THE APPROACH TO THIS 139-unit urban condominium begins in the park across the street. “What's unique about Portland is the street grid makes for great pedestrian scale,” says architect Jim Bodoia. The designers envisioned a gradual transition from public to private space that begins with the adjacent greenway, extends to sidewalk level, and then steps up to an intimate interior courtyard.
The courtyard design reflects the modern geometry of the surrounding neighborhood. Aconcrete base gives way to two types of metal siding, with ribbed metal outside the penthouse. Metal sun screens project over the top story, creating interest, as do the upper-story setbacks. Inside, simplicity reigns.
Geological and cultural factors determined the parking layout. A high water table limited building to one level below grade, plus “the city of Portland was concerned about blank walls with a garage facing the street,” Bodoia explains. Spaces for 142 cars were cleverly slipped behind the two-story live/work townhouses fronting the building's east side, taking advantage of the site's significant grade change. The only hint of this parking feature is a subtle curb cut on the north side of the building, which, like the south side, slopes down a full level to the east.
Category: Condominiums, for sale; Entrant/Architect/Landscape architect: Mithun, Seattle; Builder: R&H Construction, Portland, Ore.; Developer: Hoyt Street Properties, Portland
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Portland, OR.
