MULE CREEK RANCH
Preserved initially as ‘Indian Territory’ until a series of Land Rushes in the late 1800’s, the settlement of much of Oklahoma was first delineated and then distributed by the Jeffersonian grid - perhaps more clearly evident in Perry, Oklahoma, than virtually anywhere else - with subsequent settlement made possible and fueled by the concurrent intrusion of railroads. By connecting vast tracts of newly opened and available land in Oklahoma by rail to Chicago, ‘Sooners’ had access to the techniques and the timber needed for rapid settlement. Evidence of light wood “balloon” framing is still to be found in the declining number of vernacular historic structures in north central Oklahoma, but their lessons remain when considering the impact of small structures in a big landscape. These projects investigate the design potential of an intensely and intentionally limited vocabulary. This small family of forms is assembled and systematically reconfigured to explore strategies of settlement, and to consider the impact of building small structures and their capacity to provide a sense of inhabitation, each required to provide shelter and amenity in a wide variety of seasons and climatic challenges.
LOOKOUT TOWER
BRIDGE HOUSE
LENS HOUSE
CAMP
CREDITS
Location: Perry, Oklahoma
Project Team: Jonathan Boelkins, AIA