house in its September 19, 1955 issue. 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.
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. According to press reports, fundraising efforts ran into difficulties. The Bavingers' son, Bob, was quoted as claiming that the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
had undermined those efforts. 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. The official website for the house stated that the house "will not be able to re-open", which was later changed to "Closed Permanently".
External links
- Bavinger House official website
- Photo gallery of restored house from official website
- "The Bavinger House: Art Meets Architecture", Ron Stahl's Oklahoma, April 17, 2011.
- "The Bavinger House" tour at Me & Marissa blog, June 23, 2010.
- National Register of Historic Places nomination form