Pandora’s Box

When America’s cities bred lifeless glass-and-steel skyscrapers in the 1960s, an architectural movement was born known as postmodernism. “Postmod” buildings were bold reactions to their dull and repetitive counterparts, using more distinctive materials and brighter colors. Perhaps no better example (or context) exists than in the city government offices of Portland, OR. Welcome to the Portland Building.

Michael Graves’ “Portland Building”

Every structure I’ve covered in my recent posts on architecture lands on the American Institute of Architects’ America’s Favorite Architecture list.  Even Phillip Johnson’s Glass House – the one I have a love/hate relationship with – makes the cut.  But not the Portland Building.  This may be architect Michael Graves’ signature design but it’s also known as “the building we love to hate”.

Take a good look at the Portland Building photo and tell me what comes to mind.  Christmas gift?  Child’s transformer toy?  Strawberry-chocolate cake?  I suggest Pandora’s box.  I studied the Portland Building in college because the construction was completed in 1982, in the third year of my degree.  It was a landmark statement of postmod.  It was also a disaster from the day its doors opened.

Architects don’t always consider the practical aspects of a building, and budgets sometimes compromise on essentials.  As soon as the city’s employees moved in, they realized the tiny windows don’t bring in much natural light, and the lack of adequate ventilation made it something of a hot box.  Of greater concern, the Portland Building ran into water infiltration and structural issues almost immediately.  The building required the first of several remodels only eight years after its construction, even though the city commissioners would’ve preferred it demolished instead.  Like Pandora’s box, the Portland Building seemed to be an endless font of bad news.

“Portlandia”

There’s not much to say about the Portland Building to entice you to visit (not even the rather bizarre 6.5-ton copper female poised menacingly above the entrance).  The building is surrounded by blocks of nondescript skyscrapers, which makes the design all the more jaw-dropping when you see it in person.  The only vote of confidence might’ve come from Portland’s mayor himself when it opened.  He proclaimed the building “Portland’s Eiffel Tower… an emblem of the city which will draw the curious from around the world”.

The “goddess” seems to wonder why you’d even enter the building.

The negative commentary is much more fun.  A columnist from a local paper described the Portland Building as “something designed by a Third World dictator’s mistress’ art-student brother.”  Architect Pietro Belluschi said “it’s not architecture, it’s packaging… and there are only two good things about it: it will put Portland on the map, architecturally, and it will never be repeated.”  Travel + Leisure magazine called it “one of the most hated buildings in America”.  Need I say more?

Fish out of water?

The Portland Building is a case study of noteworthy architecture, yes… but that may be its only upside.  The difference between “attractive” and “atrocious” can be as wide as the Grand Canyon.  There’s value in whether you “like” a building.  There’s also a reason you won’t find many other postmodernist structures in Portland.

Now for the latest on LEGO Fallingwater…

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LEGO Fallingwater – Update #8  (Read how this project got started in Perfect Harmony)

Today the off-model structure finally settled into the base, in a brisk twelve minutes of assembly time.  70 pages (or 77%, or 181 minutes) into the build, this is what we have:

As you can see on the left, the house is starting to rise rather dramatically from the underlying landscape and water.  Check out the photo above to understand the vertical glassed-in area that rises from the bottom of the house all the way to the top.

Boring as the build has been these last few weeks, I realize the underlying structure is necessary to support Fallingwater’s distinctive concrete balconies and stone chimneys.  I also realize I have only two weeks remaining on this project.  No wonder the piles of remaining pieces are dwindling!  And rudimentary as those pieces may be, I expect the last two chapters to really bring the house into its fullest presentation.

Tune in next Thursday as construction continues!  Now for another nod to Frank Lloyd Wright…

Taliesin West

Most of Wright’s life (and designs) took place in America’s Midwest, but at some point the architect visited Arizona and later created the winter getaway he described as his “desert utopia”.  Taliesin West is a campus of buildings, constructed of local materials intent on blending in with the surroundings – rock, sand, redwood; even canvas for the roofs.  The structures are low and horizontal, connected organically by walkways, terraces, and gardens.   The furniture and decor were also designed by Wright.

Taliesin West

Is there a Taliesin East, you ask?  Of course there is!  Wright’s primary estate was built in the Wisconsin River valley on one of his favorite boyhood hills.

But over the years, Taliesin West has gained the most notoriety.  What was once Wright’s winter residence, studio, and offices is now a National Historic Landmark and a museum to the man.  Taliesin West serves as the home of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and School of Architecture, and is open daily for tours.

Some content sourced from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation website, and Wikipedia, “the free encyclopedia”.

Author: Dave

Three hundred posts would suggest I have something to say… This blog was born from a desire to elevate the English language, highlighting eloquent words from days gone by. The stories I share are snippets of life itself, and each comes with a bonus: a dusted-off word I hope you’ll go on to use more often. Read “Deutschland-ish Improvements” to learn about my backyard European wish list. Try “Slush Fun” for the throwback years of the 7-Eleven convenience store. Or drink in "Iced Coffee" to discover the plight of the rural French cafe. On the lighter side, read "Late Night Racquet Sports" for my adventures with our latest moth invasion. As Walt Whitman said, “That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” Here then, my verse. Welcome to "Life In A Word".

26 thoughts on “Pandora’s Box”

  1. Well, Dave, the Portland building looks like it should be in Miami. I think it’s the coloring. It is amazing that the plans for the building were approved. Great job on Falingwater, it’s coming along. It’s a bit boring, I have to say when comparing it to all you did for the Grand Piano build. That was more fun. How about a Disney Castle or Pirate Ship next. LOL

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    1. Disney and pirates aren’t my thing but I agree about Fallingwater; it’s pedestrian compared to the much more intricate Grand Piano. If LEGO comes out with more buildings in its Architecture series, I’ll certainly consider taking on another one.

