Just outside Oklahoma City lies a work of architectural ingenuity harboring bold and wild surprises. Nested in the trees of the vast plains, Prairie Raptor takes inspiration from Herb Greene’s iconic “Prairie Chicken” house, a similarly wild residence well known by Oklahoma residents.
A sweeping wooden roof, designed to appear as bird wings, shelters a sturdy den rendered in brick and glass windows. With a shape inspired by the actual prairie raptor bird, the shingles of the roof lap and extend out like feathers, with a soft gray wood designed to weather to match the silver bark of the surrounding trees. Below the roof line are denser, smaller feathers of the body, indicated by deep black bricks that shine with an iridescent blue in the sunlight.
Properly nestled under the wings, the interior spaces splay in a cross shape from a central garden atrium. Its amenities include a primary bedroom and bathroom, a large living space appropriately named the “Greatest Room,” a study, garage and additional detached guest house.
The “Greatest Room” features an open concept kitchen and dining room, sitting space and full-service bar while still allotting ample space, living up to its name well. Polished black brick complements warm tinted steel and glass walls in every room, keeping a consistent, simple yet strong look. Cleverly installed lighting illuminates every angle and detail of the trim allowing the space to feel warm and bright in combination with the numerous windows that line every room.
Staying true to its wild roots, Prairie Raptor is not only striking in its image as an animal nesting into the land, but also harbors its own ecosystem. In the very center of the atrium sits the “serval cat jungle,” which features a custom spiral staircase ascending to a loft from a neat rock garden, built for the homeowners’ African serval cats to roam and prowl as they please. This garden also serves to unite the home and create a center for meditation and reflection on the home’s grounded origins.
The exterior finishes with a pool, fire pit and outdoor grill, all providing plenty of space to enjoy the sprawling prairie scenery from every angle. The long reflecting pool stretches out to the edge of the woods and is aligned to the center of downtown and the tallest tower in the city—a niche touch that pays homage to the location.
Created to be both a work of architectural art and as a comfortable residence, Prairie Raptor lives up to its title as a “design for the true nature of man and beast.”
See https://jonesstudioinc.com/ for more information.
