Shipyard Brewery | Cambria Suites | 86 Newbury Street | Covetrus | 12 Mountfort Street | Portland

Thanks for the pics, Corey. You have an ability for making things look better, architecturally and aesthetically (especially that pic of the new Casco Bay Ferry terminal a few years back). The usage in this new block is key. It can become the most dynamic one in Portland--the brew hotel and a high-tech work force within, though Covetrus is now implying it won't be buzzing for some time due to many demanding to continue working at home. The NY Times is now fighting with much of its workforce in Manhattan, over this same idea, coming back to the office. The architect James Stewart Polshek was once quoted, “The true importance of architecture lies in its ability to solve human problems, not stylistic ones,” he wrote in 1988. “A building is too permanent and too influential on public life and personal comfort to be created primarily as ‘public art.’” He died last Friday. I wholeheartedly agree with this. Forget about the outside. Imagine a thriving high-tech business here, with the stay at home and "work" types having to come in, then after "work," merely going through a door inside at the upper floors to the highly cool new brew hotel. The bar is inside-outside to a cozy courtyard. Now that's some incentive to go to work, in-person socializing. Or is it, anymore?
 
The Cambria Hotel is now open, though I won't be back to experience its exterior and interior design work in person until next month. I think the restaurant with its views and access to the courtyard could be something spectacular, and perhaps different for Portland. I do believe that architecture is primarily about the interior, as that is where the substantive human experience lies. I think the Ocean Gateway building is arguably the best exterior/interior design in Portland. The Custom House is my next favorite, exterior and interior. I feel that there should be a separate thread for only interiors. Six months of the year in Maine is primarily only about that--the interior.

home-top-3-cambria-portland.jpg
 
Last edited:
TC_zoid said:
The Cambria Hotel is now open, though I won't be back to experience its exterior and interior design work in person until next month. I think the restaurant with its views and access to the courtyard could be something spectacular, and perhaps different for Portland. I do believe that architecture is primarily about the interior, as that is where the substantive human experience lies. I think the Ocean Gateway building is perhaps the best exterior/interior design in Portland. The Custom House is my next favorite, exterior and interior. Perhaps a separate thread is due for only interiors. Six months of the year in Maine is primarily only about that--the interior.

View attachment 29275
Click to expand...
I would argue however, that the built environment that is predominantly experienced by the public is the EXTERIOR or outdoor environment as the majority of Portlanders will never have reason to see the interior of these buildings yet will experience the exterior nearly every day. That is why the design of urban areas is so critical and is incredibly lacking in Portland. The cumulative effect of our urban environment is much more critical to our daily lives that the individual interiors they encompass.
 
Home design probably fits for this idea best. What would you prefer, a magnificent exterior with a horrible interior, or a horrible exterior with a wonderful interior? (e.g., The Batcave) I'll take the interior every time.
 
TC_zoid said:
Home design probably fits for this idea best. What would you prefer, a magnificent exterior with a horrible interior, or a horrible exterior with a wonderful interior? (e.g., The Batcave) I'll take the interior every time.
Click to expand...

It depends.
 
TC_zoid said:
Home design probably fits for this idea best. What would you prefer, a magnificent exterior with a horrible interior, or a horrible exterior with a wonderful interior? (e.g., The Batcave) I'll take the interior every time.
Click to expand...
It's a ridiculous argument. They are not mutually exclusive.
 
The Maine Mall is an interior functional and visual experience. A pleasing exterior aesthetic is unnecessary.
 
Last edited:
TC_zoid said:
Home design probably fits for this idea best. What would you prefer, a magnificent exterior with a horrible interior, or a horrible exterior with a wonderful interior? (e.g., The Batcave) I'll take the interior every time.
Click to expand...

Or you can have both
 
ctsketch said:
Or you can have both
Click to expand...
Apparently, only Kaplan Thompson is capable of this idea today (in Maine). They can also build a magnificent school this way--pleasing and smart on the outside and in. The Friends School of Portland is a result of this, and only $4 million to build. Other schools being built or modified in Portland are budgeted for tens of millions. Most architects spend most of their time designing the inside of a structure--the most important part--and not the shell. Only the greats like Gehry or Hadid do that. And when they fail, it's HUGE and costly. Moving on, the Cambria Hotel looks like it's going to have a smart and hip interior. I'll send a few pics end of next month if no one else has. This is an arch blog, not an exterior arch blog.
 
I guess this is what a Cambria Hotel is supposed to look like? The restaurant and courtyard are on the 4th floor. The courtyard looks a little barren, and guests will have views of people eating (except for maybe the 6th floor, as they can probably see over the Marriott to the harbor)? But in the winter, it will become snow piles of patio furniture sticking through. Who wants to look at that? I think they missed out on the idea of social areas becoming more dynamic by being at the middle floors to the top. It's done this way in Tokyo, with 50 story buildings. I've stayed in one--memorable, for sure. The lobby and bar are somewhere near the 30th floor with the guest rooms above. It's about the first impression views of the city when checking in. The Intercontinental in downtown LA does this, but at the top, then going down (hotel check-in is on the 73rd floor--stayed there too). I think if Cambria had done this idea of the top floor as the front desk lobby, bar, and restaurant, with a design that was perhaps 8 floors with huge windows looking out to the harbor, it would have been simply stunning. Not sure I want to go see this now. It feels like maybe Kansas City? The windows on the street side probably look out at the top floor of the condo building across. Those residents will have to close their blinds now. Sorry Fred, but I think you missed the potential here. You were a partner in this.

Dining+Room++(2).jpg
Terrace+(2).jpg
Dining+Room+Wide+View+2+(2).jpg
 
Last edited:
They should have made the fountain space all grass--the new bouncy artificial kind. I've been seeing that a lot around the country in my travels, and it's great. Everyone wants to walk around on it, and the kids go crazy too.
 
I wonder why Portland has allowed so much of these low rise "walls" along their waterfront? What a stupid move....especially in this area.
 
mainejeff said:
I wonder why Portland has allowed so much of these low rise "walls" along their waterfront? What a stupid move....especially in this area.
Click to expand...
mainejeff said:
I wonder why Portland has allowed so much of these low rise "walls" along their waterfront? What a stupid move....especially in this area.
Click to expand...
I agree. We utilize Bug Light Park to walk the dog. Been watching this area being built up over the years. While it is an improvement, it's such a disappointment. Been envisioning something grand for years.
 
mainejeff said:
I wonder why Portland has allowed so much of these low rise "walls" along their waterfront? What a stupid move....especially in this area.
Click to expand...
Haha - don't get me started on the misguided and hypocritical antics of Portland and building heights. Revisit my "stout" buildings thought or buildings that are all too polite to be taller than one another. Portland needs to build UP.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top