There’s a lot of new construction in Portland.  But for some reason, it doesn’t feel all that new.  Which got me thinking, why is that?  And what does that mean I subconsciously expect from “new construction”?

Ultimately, I decided that a big part of it was nothing more than the pedestrian’s perspective on a crowded city grid.  As long as you have a consistent wall on your right or left, you’re already about 50% of the way to continuity.  From a distance, the city skyline is a mismatch of styles and forms, but as long as the base of each building touches the sidewalk, the city dweller is at home.

The other major reason I decided nothing felt new is that, generally speaking, I expect a vast majority of new construction to be of poorish quality.  But here, simply because most of the newer buildings are of similar quality to their more historic brethren, it all sort of works in harmony.  And with that foundation of quality materials and craftsmanship, style is again allowed to roam freely – within the boundaries of form of course – giving each building its distinctive, but cohesive look.

A few more of Portland’s newer residential buildings after the jump.

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