Wayne Coyne, frontman of the acclaimed rock band The Flaming Lips, recently renovated his Oklahoma compound, and the new space gives the group’s music a run for its money in terms of psychedelic flair, playful construction, and sheer imagination.
This appropriately quirky residence and music studio is as free thinking and boundary pushing as the art and music of its occupants, the wife, a photographer and artist, and her husband, a rock music icon. The addition/renovation to their home is the central piece of a larger master plan developed for 6 adjoining properties in a blighted neighborhood of Oklahoma City. These properties, referred to as “the compound” for those familiar with it, are being transformed in stages.
Phase one of the masterplan consisted of completion of two center pieces, allowing the remaining phases to happen organically over time between tours.
Centerpiece one is the Partial refinish of the main house, a 1930’s Oklahoma Deco home, touted as the first fireproof home in the City, built from left over building materials of the original mason owner, and the complete renovation of the Multi-add-on garage, storage and above ground bunker, to become the current owners large family room, new master suite with the necessary mirror ball clad “dragon egg” sunken bathing pod addition, and provide general escape from the groupies and roadies who frequently overrun the compound.
The existing low roof structure of the renovated space was removed making room for a new higher “fractured plain” roof complete with decks and terraces. This “fractured plain” floats above a ribbon of clerestory windows allowing sunlight to flood into the main living space. A massive steel beam is suspended over the “fractured roof” to become the armature of the 50 foot long dragon sculpture to be perched protectively over the compound.
Centerpiece two is the creation of the Great Lawn to connect all the houses together, and replace the flood ridden asphalt roadway previously in place. The Lawn will serve as general work zone for stage props and set ups and home to future dragon egg follies and gathering places.
The owners have been actively engaged in the renovation of their house from design phase through construction, resulting in a one of a kind collaboration, that will continue in future phases.
For example, the Artist Wife, and General Contractor, who is also the Architect, together installed the celestial patterned family room and outside terrace floor of the recycled granite waste materials (ode to the original mason home builder). Other unique assets resulting from the collaboration, include hidden doors and passage ways leading from the Private areas of the House into the Bunker, a concrete masonry clad Box that is now used as the bands rehearsal and recording space. And the customized seats in the bathing pods tub portion, sculpted around the Husband and wife while they sat.
Perhaps the most important attribute of the Project and the Compound in general is its expression of commitment by the musician to stay and live in this long troubled neighborhood where he grew up. Through their commitment and the architects work on other projects adjoining the neighborhood, signs of renewed revitalization efforts are beginning.
– from fitzsimmons architects