Tag Archives: unique

Blog 8- Lisa Ratliff- The Cave House (Tulsa, OK)

Every time I drive by Riverside, I go by The Cave House. As a little girl, I have always wondered why. It was so ugly, tiny and unattractive. The white peaking of the cement with the paralleled stones in the front mirroring one another is so odd. I have gotten close to the house and it honestly creeps me out.  I wish there were more square structures on the home because I actually like the left side which is more modern. But the stone-like accents really throw off the appeal.

Tulsa history has it that the house was created as a hip restaurant and then speakeasy during prohibition. The architect was Daniel Eichenfeld, and it was built by Joseph Koberling Sr. – father of art deco architect Joe Koberling Jr. who was also a geologist. It was made in the 1920s to resemble a cave at the bottom of a rocky hill.

Although the place is ugly, it has a weird charm that I think attracts many tourists. The owner of the house will give tours for $10 a pop! I personally have never toured because I do not think it is worth it but I think if someone was intrigued by odd buildings, this would definitely be it!

Blog 5- Lisa Ratliff-Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas, TX)


This museum is one of the first ones I went to when I first became interested in working with museums. I think it is a beautiful building. But its also incredibly sustainable. Designed by architect and  Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne, the museum is truly an icon of Dallas, TX. The building’s irrigation and plumbing demands are all met by recapturing air conditioning condensation, it’s building materials include recycled and locally sourced materials, all the furniture is made from sustainable forests, and much much more!


It is very obvious that the architects wanted something that looked playful yet still blended in with the city’s surroundings. The glass box is so cool because it looks as if it is suspended in the air next to the building. The material is also very cool because it is a rocky cement that is toned in color but still stands out against other buildings. Although they are temporarily closed due to COVID-19, locals can still pass by to view the unique and intelligent architecture that makes us feel sciency and cool. As seen in the picture above, the glass block lets in a bunch of natural light that otherwise would not have been there. I think this is especially important because the natural elements of the building require natural light. Without it, the building would feel sterile and disconnected from the outside world. With all these reasons, this is definitely one of the cooler science museums to go to.