That is SUM condo

For the last several years, the corner of SE 45th and Stark has been a surface parking lot. Today it's three new townhouse style condos designed and developed by Matt Loosemore and Eric Hoffman's SUM Design Studio.

The site slopes slightly to the south, which enabled the architects to place parking in back discreetly; the parking area also acts as a bioswale (with native plants) collecting rainwater runoff from the building.

In the front, "We created a design theme of wrapping materials across different planes throughout the exterior and interior of the building," Hoffman said by email. That includes 4½-inch clear cedar siding wrapping corners of the building, concrete wrapping horizontally and vertically up the façade and metal parapet that wraps horizontally across the top and vertically down the front.

Hoffman also says SUM made a point of using construction that would stand the test of time. For example, plywood instead of oriented strand board under the exterior siding.  The units also feature double wall construction with double-layer insulation for sound insulation, steel reinforced walls and floors.

Although not LEED certified, the project includes numerous green features (beside the rainwater collection and added insulation with dual-pane windows), such as low-VOC paint, bamboo floors, permeable driveway pavement, and a 94% efficiency HVAC system.

Like the work of many emerging small firms, SUM have created a nice little fabric building, something modern that nevertheless fits well into its surrounding context of neighborhood single-family homes, even as, on a busier residential street, it provides added density. Lots of modern housing projects in Portland's historic neighborhoods earn criticism because neighbors don't like the extra height or the look of the design. This project ought to earn kudos.

Meanwhile, keep an eye out for Hoffman and Loosemore in the future, and not just because Loosemore has a faintly Brad Pitt quality. These guys epitomize modest but high quality infill design-development.

Comments

[billb]

HEY , nice building guys !

[Aneeda]

I toured them today. They are beautifully designed. I only wish I could afford one.

[Alain]

Brian, when you say "modest, but high quality" do you meaning the design is "simple"?

[Sherry]

The building is beautiful in its own way but does not fit the rest of the neighborhood. I pass it nearly daily and sigh --

[eric cantona]

i pass it (nearly) daily and sigh at my misfortune to not be able to afford one of these at this time. i've looked at then and very much like what they've done. i think that they fit in quite nicely with the neighborhood, which is a broad mix of styles from every era. in fact, i'd argue that they raise the profile of their immediate surroundings considerably.

[Aneeda]

I think this building is a wonderful complement to the neighborhood.

[Jeremy]

What are you talking about "fits well into its surrounding context of neighborhood single-family homes"? It's just another Dwell magazine snooze-fest. That wood strip exterior has become so ubiquitous around town that it already has an American Property Management feel to it. Most everyone I know is already laughing at this generic style - only architects and developers are patting themselves on the back for it.

[Michigan Condos]

I just love the wood on the outside - beautiful!
Michigan Condos

[I Thomas]

I think this is a nice project... haven't seen it in the flesh to see if it works in context.

BTW, has anyone seen the new project on N Vancouver around Fremont? It has modern features, looks to be pretty high quality workmanship and design, but it really looks out of place it its small lot. Not far north of this building is a new apartment complex called something or other 'brownstones' that in and of themselves aren't horrible, but the face of one unit looks right into the backside of the other unit. As they say, WTF? This looks so wrong I can't believe the blueprints for one unit weren't flipped or something. Overall, my girlfriend and I are very unimpressed with most of the infill projects around town.