More Listmania: Tribune Now Seeking Best Portland Buidlings

The recent discussion topic on this site about the Portland Tribune’s upcoming list of the city’s ugliest buildings was one of the most popular Portland Architecture has ever introduced.

Cynics might call this a lowest common denominator discussion, but I prefer to just think of it as collective fun. While we wouldn’t want the site to abandon more nuanced discussions about the architecture of Portland, it just so happens that the Tribune is working on a follow-up to its ugliest buildings list.

You guessed it: This time around the paper is after just the opposite: our picks for the best, most beautiful buildings in town.

Talking with reporter Kristina Brenneman recently, I rattled off a string of candidates but found it difficult to come up with one definitive architectural treasure.

Naturally I thought of late architect Pietro Belluschi, particularly his Equitable Building on Southwest 6th and Stark (now called the Commonwealth). It was the first building in the world (beating out the United Nations building in New York by a few months) to be sheathed in one continuous curtain of metal and glass. And even if you don’t know the history, it’s timeless midcentury modernism.

Another candidate of course is Belluschi’s Portland Art Museum. Legend has it that when they first saw the design, PAM benefactors thought its crisp modernity was too much. But Belluschi received support for his design from none other than Frank Lloyd Wright, who wrote the museum in praise of the architectural plans.

There is also the Jackson Tower, the glazed white terra-cotta building and clock tower on the southwest corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square. It was built in 1912 and designed by Merrit and James William Reed, who also designed San Francisco’s landmark Fairmont Hotel (home to one of the world’s greatest tiki bars, incidentally). Gotta love that little gem.

In terms of more modern buildings, I’d pick the 2281 Glisan Buidling, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works and home to the Doscha salon on the ground floor. Or perhaps one of two beautifully detailed libraries by Thomas Hacker Architects, either the Woodstock or the Hillsdale branch.

And speaking of libraries, you’ve got to consider Central Library downtown on Southwest 10th. The late architect Richard Ritz actually wrote an entire book about the building called Portland’s Crown Jewel. This Georgian beauty was of course designed by another legendary local architect, A.E. Doyle, in 1912—same year as the Jackson Tower.

Of course Portland also is not limited to downtown. Considering architecture further out in the city, I think of the Moyer Meditation Chapel at The Grotto by Thompson Vaivoda (now officially known as TVA after Ned Vaivoda’s unfortunate departure) and its beautiful and wholly appropriate manner of simple, spiritual modern design. And I love the Water Pollution Control Laboratory (designed by Miller/Hull of Seattle) at the east end of the St. John’s bridge. The Adidas headquarters by BOORA is very nice too.

Other random buildings that come to mind as some of Portland’s best, or at least some of my favorites: the Governor Hotel, the Benson Hotel, the Portland Plaza condominiums, the Gilbert Building at Southwest Third and Taylor, the US Bancorp tower (a.k.a. Big Pink), the art deco Coca Cola Syrup Factory at Southeast 28th and Davis, and the Portland International Airport canopy.

What are your choices?

Comments

[The One True b!X]

The Portland Building!

*flee*

(Just kidding.)

[Kenny B.]

MY personal favorites are: 1. Rose Garden Arena ( Not your basis dome cylinder design. The roof overhangs give the arena an oriental design feel. I like the use of glass in the concouse areas. Building exterior is very nice. Looks especially nice at night with multi-colored lighting). 2. Fox Tower ( I like the curved glass facade on Broadway. The glass color is nice. Only wish it had been the tallest). 3. Koin Tower ( From day one liked the design and color. Was 1st modern structure in portland to go away from the bland flattop design). 4. Jackson Tower ( Of the historic buildings, this has always been my favorite. Love the night allumination and miss eating at the Artic Circle on ground floor). "Sorry, had to get that in. Miss the fry sauce". 5. US Bancorp Tower (I love the height especially with so many stumpy buildings in town. Slim design and glass color make it look taller than it is). Looking forward to 'The John Ross'.

[MC]

I love the Coca-Cola building on NE 28th. The deco design, coupled with its whitewashed exterior & red trim (even the power meters are whitewashed) make it a standout to me. Apparently there used to be fake mountains of ice on the ledges beneath the 2nd floor windows.

The old 7-Up bulding in the Hollywood Dist. is really nice as well. I don't know how I feel about the Budweiser sign atop it, though. Probably the only option, a la the White Stag sign.

And I'm not that much of a soda drinker, either.

[bk]

John Yeon's houses are worth a mention, especially the Watzek House on Skyline. Interestingly Yeon wasn't licensed; the plans were stamped by Belluschi.

[Philippe]

Portland has many architectural gems. . . any number of Belluschi's churches. . . St. Thomas Moore or the Lutheran Church on 18th by PGE Park.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and vote for an 'unfinished' building. . .
'Eliot Tower' just west of the art museum. Walking by the construction site this morning I was struck by the 'texture' the newly hung curtain wall was creating.
. . . a patch work of muted green glass (much less acidic than the rendering on the site sign). . . a subtle play of transparency and against light metal) however my favorite feature at this early stage is what appears to be the light silvery 'louvers' 'behind' the curtain wall covering the interior columns. Appears the craftsmanship is high as well. (Check out the rather modular nature as it continues to rise) The massing of the building seems sympathetic to its suroundings like Thomas Hacker's building and plaza near PSU. (another one of my favorites).
Sure I'm going out on a limb but it's evident at this stage that The Eliot has something. . .

[Erik]

This armchair architecture critic is wooed by the Paramount Hotel building on SE Park and Taylor.

[Erik]

Woops...SW Park and Taylor.