home at last A globe-trotting architect carves his ideal, storage-packed living space out of a bland loft in Portland, Oregon.

Transcription

1 home at last A globe-trotting architect carves his ideal, storage-packed living space out of a bland loft in Portland, Oregon. by brian libby photography by jon jensen This Portland, Oregon, condo is bathed in natural light, aided by Tim Gordon s selection of light woods in natural finishes for the furniture (including a classic Eames plywood chair) and flooring. renovation style winter

2 BY THE TIME TIM GORDON MOVED INTO HIS PORTLAND, OREGON, LOFT, this young architect was ready to settle down. Born in Japan and raised in Alaska, Tim had lived in Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; India; Thailand; and France. As both homeowner and architect, Tim wanted a space to reimagine as his own. And he wanted a home within walking distance of work and the city s vibrant cultural scene. The loft Tim found proved to be ideal: It was imperfect enough to justify a renovation, and it overlooked a large city park so Tim would have plenty of green space to walk his Australian shepherd puppy, Kayla. The 100-yearold Artisan Building (see Humble Origins sidebar on page 49) is part of Old Town, a rough-and-tumble area that s quickly following the path of the nearby industrial-chic Pearl District (see Armory Green, page 00) by developing galleries, restaurants, and new luxury condos. It was one of the first buildings in the neighborhood to convert to lofts, back in It was the antithesis of something where everything was finished, Tim says. They didn t want to put a lot of money in it, in case the whole condo ABOVE: With the help of cabinetmaker Raphael Dagold, Tim designed a versatile wall of shelves and a desk area. LOWER LEFT: A Murphy bed folds out from behind a large wood door, which doubles as a room divider to offer guests privacy. OPPOSITE: Tim designed a new slatted wood hallway wall that conceals storage and provides a door for the master bedroom, adding privacy while allowing natural light to permeate. before 44 renovation style winter 2008

3

4

5 before LEFT: Tim likes the open space a loft provides, anchored by new granite kitchen countertops and a cherrywood dining table with a subtle array of pendant lighting. thing didn t happen. Tim kept the maple flooring, but spruced up the kitchen s bland finishes by adding a granite countertop and new cabinets. I wanted something mellow and warm, he says. That s the way the whole place is. There s a fair amount of glass but not a ton compared to the other units, so I wanted to bring more light in with the help of materials. Tim made the space his own with artwork and collectibles, many of them coming with a personal provenance. An antique cast-iron circus wagon over the desk was his father s childhood toy. His mother made the artful forest quilt that hangs above Tim s bed. Most of the artwork from a miniature painting from India to a print of a minotaur from London before ENTRY BATH 13 7 W/D LIVING DW KIT R 4 4 after 4 4 BATH 13 7 W/D BEDROOM 13 9 LIVING DW KIT R renovation style winter

6 before

7 THIS PHOTO: Tim reoriented the bathroom, replacing the tub with a glass-wall shower to make the space feel more open. New cabinetry appears to float above the floor. OPPOSITE: AND BOTTOM LEFT: The bedroom s slatted wall and door allow light into the bedroom and conceal storage. before was acquired on Tim s numerous travels. He painted the big canvas of an old building in Thailand (where he studied) that hangs above the TV in the living room. In 1,100 square feet, Tim had to wrestle with use of space. He narrowed the entry hallway to enlarge the lone bedroom and bathroom. He reconfigured the latter and, in the process, replaced a tub with a glass-wall shower and installed a granite countertop. Tim added architectural drama with a slatted wood wall that runs from the entry to the kitchen. It s punctuated by two glass closet doors and a sliding bedroom door (also slatted). Storage cabinets and drawers line the opposite wall. Around the corner, Tim created even more storage by designing a wall with a Murphy bed, desk, open shelving, and additional drawers and cupboards. I grew up in a log cabin with no storage, so I m kind of obsessed, he says. Architect: Tim Gordon, BOORA Architects For more information, see Resources on page 116. HUMBLE ORIGINS The Artisan Building, home to Tim Gordon s loft, has a colorful past. Built in 1908, it originally was a six-story indoor junkyard. In the 1960s it became Roy Burnett Motors, a Chrysler and Imperial dealership. A portion of Burnett s painted sign is still visible on the brick building s east facade. Despite its modest beginnings, the interior is surprisingly well detailed. The top of a concrete column in the middle of Tim s living room, for example, gently curves into the ceiling. It was just a utilitarian building, he says, but somebody had some aspirations. In 1997, five floors were added to the building when it was converted to condominiums. Since then, the once downtrodden block has begun to blossom with the arrival of a crafts museum and several galleries. renovation style winter