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  2. My first thought when I looked at that the Portland Building is that it looks a bit like a NASA space craft assembly building. Those dark sides look like doors that the first stage of a rocket might be moved through before it shoots out the top of the building.

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    1. I haven’t heard that analogy before Andrew, but you’re good at finding original angles on things. The Portland Building earns a footnote in the history of architecture, but for all the wrong reasons (and analogies).

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  3. I agree with Brilliantviewpoint above: it’s truly amazing the plans were approved–if not for the building’s unattractive facade, then for its impracticalities. I’m reminded of a new building erected on our school campus–with no input from teachers. Just one problem out of a number: four computer stations were installed on one side of each classroom, four on the other, with a bank of windows between. Aesthetically pleasing perhaps, but traipsing back and forth wasted a lot of time and energy for the teacher. Why is it that the people most impacted by decisions are rarely part of the planning?

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    1. It’s a great point, Nancy. If a building’s going to be impractical at least let it be aesthetically pleasing. The Portland Building seems to be a single person’s take (the architect’s) on aesthetics. I wonder whether the city commissioners’ approval hinged on the notoriety of the architect, giving him full artistic license. There have been far too many examples in architecture where neither the building’s occupants nor the nearby residents were consulted on the design.

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    1. I’m glad to see the Kimmel’s vaulted glass ceiling is a canopy for an outdoor space instead of the topper on any one structure. I can’t imagine the heating/air conditioning costs if it were. The canopy reminds me of a similar setup in Denver’s Theater District. And unlike The Portland Building, I find the look of the Kimmel appropriately grand for its function.

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  5. Hi Dave,
    I haven’t seen the building in person, but dare I say that I actually like it. Not considering the practicalities and the budget, I like its whimsical quality. I like that it doesn’t really fit within the other buildings. And I do love statues, the bigger the better. Just call me crazy lol
    Your project teaches me patience. Rome wasn’t built in 1 day, and neither does your Fallingwater.
    Blessings to you!

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    1. You would enjoy Michael Graves’ other designs, Ana. Each of them stands out as much as the Portland Building for their style, colors, and distinction in the urban landscape. The Dolphin and Swan hotels at Walt Disney World are good examples, as is the Humana Building in Louisville (which you’ll now recognize as a Graves design). He had a long and successful career, including as a professor of architecture at Princeton. Safe to say challenges of the Portland Building didn’t slow him down in his tracks.

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  6. Is that building the reason why Portland got the saying “keep Portland weird?” My sister lives in Portland, I wonder if she’s ever noticed this. I also hope they put in air because they’ve had some really hot summers and a lot of places don’t have a/c because it used to never get hot.

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    1. Wikipedia gives a dozen examples of what makes Portland “weird” (including the World Naked Bike Ride) but the Portland Building is not one of them. Portland’s downtown streets are tight, so it’s difficult to see the structure unless you’re right in front of it or out at distant vantage points. Portlandia – the copper goddess – did earn a footnote “lampooning the weirdness of Portland”. I’ll bet your sister knows about her. You can stand across the street from the building entrance (which is where you should go with your camera if you ever visit) and read a commemorative plaque about the sculpture.

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  7. I’ve never heard of the Portland Building but I like the look of it. I have no difficulty seeing a variety of architecture styles side-by-side, but I have an eclectic design sensibility. Cool building

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  8. See my comment to “A Star on the Forehead”. I actually like many of Michael Graves’ designs – just not this one. But that’s the beauty of architecture: opinions are subjective.

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  9. Nice post, Dave. I visited Taliesin West several years ago. It was architecturally interesting, but my favorite part was the extensive sculpture gardens. A couple of my favorite photos were taken there.

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    1. I hope to see Taliesin West someday. My architecture degree focused more on Wright’s Prairie Style, so I owe it to him to visit more of what he designed out West.

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  11. It does look out of place when you show it amongst other modern-looking buildings. It reminded me of a tall laundry basket. Imagine all the planning for this building only to have it be so poorly planned and in need of renovation from the get-go. Frank Lloyd Wright indulged himself didn’t he with not only a Taliesin West but a Taliesin East as well with a nod to a boyhood home, the latter a good choice to use the quote: “You can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy.”

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    1. A laundry basket – that’s a new one on me, Linda. I’m sure The Portland Building’s been called far worse. Postmodern design is about as far from Frank Lloyd Wright as you can get. He was all about blending in.

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      1. I have a tall, laundry basket with small square openings … I thought of it right away. Many modern buildings lack sophistication as they are too stark and boring looking. Give me an old town hall or some stately government building any day. 🙂

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  12. I think it’s more common than we realize that a government or a company hires a name architect to design a building, and when the artiste’s design is unveiled, nobody is willing to say “that’s ugly”. Because to do so would show one as being unable to understand the design, and thus both stupid and without taste. So the building in Portland gets built.

    I don’t know much about art or architecture, but I can appreciate beauty, which has been an undervalued thing for the last 75 years or more. And yes, I can be opinionated on matters of aesthetics.

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    1. This is a good observation, Ruth. I couldn’t tell you a single thing about the interiors of a Michael Graves design. His buildings are distinctive from the way they look on the outside. The Portland Building has me believing architects still need to focus more on the practical aspects of a space, including the specific needs of its inhabitants.

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