Portland, OR

[David Lorberbaum]

I am going on a trip with my wife, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law out to Portland this summer to stay with my wife’s cousin for about 7 to 9 days. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of places to see for Landscape Architects. I was hoping to get some ideas in advance so I could try and plan things out so I could visit some of the suggested places. Contrary to popular belief, people not in our field do not have the greatest desire to walk around a city for 4 or 5 hours and look at various spaces.

So, if anyone has any suggestions of places they think are interesting or “must see” then please post them. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
David

[Kevin J. Gaughan]

David,

Please see this past thread: http://www.land8lounge.com/forum/topics/2025679:Topic:7421

[Kevin J. Gaughan]

Also, in addition to some of the landscape highlights, I would highly recommend going to the Bridgeport Brewing Company. If you go in around back there is a small office, and if you peek your head inside and talk to the guy in there (i forget his name), he might give you a free tour of the plant. In addition to having awesome beer, they also have an amazingly green business model where they recycle almost everything they use. It was really interesting.

Also, I would highly suggest either getting out to the coast or to the Gorge at least one day to do some hiking. Here are a couple pics I took when I was out there: http://www.land8lounge.com/photo/albums/oregon-is-beauty

[Kevin J. Gaughan]

Here are some of the pictures that Chris too when he was out there (he was nice enough to label them as well):

http://www.land8lounge.com/photo/albums/2025679:Album:16508
http://www.land8lounge.com/photo/albums/2025679:Album:23038
http://www.land8lounge.com/photo/albums/2025679:Album:30117

[Lisa Town]

The best thing is definitely to check out things that would normally be on the list for any tourist….

A great walk along the river is a good start, especially in the summer. You can walk the loop along both sides of the Willamette, or grab bikes or rollerblades. There are many must see projects all along the way including the brand new (still currently in construction) Ankeny plaza and waterfront amphitheater with the new structure for the Saturday market. The market is a must-see for any visitor to Portland.

Also, check out the Halprin fountains, everyone loves those and the Pearl District with Jamison Square and Tanner Springs Park.

And for a great forest walk….check out Forest Park, starting at the Vietnam Memorial and Washington Park arboretum.

[Michelle Derviss]

Portland must be the up and coming ‘it’ place for those interested in landscape design.
The APLD is planning their yearly meeting there this summer and my design guild, The Hortisexuals, is planning a weekend
garden hopping soiree there this coming June.
I’ll check back in with you as soon as I get updated with some haute hort trips to take while in Portland.
In the mean time you might want to contact local Portland garden artist Jeffery Bale to see if he has any public or private gardens that he has designed that you can see.
His work is fun, funky and very stoney. – http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/design/articles/create-pebble-mosaic.aspx?nterms=74924

[David Lorberbaum]

Thanks for all the replies.

Kevin, I feel like an idiot since I didn’t see the previous discussion that was posted last year.

Thanks again,
David

[Chris Whitis]

Definitely hit the Pearl District and Jamison Square with it’s people watching and the other spaces mentioned. A few others include Portland State and the Epler Hall featuring rain gardens and a ‘green’ street almost immediately adjacent. You can ride the streetcar in the free zone all through the Pearl District and up to the South Waterfront (more Vancouver-esque in it’s planning and interesting to compare it vs. the Pearl for building typologies). Pioneer Square is in the heart of downtown and along the LRT, good people watching here as well.

If you head up to Washington Park (take the LRT), another must see is the Japanese Garden. You’ll have to catch a bus from near the zoo/ Washington Park LRT Station.

I also second the Brewery recommendation and add Widmer Brewery to the list. It’s across the river a couple of blocks from the LRT.

Here’s a link to http://www.sitephocus.com and the photos from my trip last year that you can browse. Feel free to drop me a line with any specific questions:

Oregon photos

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