* * * Built
to Impress * * *
Perfectly situated near the
mountains, the ocean, and
the desert, slightlyfunky
Portland is naturally eclectic. Known for a
thriving art scene,some
gullet-pleasing microbreweries, and a climate
that grows the world's
most gorgeous roses, this vital city also
boasts some rubberneck-worthy architectural gems that we think you
ought to see.
- Becca Hensley
Michael Graves's Portland
Building, 1980
Like the witty teapots Graves designs for Target,
this postmodern office building bears classical
references and grandiose adornment. A robust
structure awash with small, square windows, it has
blues, browns, and dusty reds that dramatize its
vanilla-colored background, and a whimsical
concrete garland adds élan. Controversial from the
beginning, the Portland Building has its naysayers,
who note its structural and stylistic flaws (such
as cracks in upper floors and small, drab work
spaces). Regardless, at the time of its completion,
then-mayor Frank Ivancie referred to it as
"Portland's Eiffel Tower." 1120 SW Fifth Avenue
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