Knock it Down, Really?

Michael Graves' Portland Building
faces threat of demolition

inShare17

Flip

14 January 2014 | 36 comments

More:

• Architecture

News: Michael Graves' seminal postmodern work the Portland Public Services Building is under threat of demolition, following news that the 32-year-old building needs more than $95 million worth of repairs.

Also known as the Portland Building, the 15-storey municipal office block in Portland, Oregon, was completed by American firm Michael Graves & Associates in 1982 and is credited with being one of the first major buildings of postmodernism, yet its demolition is one of several options under consideration by city officials following a recent analysis of the building's condition.

According to the assessment, a complete overhaul of the building would require $95 million (£58 million), while replacing it or relocating could cost anything between $110 million and $400 million (£67 million and £243 million).

The Portland Building has been plagued with major structural problems and defects ever since its completion, many of which are attributed to the tight $25 million budget of the original construction.

The recommendation of the report was to renovate the structure, which would take two years and require finding a temporary home for 1300 employees that currently work in the building. However, city commissioners have branded it a "white elephant" and are considering pulling down both this building and a neighbouring courthouse to make way for an all-new public services complex.

"My reaction is we should basically tear it down and build something new," long-standing commissioner Dan Saltzman told local newspaper The Oregonian, describing the building as "a nightmare for people who work there".

"There's got to be a better option than putting another $100 million into a white elephant," added Nick Fish, who oversees the city's water and environmental services bureaus.

Responding to the news, architect Michael Graves described the Portland Building as "a seminal project", as recognised by its addition to the USA's National Register of Historic Places in 2011. "Of course my preference would be to repair the existing structure," he said.

Architectural historian Charles Jencks underlined the importance of the building in his influential book The Language of Post-Modern Architecture, where the author wrote: "The Portland still is the first major monument of Post-Modernism, just as the Bauhaus was of Modernism, because with all its faults it still is the first to show that one can build with art, ornament, and symbolism on a grand scale, and in a language the inhabitants understand."

The news emerges in the same month that the Williams and Tsien-designed former American Folk Art Museum in New York is lined up for demolition to allow an extension to the neighbouring Museum of Modern Art, just 13 years after the building's completion.

Original source from:http://www.dezeen.com/2014/01/14/michael-graves-portland-building-faces-threat-of-demolition/

AD Point Of View
Really? Demolition? Is that the answer? I'm not going to debate this over the faceless web, which as we know is the voice of the greatest anonymous minds. This building has its place in history no one can deny, just as the old Penn station had. If those in power get their way and tear this building down, this crime won't be that difficult to solve: Just follow the money.

Some other buildings being nominated to be torn down:
25-buildings-demolish-right-now

Alternative Portfolio #10, Northport Power Station

Le Corbusier would be in seventh heaven right about now...as am I. Here is the Northport Power Station. I know this is a controversial plant in terms of pollution but I find the forms very interesting and am naturally drawn to them from an architectural point of view. I hope these photos inspire design, discussion and study.

Improving Suburbia Portfolio #3, Lake Ronkonkoma

Lake Ronkonkoma as seen from
St. Mary's Episcopal Church 

Disclaimer:please note some images 

not appropriate for all ages or the sensitive, please proceed 

at your own discretion.... 

Architect denied is about improving suburbia by creating an awareness and hopefully a movement against sprawl development. I'm sure many of you who live on Long Island or other places that are similar (scenic beauty being overrun by senseless development) are fed up with yet another instant neighborhood being built or another strip mall being constructed usually at the expense of pristine natural sites. I'm sure those who moved to Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, before the age of sprawl could not agree with me more. Lake Ronkonkoma is a very interesting place and if you have never heard of it than I think you may be intrigued to learn about it, or maybe not. OK I'm getting out the unicycle and juggling flaming bowling pins, interested now? I thought so. Lake Ronkonkoma is a hamlet but also a lake, the largest one on Long Island. For this article I will focus primarily on the Lake and the immediate surrounding area, which in its former days I imagined was a resort area (good guess since most of LI is "resort" area). I have known about the Lake and its legends for many years but never thought much about it, until I started my investigation for this article. I'm not going to give you an authoritative history of the area, as you can find that yourself anywhere. I would rather give you a personal account of my visit to this place from an architects point of view with a few detours here and there. OK, 90% detours 10% architecture, after all, this is an alternative site, the lake and my web site that is, supposedly.

