Customer Reviews

Architectural Guidebook to Portland

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up a copy of this book in the Portland Airport, although I will confess that I didn't have high hopes for it. This guidebook turned out to be a great traveling companion. Its short entries are perfect for bursts of reading, and the the book really keeps the history (and humor!) flowing. I appreciated the book's ongoing commentary and interesting (even bizarre) facts. King seems to have done a great job of providing a thorough overview of the city's buildings, from the oldest to ones from the 21st century.
I would not only highly recommend this book for the casually interested, and the architecture expert, but also for the disinterested . . . it will hook them in!

[Review of the second edition]

When I accepted the offer to receive and review a copy of the book An Architectural Guidebook To Portland, Second Edition by Bart King, I'll admit I wasn't waiting with anticipation for it to show up. In fact, had his request not had the line "No pressure! The book is particularly helpful as a cure for insomnia, however.", I probably would have let it pass. But much to my surprise, this was far more fun to read than I expected, and I'm glad I had the chance to see it.

Contents:
Introduction; Downtown; Cultural District, Government Center; Yamhill; Old Town - Chinatown; The Pearl; Northwest; Southwest; Southeast; Northeast; Downtown Bridges; Glossary; Photo Credits; Bibliography; Index

Portland has a very rich and colorful history from the early days as "Stumptown" to the present. And going into old historic sites fascinate me, as I can often "feel the past" when I imagine what things must have been like back then. But reading a book where someone waxes eloquent about the finer points of Romanesque versus Richardsonian Romanesque doesn't do a thing for me. Fortunately, this book is *far* from that. King divides up the city into some basic areas, and then covers approximately 20 to 30 buildings of note in each, ranging from the late 1800's to buildings that are due to start in the upcoming year. The first difference I noticed is that his choices are not all "excellent" examples of some style or architect. In fact, a number of his choices were voted "ugliest building in Portland" by various panels. You may not necessarily agree with the opinions, but he's not afraid to point out both thoroughbreds and nags. And he does it with a sharp and cutting sense of humor. Each selection usually has a short inset or sidebar that contains an interesting factoid that brings the building's history to life. Even the glossary is worth reading (yes, I was *that* hooked!). My favorite was probably the definition of portico... "A covered porch. There are many different styles. You do not care." It's not often I laugh out loud when reading. Especially so when architecture is the subject matter. This was a definite exception.

"Serious" students of architecture might feel that King doesn't treat the subject matter with the reverence that it deserves. To that I say, get a life. But for the average person who goes to work in downtown Portland every day without noticing the rich history around them, this book is a true gem.

King's book is modern day masterpeice. He takes a subject hard to write or read about (architecture) and a city not famously known for its architecture (Portland) and creates a wonderful read. I am a resident of Portland and I have only heard of a minority of the builings in the book. It astonishes me how little I know about my own city. I highly recommend An Architectural Giudebook to Portland.

I bought this book because I work with the author. I assumed it would gather dust on the coffee table while making me look smarter for owning it. BIG SURPRISE!! I finished my novel and picked up Mr. King's book last week. I have to tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Not only did I find stories about places I have been, I learned about new places I would like to see. The bullets at the end of each section are some of the best writing, in my opinion. Mr. King's voice in this book carries the reader through. Enjoy!!

This is an outstanding architectural guide, written for architecture enthusiasts and serious cultural travelers. Why did I give it only a 4 (instead of a 5)? Because it is not entirely inclusive of entries from the 2001 edition. The author, for some odd reason, has removed (or condensed) many of the entries from the 2001 edition to make room for mostly modern structures from the past six years. My simple complaint (and recommendation): In any new edition, add, but do not subtract. Anyway, you can buy the first edition if you like. It's still in print.

Otherwise, it's nearly perfect. The small building selection (about 250 sites) is wonderful, and is a perfect balance between historic and modern landmarks. The author wrote the text with a fun, tongue-in-cheek style that is both insightful and entertaining without being flippant. It really works well. The photographs are all monochrome, and there are very few, perhaps one per page, or about one for every other entry. There are a few interior shots of important public spaces. I would say that the photography meets minimum standards of a book like this, but that's about all. For those of you familiar with the Dorsey and Dilts guide to Baltimore, this book is similar in feel and format. There's a very brief introductory essay to establish the historical context, and short architect biographies inserted into the text. Mostly the author chooses to let us interpret the history of the city through the buildings.

As for the architecture, I'll leave that for you to discover. Suffice to say that Portland is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It has preserved its urban density, as each block is just crammed with structures, rather than surface parking or (even worse) urban wasteland. Surrounding suburbs and towns are not discussed, but that's fine since there's more than enough to keep one interested within the Portland city limit. And if you think Portland is just a smaller version of Seattle, you should take a look at this book and reconsider that conclusion.

Now in an updated and expanded second edition reflecting Portland's growth in the twenty-first century, An Architectural Guidebook to Portland is teacher Bart King's guide to the amazing buildings that distinguish Portland, Oregon as a place worthy of sightseeing. From 19th-century cast-iron front buildings to the Old Town and Chinatown to the breathtaking downtown bridges and much more, An Architectural Guidebook to Portland is sure to intrigue architecture enthusiasts, Portland tourists, and armchair travelers alike. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this blend of historic preservation and history vignettes, which features over 250 separate entries.

As a newcomer to Portland, Or, this book is a goldmine. Bart King provides walking tours to some sections of the city. Written with "just enough" technical information, the book is lively reading and very informative and comprehensive. A must read for newcomers---and I believe most residents of Portland would enjoy the comprehensiveness. I love this book.
There is a couple of mistakes: picture of Arlington Club is incorrect

I have lived in Portland for 7 years. I really enjoyed this book. It is fun to carry this book while walking through downtown Portland.

This book is the only resource available if you're interested in the architecture of Portland, Oregon, but it has its problems. Mr. King is not an architectural critic, but rather a fan of Portland architecture, especially, apparently, that of the early 1900s. Few Modern buildings are reviewed, or reviewed well. There is an odd political commentary infused throughout the book which does little to help the reader gain insight into the architecture of this City. For example, he inexplicably calls the urban planner Robert Moses a "fascist" without any explanation as to why. About the convention center he observes: "one of those dreadful holding pens full of glad-handing salespeople and marathon foot journeys to get to the restroom." Many of his reviews are as hollow and as tinny as a grammar student who has been told to fill the page with a certain number of words: "Measuring sixteen stories high on its east side, the Federal Courthouse is the most ambitious building constructed in Portland during the 1990s and certainly the most expensive public building in Portland." (Huh?)

While this book doesn't achieve the critical level necessary to qualify as an architectural guide, it's still worth having as an introduction to Portland architecture---but skip the homilies by Mr. King, they're time wasted in your exploration of the buildings of this great City.

I purchased this book thinking it would be a great addition to my coffee table, although of no interest to me! What a big surprise! I found this book to be charming and extremely well written. I enjoyed reading about places I have been and places I would like to go. Mr. King's voice is incredible, his sense of humor and knowledge sparkles in his writing. I especially enjoyed the little known and humorous facts included in many of the sections (they are bulleted). Enjoy!!