One of Portland’s most successful restorations in the past decade has been the Signal Gas Station in the St. Johns neighborhood. About nine years ago, developer Rob Phillips, owner of Renovation Properties, had been searching for an antique gas station to restore. A classic car enthusiast as well as historic building contractor, Phillips wanted to create a completely authentic backdrop to showcase his and other’s antique automobiles. When a many-times remodeled St. Johns florist shop came on... more

This month’s musings from across the architect’s drawing board reflect on matching the client with the architect. Most articles about selecting an architect suggest checking references, viewing previous work, and taking the time to talk to a number of architects before hiring one. These are important aspects in the selection process, and should be followed. But I would like to introduce another idea that may be even more important: Defining who you are as a client. This is just a preview...Read... more

Today’s musings from across the architect’s drawing board ponder a city’s support for sustainable ideas and the hurdles one must sometimes cross when proposing cutting-edge green ideas. Once a policy is defined, rules are adopted to put the policy in motion. A project may comply completely with the policy’s intent, but run into rough water when measured against the policy’s written rules. A cute little mother-in-law project I designed illustrates this perfectly. Accessory Dwelling Units... more

Today’s musings from across the architect’s drawing board will answer the very important question, “Is there treasure beneath my feet?” Finishing a basement is a fantastic way to gain much needed living space. It can save both time and money if your basement meets certain conditions, thus allowing your remodel to be done with minimal structural changes. And, with a little bit of input from a designer or architect, you can unlock the treasure beneath your feet. This is just a preview...Read... more

If you think historic preservation is the archaic, lofty pursuit of the stately elite, the folks at the Architectural Heritage Center (AHC) beg to differ. They’ll convince you that historic preservation is all about preserving the livability and historic character of Portland and the Northwest — and that it applies equally to the grand courthouse and the modest bungalow. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

The year is 1958. Mom, Dad, and the kids are taking their first big driving vacation in their new Oldsmobile Rocket 88 sedan. They left their home in Southern California several days ago with the intent of reaching the Canadian border by the end of the week. It’s been a week filled with scenic wonders and much excitement but this day’s journey from Crater Lake to Portland, OR has been tiring. As Dad steers the car up the curving grade of Highway 99 at the foot of Interstate Avenue in North Portland,... more

Here are a few tips on getting the correct hardware for your house or for that great deal you found at the thrift store. Know Your Vintage First, you need to determine the year of your house or piece of furniture and the correct style. Many styles of homes and furniture have subsets, for example the Victorian style, 1820 through 1920, includes Gothic Revival 1830-1850, Victorian Gothic 1850-1875, Queen Anne 1876-1905, and Victorian Italianate 1855-1870. As for furniture, Gothic and Rococo are approximately... more

Today’s musings from across the architect’s drawing board will answer the very important question, “Is this wall important?” Many renovation projects begin with removing a wall, putting a large opening in a wall, or somehow smashing a wall into a pile of wood and plaster. Unlike you and me, all walls are not created equal. Walls fit into three simple categories: bearing, shear walls, and non-bearing. Let’s look at each type individually. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →