Portland Architecture blogger Brian Libby reports that the “checkerboard building” between SW 10th and 11th on Stark has been sold to developer Dick Singer, for redevelopment by Hoyt Architects. It’s great news, because it’s my favorite building in Portland, but Libby has disturbing news about the potential future of the distinctive checkerboard facade:
There have been some design possibilities that include keeping the signature colored panel facade, and other schemes that remove it in favor of something more glassy. It’s also undecided whether additional floors would be added. So technically, the unique checkerboard facade faces both its best potential in many years but also a threat.
No! Save the checkerboard building! Libby, too, is concerned:
But as a longtime fan of this building’s exterior, I personally am crossing all my fingers and toes that the colored panels on the outside will be preserved. Is this building a masterpiece? Certainly not. But there’s an elegant simplicity to this building’s facade, and a playful touch of color lacking in most all other buildings.
Elegant simplicity? Not a “masterpiece?” It’s a masterpiece, pure and simple, Brian. A God-given masterpiece! And if Dick Singer thinks otherwise, if he so much as DARES to remove the checkerboard panels, and replace them with glass, there’ll be protests, and there’ll be marches. In the streets. With me in them.
Yeah, it’s a fantastic building. The only one of its kind in town, as far as I know. I will certainly offer my opinion that the facade should be saved.
At the same time, I don’t think “checkerboard” is an accurate description of the facade.
I’ve always liked this one.
I’m trying to come up with a better description than checkerboard but I can’t, Red. It looks like…a checkerboard.
You?
I believe the Dandy Warhols had their studio in that building in the ealy years and it’s featured in the film DIG.
Who are the Dandy Warhols?
A checkerboard has only two colors that represent a definite pattern. This building has three colors in a random pattern. Right?
How about “Color Blocked”? This is a great looking building. I hope they figure out a way to save the facade.
Dandy Warhols had a make shift studio there in like 99or so.
The album 13 Tales I think it was cause it was engineered by Greg Williams and I was at a party there.
I love walking by this building everyday, but maybe it should be torn down if the Dandy Warhols recorded there.