To  better understand this experience a little background and legend is in order. Anyone who lives near Lake Ronkonkoma or on Long Island for that matter, most likely knows the legendary tales about this fabled body of water. When I was a child my parents would drive by the lake and tell me stories that it was bottomless and swimmers would drown by being sucked into a vortex pulling them down into an underwater channel and spitting them out in Connecticut or the ocean. They may have told me this to scare the bejesus out of me I'm sure, trying keeping me away from the lake until now. Almost every year some poor soul does drown in this lake and sometimes their bodies are never recovered. There is also the legend of the "Lady of the Lake".  There are a few versions of the story, here is one of them: A native American Indian, daughter of Chief Setauket, fell in love with a European settler named Hugh Birdsall 

Hugh Birdsall?  St. Mary's

who lived across the lake. She was however forbidden by her father to pursue her love for this man. So for seven years she would paddle her canoe out to the middle of the lake and float a message on a piece of bark to her beloved. Eventually she was forced into an arranged marriage with someone she did not love. Finally giving up all hope of being united with her love she paddled out one last time to the middle of the lake and killed herself. Ever since then, the lake every year, claims a young male, avenging the princess and trying to find her a soul mate in death. Hugh Birdsall, was a real person we know for fact and after the princess died he moved back to England. Strangely enough the statistics show many young males have lost their lives in this lake year after year.  Just recently a young male kayak-er, drowned in the lake, whose body wasn't found for days. The previous year a young man was asked by a stranger if he would swim out to retrieve a remote controlled boat, he too drowned, that one bothered me much. Coincidence or legend? You be the judge. There is a book written on the subject by a former life guard of the lake, Dr. David Igneri, who shares his personal experience along with the legends.

Artist's paint giant mural of the "Lady of the Lake" at Lakeside Deli on Rosevale Ave.

My tale begins at the East end of the lake where I began my research. I parked my car and looked for a way down to the lake shore. I came upon a tired old concrete barrier that was leaning from years of settling. Thinking the shore below was not a far drop, I jumped down injuring myself in the fall, not severe but enough for it to smart for some time; my day started off on the wrong foot you might say...(ha,ha)

With a slight limp, I began photographing this interesting old wall when I came upon what looked like a seagull taking a nap, I was startled because I did not see it until I was right over it. It was at the waters edge in a peaceful state with its eyes closed. I made some noise to wake it but I soon realized it was dead and this was its final resting place. I walked a few steps more when I came across a dead raccoon at the top of some steps, it was obvious, it too was dead but now I was thinking what the hell is going on with this place? I quickly moved on as some strangers above were lurking around.

You may be thinking nothing very strange about my experience so far but I did get a queasy feeling like something was wrong, maybe I just have an over active imagination. If nothing else, it most certainly set the tone for how I would proceed with the rest of my adventure. As I scanned the immediate area, the houses I found, even the interesting ones, seemed depressing. They could be heard calling out for help, swallowed up by over development. The lake itself is surrounded on all sides by a network of heavily traveled roads and homes clustered tightly together which cut the lake off from adjacent parks and nature preserves just beyond. I can easily imagine in times past charming homes built in harmony with the area on the wooded hills overlooking the lake, people enjoying themselves at the Inn - restaurant promenade. Even harder to imagine now is that many years ago a beautiful Indian girl named Princess Ronkonkoma walked these shores and paddled her canoe on these serene waters. I think there is hope however.  I believe the lake and the community even in its present state is a lovely place. I believe that thoughtful future development and planning could restore it to a former glory.

