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 …
Portland Houses in the Victorian Age
Queen Victoria reigned over Great Britain from 1837 until her death in 1901. In America, the term “Victorian Architecture” has become a catchphrase to describe any of a number of …
The Craftsman House In Portland
Beginning in the mid-1880s, the Arts and Crafts Movement in England developed a philosophy of design based on medieval concepts of handmade artisan-produced goods. The movement arose as a reaction …
The Portland Duplex
In other parts of the country, two-family homes are known variously as twin homes, attached homes, two-flats, or even double-deckers. But in Portland we just call them all duplexes. Duplexes come in two basic types: the “up and down” duplex where one unit rests atop the other, and the “side-by-side” duplex where both units share a common sidewall.
Though more common in East Coast cities, duplexes have played a part in Portland’s building history as well. In the 19th century, Victorian duplexes were constructed along with Victorian houses in the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
Terra Cotta Buildings in Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, Oregon has a wealth of beautiful terra cotta buildings, most dating from the first three decades of the 20th century. A number of factors came together in this …
The American Front Porch
No one knows for sure when the first porch was invented, but it’s safe to say that porches have existed – in one form or another – since humans first …
The Historic Balch Hotel
When Samantha and Jeff Irwin first laid eyes on the historic Balch Hotel, they fell in love with it and knew this unique property had potential. Raised in the Hood …
Greek Revival Houses
Greek Revival was the dominant house style in America from 1820 until some time after the Civil War (1861-1865). Elements of Greek Revival design, however, persisted through the Victorian era …
Mail-Order Houses in Portland Oregon
Could your early-20th century home possibly have been one of the now infamous mail-order houses that was selected from a catalog and purchased by mail? As unusual as it might …
The Four-Square House in Portland
The Four-Square style house (sometimes referred to as the American Four-Square House) was popular from just after 1900 to well into the 1930s. Thousands of these Four-Square houses were built …