Built to Impress
by American Way Staff
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
|
Lawrence Halprin's Lovejoy Fountain Plaza,
1966
Perhaps Portland's finest outdoor plaza, this
celebration of waterfalls and geographical features of
the Pacific Northwest consists of stair steps,
whooshing water, and organic shapes. Its creator also
designed the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in
Washington, D.C. SW Third Avenue and Harrison
Street
|
A.E. Doyle's Multnomah County
Library Central, 1913
A bibliophile's fantasy, this icon of American
architecture is an adventure in grandeur. Huge windows,
a towering ceiling, and an elegant staircase inside
convey permanence, and the outside exemplifies the
architect's fascination with European styles. The
Georgian-influenced exterior is a symphony of red brick
and white stone. 801 SW 10th Avenue, www.multcolib.org
|
Pietro Belluschi's Commonwealth Building,
1944-1948
Seemingly floating in the sky, this sleek glass
tower, a vision of sea-green glass and gleaming metal,
was the first of its kind, pioneering the way for other
famous buildings like New York's Lever House and the
United Nations Building. What set it apart? Among other
things, it was the first to be sheathed in aluminum, be
fully air-conditioned, and feature double-sealed glass
windows (reducing solar heat and eliminating sky
glare). It also set the standard for compact, boxlike
structures. 421 SW Sixth Avenue, between Washington and
Stark streets
|
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gordon House, 1964
The only Wright-designed building in
Oregon, and the only one open to the public in the entire Pacific Northwest, this tiny house exemplifies Wright’s Usonian model. Less than an hour away from Portland, it manifests elements such as floor-to-ceiling windows, an open floor plan, and a cantilevered roof with a broad overhang. 879 West Main Street, Silverton, Oregon;
www.thegordonhouse.org
Photos by Lincoln Barbour - www.lincolnbarbour.com
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