The steps at Raynor Park  (East side of lake)

I don't say this out of nostalgia but out of comparing the old and new that are found side by side in the area. I am a staunch modernist and love modern architecture but the recent "stuff" that is built here is not impressive in any sense. It is very apparent more effort and thought went into the planning years ago as evidence from the older structures found around the lake. On my second day of photographing I found these steps above that lead to Raynor park. The steps as you can guess are from times past, old and charming. New steps today would unfortunately not be built with this level of detail. They would be "economical"  or cluttered with stupid code designations. What, am I against code and public safety? No, but some codes, well a lot don't increase safety at all but muck up the design world. Compare these newer built steps below to the classic ones at Raynor Park:

The lake architecture most seeking to breath is the Tudor style buildings here and there mixed with the typical newer tract architecture. There is not much of it but if you look around you will find some examples like this home below:

The vistas are nice such as the one that frames a retirement building on the east side of the lake. There is a popular restaurant-club built on the lake shore but unfortunately a road (a very busy road I might add) cuts it off  from its promenade creating an unusual layout.

Retirement home across the lake

Park, with facilities, tennis courts playgrounds etc. At Ronkonkoma Beach

As you would expect to find, there are a few parks around the lake. However there is no real sense of connection to nature. Lake Ronkonkoma Park has reclaimed some of its land back from an old restaurant, "The Bavarian Inn" which was recently demolished (I have always wanted to eat there, oh well too late). Unfortunately a major highway cuts it off from a vast nature preserve.

Photo taken near the recently demolished Bavarian Inn

If you decide to visit the lake in the off season I suggest you take a friend, not that I was in any real danger by myself but the area seems to attract curious people who like to hang around (such as myself). One should never discount strange occurrences like I experienced, it can be unsettling and make you feel uneasy if you are alone. The lake and its legends are reminders of the past, some tragic and some wonderful.

Lake Ronkonkoma is a good case study in buried potential waiting to be celebrated once again. Placed in one of the parks is a memorial to fallen soldier Lt. Michael Murphy, United States Navy Seal who you may recall is a true American hero. I'm glad he is being honored in this way but right next to him they should place the Lady of the Lake memorial to comfort and keep him well in the after life. In any event how they ignore this legend that is found in the hearts of thousands including myself is a squandered opportunity. Thank god for artists. They have painted a large mural of her on the side of a building, The Lakeside Deli to honor her (see photo above in this article). As for the architecture of lake Ronkonkoma, I agree with JOBS, "take a look around everything you see was made by people no smarter than you..." this is true of this place, we can always do better.    

Video

Preview -Improving Suburbia Portfolio 3 Princess Ronkonkoma

Princess Ronkonkoma, Lady of the Lake
& Lt. Michael Murphy

Please stop back soon for my Improving Suburbia Portfolio 3, Lake Ronkonkoma

Alternative Portfolio 9, Camp Hero: An Architect's Point of View

Camp Hero, a place of mystery and wonder. Brochure mode writing commence. For those of you who have never heard of or visited this State Park, located at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, an intriguing time is in store for you. This former military base and coastal defense installation was built to defend against a German attack during World War II that never came. Although located in a scenic setting visiting this decommissioned base gave me an eerie feeling of history - you would expect to find a golf course like Pebble Beach not a fort. The Park contains all the natural beauty of a sea side setting, and the remnants of a derelict military fortification including the barracks of "Downtown Camp Hero" that were designed to look like a quite sleepy Long Island Village. This is ironic since the massive battery guns not far from this supposed "sleepy village" when fired could probably be heard as far as Germany itself. I'm sure this ruse would not have fooled anyone.

The Barracks

The Gymnasium designed to look like a church

The architecture as far as the "Village" goes is unimpressive such as the gymnasium for example, designed to look like a church but in its abandoned state well worth the visit.

Massive concrete cantilever over the once mighty gun.

Battery side opposite the gun, the supplies entry.

