Currently listed on Zillow yet scheduled to be auctioned on May 12, 2023, the twelve-sided Adams house in Vinita, Oklahoma, remains surprisingly intact thanks to the fact that it has been in the same family for the past 56 years. Vinita judge John Quincy Adams commissioned Goff to design the house in 1961 and construction was completed in 1962. The house has been owned by only two families. While the house has had some minor alterations over the years, the bulk of them are cosmetic in nature and reversible. Words really don’t do justice to a house like this, so let’s just dive in and drool at the images. All photos are sourced from https://goffvinita.com/ unless noted otherwise.
A carport defines the entry of the house.
From above, the house reveals itself to be a dodecagon.
The floor plan will help you to navigate the photos of the interior.
The geometry of the house subtly extends into the landscape.
Fun details!
The entry door is unusual not only for its diamond-shaped glass but for the fact that it swings outward rather than into the house! The recessed entry feels a bit snug but…
a feeling of spaciousness quickly relieves that first impression!
Goff’s signature conversation pit, complete with skylight pierced by the flue of an open fireplace, is at the center of the house. A living area is to the left, the entry is at center beyond the chimney and the dining room is at right. Image source: zillow.com
The house was listed in 2010 and didn’t sell. Dark, lack of privacy, noise transmission… maybe suitable for a couple but I can’t imagine raising a family in it. Amazing that it is largely unchanged since 1961.
Good points. The windows are really small… I can believe the interior is gloomy. Many of Goff’s houses lacked privacy because of his use of low walls. In the Bavinger house, there were no walls at all! Definitely not designs that everyone can relate to, but still pleasing aesthetically… sort of like living within an artwork. As you note, the house would be most practical for a couple rather than a family.
The house was listed in 2010 and didn’t sell. Dark, lack of privacy, noise transmission… maybe suitable for a couple but I can’t imagine raising a family in it. Amazing that it is largely unchanged since 1961.
Good points. The windows are really small… I can believe the interior is gloomy. Many of Goff’s houses lacked privacy because of his use of low walls. In the Bavinger house, there were no walls at all! Definitely not designs that everyone can relate to, but still pleasing aesthetically… sort of like living within an artwork. As you note, the house would be most practical for a couple rather than a family.