Portland Two
November 22, 2021
Portland has an interesting mix of architecture from classical western to contemporary, along with one particularly interesting repurposed building, the Gerding Theater. The Portland Armory, c. 1889, was designated an historic building and converted to a performing arts space in 2006. With stone and wood trusses, the structure retains its 30-inch thick brick walls. Imagine, 30 inches thick, I could hear a fly buzzing through the walls of some apartments I’ve rented. All of these shots were done with the natural light that comes through roof panels and windows.
For largest display, click on the individual image
Here are a few of the structures I found interesting in the downtown area.
A Portland institution as notable as any theater or museum is Powell’s Books, the world’s largest independent book store. Housing 1.5 million books in 3,500 different sections, Powell’s occupies an entire city block.
If you are looking for a rare or out of print book, start here.
I’ll end this virtual tour with a unique urban feature. Tanner Springs Park is a wetlands preserve in the formally industrial Pearl District. The park transformed a contaminated city block into a healthy bioswale, a channel which filters rainwater from debris and pollution and recirculates it through the park. Reclaimed materials create interesting backdrops and walkways. Tanner Springs Park is considered an oasis for over 72 species of native plants and other wildlife … as well as humans.
