My trip to Portland: Design and Architecture of Portland

A couple weeks ago we visited a friend in Portland and we were truly captivated by the architectural style and interior design.

The Tilikum Bridge; United States' first ever bridge to accommodate streetcar trains, buses, pedestrians and light rail but no private vehicles. Its distinctive narrow towers were a perfect addition, as they blend in with its industrial and tall surroundings quite well.

The Steel Bridge is so unique and detailed too - so perfect for Portland. It is industrial, rustic and so classic.

However, my favorite bridge (of the 15) in Portland is the St. Johns Bridge. It's breathtaking. It has two gothic arches that were designed by New York architect David B. Steinman - who also designed the world's longest suspension bridge; The Mackinac's Bridge in Michigan. The St. Johns Bridge is 400 ft tall but due its green color, it blends in with the trees on one end and the shorter more vintage buildings on the other end. I visited during the fall, so the bridge blended beautifully in with the orange, yellows and greens from the trees.

All the food we had out there was SO good! Our friend, whom now is a local, took us to lots of Asian restaurants and they were amazing - like Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen. Their pho was large enough to share with another person and their decor was outstanding. The interior had lots of electric signs as well as asian designs. The red lights all over the space and umbrellas on the ceiling were a great design choice. Overall, such a fun and busy (yet efficient) spot for pho in Portland. Would definitely eat there again!

St. Johns Bridge - Portland, Oregon

Now, for the highlight (other than the waterfalls) of our trip... La Patroncita in the Belmont Area. I am still thinking about the unique drinks, the quesabirrias and the ceviche. Would go back to Portland JUST for this place. It is small, so I would recommend making a reservation. It is date night worthy. The dining room area is light pink, very feminine, and lovely. The bar area (where we sat) was moody, dark and perfectly lit for a more intimate experience. The bar wall was small, but well lit and so beautifully put together. The fresh Marigolds on the counter were a perfect addition for the fall time too.

The food, like I said, was amazing - somehow better than many of the Mexican food restaurants in the Bay Area (where we live) We stayed there for almost two hours and it was just a phenomenal experience overall. 10/10 recommend if you're in the area!

Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen

Photo Credit: La Patroncita

I noticed that the architecture in Portland is very industrial, rustic, and gothic but also; whimsical, sustainable and functional. While we drove around looking for parking in the Belmont area, we noticed how different the homes were from one another. The styles were different and so were the colors. We saw two small homes next to one another - one bright green and one intense pink. It was awesome. Self expression in style, architecture and design seem to be VERY encouraged in Portland. An apartment building down the street from these bright homes was completely black - including the trim. It was modern, moody and beautiful. I cannot express how lovely it was to see color and distinctive design elements throughout Portland.

If you visit Portland or are a local and have photos to share on design elements, architecture or similar - please reach out!! I'd love to see :)