The batteries/bunkers within a few 100 yards or so of the barracks housed the enormous 16" guns pointed out to the Atlantic ocean could shoot a shell (almost as tall as the average sized man) 24 miles out to sea. Just as impressive (at least to an architect or engineer) are the protective concrete cantilevers still above protecting the guns long ago removed for scrap metal. The reinforced concrete mass is still in pretty good condition as is the bunker structure which connects the battery guns.

Radar as seen from a distance

After the war, the Army turned over the base to the Air Force which is where the conspiracy theories begin. Some beleive the base gained its true covert use during operation "Paper Clip", when Nazi scientists brought over from Germany continued their bizarre experiments for the military, supposedly stuff they had been working on while back in Germany. These and other experiments, specifically "The Montauk Project" . were reportedly conducted in multi-level sub-terrain bunkers that at present, if they exist, are inaccessible to the public. Some conspiracy theorists claim Camp Hero was a continuation of the "Philadelphia Experiment" where a ship , the USS Eldridge

SAGE Radar

was said to be able to become invisible through advanced technology, possibly extra terrestrial in origin. That research was then continued at the Brookhaven National Lab (Formerly Camp Upton, Ah Ha!) then moved to nearby Camp Hero where the use of a newly built  radar would help in their supposed science. Many bizarre experiments were said to have been conducted such as mind control through manipulation of electromagnetic fields that "Could drive an enemy insane" inducing schizophrenia at a touch of button, time travel, and the "Montauk Chair".  There are also people claiming to have been abducted for research purposes who lived to tell the tale and others who have forever gone missing such as the homeless, and "run away" kids,  "Rainbow Six anyone"? (Book by Tom Clancy-if you believe Clancy this sort of thing really happened)

I have yet to see any evidence at the park of any underground entrances, (I admit, I have not done an exhaustive search by any means) hatches or passage ways that could lead to an underground laboratory which would be strong proof of these claims. The bunkers above are impressive to view and the brutal concrete fortification are similar in nature to the "Atlantic Wall"  WW2 structures built across the ocean.

Radar through the reeds

The radar dish is the most impressive structure on the site and the must intimidating, if you believe in the conspiracies. A SAGE radar, the first of it's kind which from what I understand could scan objects beyond the horizon was installed after WWII  when the base was transferred to the Air Force. Missing, destroyed or demolished are the many structures that once surrounded the radar. I have seen photos with many spherical structures dotted around the radar which at this time do not exist. One conspiracy states the radar is here because it could not be installed at the Brookhaven National Lab as part of the Pheonix project, due to secrecy concerns. I don't know the whole story but it does make more sense that the radar was installed during the cold war as an early warning system, part of NORAD, to guard against a Soviet attack? Which ever story you believe, it's certainly interesting stuff but you have to think, If I were a high ranking member of the military wouldn't it be my duty to "explore" all possible military advantages, no matter how unbelievable?

The Bluffs at Camp Hero

My personal experience with Montauk and my feelings about the stories, conspiracies and Camp Hero itself are intertwined to form a strong connection with the site. I definitely feel a pull toward the area, and a sense of wanting to learn about all the unknown's that Montauk begs you to think about. As I gaze over the ocean I have many mysterious thoughts that creep through my mind searching for answers but also questions. The lighthouse is what most people come to Montauk for and so do I but there is so much more.

Looking out to sea from Camp Hero

If you visit Montauk Point, I recommend you head to Camp Hero right before the light house and park your car near the bluffs and look out over the Atlantic ocean and marvel at the majesty of the sea. It is a surreal feeling, combined with all the history and mystery of Montauk right there before you in the form of a vast endless ocean. The thought is not lost upon me that once upon a time nestled in the idyllic scenic setting of bramble and brush laid powerful machines of death waiting for its time that never came. Instead, now the lighthouse with its concrete sentinal before it continuously scan the seas keeping watch of all that go out into that black night.  

Montauk Point light house as seen from Camp Hero