In the early twentieth century, concrete challenged Portland’s ubiquitous timber as the building material of choice for “modern” residences. As early as 1906, Portland architects and builders had begun constructing homes from solid concrete blocks formed to look like stone. In following years, other local builders experimented with the “Edison mold”—houses built entirely of continuous poured concrete panels. Concrete houses never became the norm in Portland, but numerous examples can still be found in all quarters of the city.

Architectural historians Jack Bookwalter, Robert Mercer, and Jim Heuer will share their research on these great, sometimes quirky, and always interesting homes. Examples include: homes built from blocks molded by their owners, homes built from molds provided by the Miracle Pressed Stone Company, “Company Town” housing built for the management of the Swift Meat Packing Company, and Sears concrete block houses.

Program attendees will be invited to attend an open house at a pristine concrete house in Southeast Portland and will be provided with self-guided tour maps showing the locations of many of the homes mentioned during the lecture.

Time: 10a.m. – 11:30a.m.
Cost: Members: $13; General Public: $18

Sponsored by: Arciform

For more information and to register, go to http://www.visitahc.org/content/concrete-houses-portland