The Burnside Blog
Architecture Death Match: Tonight at DWR
The second in the discussion series Designs on Portland occurs tonight at Design Within reach where local journalist and prolific archi-blogger Brian Libby who pens this popular blog will interview the principals of two exciting Portland architecture firms: Works Partnership Architecture and Skylab Design Group.
Works Partnership’s Carrie Schilling and Bill Neburka and Skylab’s Jeff Kovell will be on hand to presumably discuss their current and pending projects, which amount to some of the most exciting Portland has seen in years.
Kathleen Nash, curator of the Pearl District’s Design Within Reach, and Libby dubuted the Designs on Portland series in January with Portland Spaces Editor-in-Chief Randy Gragg as the inaugural guest.
Doors open at 6:30, discussion begins at 7:00. Wine will be available courtesy of Pour Wine Bar, which is one of my favorite local spots. Get there early and treat yourself to a new bubble lamp.
Designs on Portland Wednesday, March 19, 6:30-8:30pm DWR Portland Studio 1200 N.W. Everett Portland, OR 97209
By Viewer on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 08:06AM PDT
Gloria. I was at Wednesday night’s event and I’d like to know what exact drug you were smoking that night. Brian Libby, who appears to have donated his personal time to do this event, did a nice enough job I thought, and the folks at DWR should also be graciously thanked for sticking around past closing time. No, the space wasn’t perfect, but let’s ask this question, who else is providing it? Is Wieden and Kennedy? Nope. Glam Adams for Mayor? Nope. The PDC? Not at all. The DWR staff and Libby produced an event on their nights off (one that I imagine cost them money) and you have the nerve to criticize the space for not being adequate? What have you done for the design community besides complaining?
One thing I’ve learned here and in Seattle is that you can never make the PNW design community happy. They whine and bitch that no one pays attention to them, and then once someone gives some attention, it’s not good enough. Meanwhile, they barely produce their own events.
So kudos to Libby and and Design Within Reach.
By Gloria on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 12:03PM PDT
You’re right. I respect Brian for attempting an ambitious series that really is and will encourage a higher level of design dialogue in Portland. It took effort and energy and I appreciate that. It’s definitely a step in the right direction. I think I just really want Portland to hold itself to a high standard, to strive to be really great and not just adequate. I know the series will improve as it progresses and I look forward to future events.
By Eves on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 02:09PM PDT
Viewer: I don’t think it is complaining nor too much to ask to be able to hear and see the presentation you attend, despite free entry, wine or lounging on $2,000+ couches. Striving for a higher standard is a reasonable goal and involves constructive criticism that shouldn’t be taken as whining and bitching or as a personal attack on the people that dedicated their time and effort to put on the event. I am glad Gloria had the guts to say something. The event will be all the better for it.
That said, I enjoyed very much what I did manage to see & hear. The fireside chat format is great and DWR provides a cozy environment. I think that Brian is very capable of encouraging that type of free-form conversation more in the future. The multiple guests vs. one special guest was also a nice touch and fostered the conversation format. A few tweaks to the execution of the event could really help keep up the momentum of open discussion in the design community.
By Gloria on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 12:23PM PDT
I went to this talk last night. It was clear that the architects being “interviewed” are very talented and capable of achieving a high level of discourse about their profession and their work. This is exactly the type of event that Portland needs to energize its design scene and get the community participating in a dialogue about the future of design in Portland. Unfortunately, the evening was very poorly executed. The layout of DWR was ill suited for the lecture format, seating was uncomfortable and disorganized so that it was impossible to see the presenters from most places in the room, the microphones may have made it more, rather than less difficult to hear the speakers. Beyond these issues was the whole format of the evening, or that is to say, lack of format. It appeared that the host had not spent much time preparing the slides or his questions. It was a shame to have these amazing designers attempting to engage in real issues and to seriously talk about their work while being interrupted and editorialized mid-sentence. So in conclusion, I hope that this series continues to support Portland’s design community while striving to be a real first class event worthy of the architects that it is showcasing.